Sometimes I need to leave before a candle has finished burning. What’s a safe way to extinguish it, especially if I’m using it as part of a personal ritual?
What’s the safest way to put out a candle before it burns down?
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Paper Comet
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A candle snuffer is the straightforward option. If you don’t have one, blowing it out is still preferable to leaving it burning unattended. Keep your face and hands back from the flame, and let the candle cool before moving it. Don’t use wet fingers or pour water on it.
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On the ritual side, people have different views about whether a candle should burn all the way down. There isn’t one rule everyone follows. You can treat putting it out as a pause, then relight it later if that fits your practice. The safety reason for leaving the house is plenty good.
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If you have a wick dipper, you can use it to briefly push the wick into the melted wax, then lift it upright again. A snuffer is simpler, though. Either way, check that the flame is fully out before you go, and don’t leave a candle burning just to preserve a ritual.
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