A candle snuffer, candle extinguisher, or douter is an instrument used to extinguish burning candles, consisting of a small cone at the end of a handle. Using a snuffer avoids problems associated with blowing hot wax, and it avoids the smoke and odor of a smoldering wick that results from simply blowing a candle out. Extinguishers of this kind are still commonly used in homes and churches.
Facts
Introduced When (Circa)Candle snuffers date from the 17th century to the mid nineteenth century, when self-snuffing wicks made trimming snuffers largely obsolete. 1 OriginBefore the mid nineteenth century, a snuffer meant a separate scissor-like device that trimmed a candle wick and caught the burnt trimmings in an attached box so they could not reignite. 1 Introduced era (class) FAQs
Why did candle snuffers become largely obsolete?
Self-snuffing wicks, introduced by the mid nineteenth century, made the trimming snuffer largely unnecessary.
Before the mid nineteenth century, a snuffer meant a separate scissor-like device that trimmed a candle wick and caught the burnt trimmings in an attached box so they could not reignite. Self-snuffing wicks, introduced by the mid nineteenth century, made this trimming snuffer largely obsolete.
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Era Of Origin
Also in History Atlas: the era this subject comes from.
Sources
1. Candle Snuffer (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationDescription section, opening sentence
Candle snuffers date from the 17th-mid 19th centuries.
Historical usage section, opening sentence
Before the mid 19th century, the term snuffer referred to a scissors-like device with two flat blades and an attached snuffer box.
View the Source Dictionary.com: candle-snuffer definition
Dictionary.comIn Group: Candle Accessories, Definition entryQuote, In Group: Candle Accessories, Definition entry
a scissorlike instrument for removing the snuff of candles
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