The wick of a candle is often the most overlooked component but is arguably the most critical for a candle’s performance.
The wick is the engine of the candle. Its role is far more complex than simply holding a flame. It is responsible for drawing up melted wax through capillary action, which then fuels the flame, releases the fragrance, and ensures an even, clean burn. Choosing the wrong wick can lead to a host of problems, from a candle that tunnels down the middle to one that produces excess soot.
Understanding the role of wicks in candle making is not just helpful; it is essential for creating high quality, safe, and beautiful products. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to choose the right one for your next project.
Why the Wick is So Important
A candle’s performance is a delicate balance of heat, fuel, and oxygen. The wick is central to this balance. A properly wicked candle will produce a melt pool that extends to the edges of the container, consuming the wax evenly and releasing the maximum amount of fragrance. An improperly wicked candle, on the other hand, can be a frustrating and even dangerous failure.
Common issues from incorrect wicking include:
- Tunnelling: This happens when the wick is too small for the jar diameter. The flame is not large enough to melt the wax all the way to the edge. Instead, it burns straight down the centre, leaving a thick wall of unused wax.
- Mushrooming: If a wick is too large, it can draw up more wax than the flame can efficiently burn. This results in a carbon buildup on the tip of the wick, which resembles a small mushroom. This can lead to a large, flickering flame and excess soot.
- Excessive Soot: A flame that is too large or unstable will not burn cleanly. This releases black soot into the air and can stain the inside of your candle jar.
- Self Extinguishing: A wick that is too small may struggle to stay lit, eventually drowning in its own melt pool.
Getting the wick right ensures a consistent burn, a great scent throw, and a safe experience for the end user. If you are not sure what wick size to buy why not purchase a sampler pack and have a range of wicks at your disposal.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wick
Selecting the perfect wick is a process of careful consideration and testing. There is no universal “best” wick, as the ideal choice depends on several interconnected variables.
1. The Type of Wax
Different waxes have different melting points and viscosities, which affects how they are drawn up the wick. A dense, high-melt-point wax like beeswax requires a more robust wick than a soft, low-melt-point wax like soy.
- Soy Wax: This popular natural wax generally requires a larger wick than paraffin wax of the same diameter. This is because soy wax is denser and needs more heat to create a proper melt pool.
- Paraffin Wax: As a petroleum byproduct, paraffin has a lower viscosity and melts more easily. It typically requires smaller wicks compared to natural waxes.
- Beeswax: Being the densest natural wax, beeswax needs the most heat to burn correctly. You will often need to size up your wick significantly.
- Coconut and Blended Waxes: These modern waxes often have unique properties. It is always best to follow the supplier’s recommendations and conduct your own tests.
2. The Diameter of the Candle Jar
This is one of the most straightforward factors. The wider the jar, the larger the wick needed to generate a flame big enough to melt the wax to the edges. Like most candle making supply companies, we have a wick sizing charts that suggest a specific wick series or size based on the inner diameter of a container. These charts are an excellent starting point, but they are not a substitute for testing.
For very wide containers, a single wick may not be sufficient. This is where multi-wicking comes in. Using two or three smaller wicks can achieve a more even burn in a large, shallow vessel than one oversized wick could.
3. The Fragrance and Dye Load
Additives like fragrance oils and colour dyes can have a significant impact on how a candle burns.
- Fragrance Oil: The type and amount of fragrance oil can affect the burn. Some oils, particularly those with a high vanilla content or very thick formulations, can clog the wick and inhibit its ability to draw up fuel. You may need to size up your wick to compensate for a heavy fragrance load.
- Dyes: While modern dyes have less impact than they used to, a high concentration of dye can also slightly impede the capillary action of the wick. Darker, more saturated colours may require a slightly larger wick.
Common Types of Wicks
There are many different kinds of wicks available, but they generally fall into a few main categories.
Cotton Wicks
These are the most traditional and widely used wicks. They are often braided or knitted and can come in various configurations. Coreless cotton wicks are popular, but some have a core made of paper or another fibre to keep them straight in melted wax. At Candle Creations we have two options – ACS wicks and CDN wicks.
Wooden Wicks
Wooden wicks have become incredibly popular for their unique aesthetic and the gentle crackling sound they make when burning. They produce a wide, horizontal flame which can be excellent for scent throw. However, they can be more particular to work with and often require careful testing to find the right size and type for your specific wax and jar combination. At Candle Creations we have two types of wooden wicks – Booster Wood Wicks and Ultimate Wood WIcks
Specialty Wicks
You may also encounter wicks designed for specific applications, such as zinc-core wicks (which are becoming less common due to health concerns) or paper-core wicks, which provide extra rigidity.
The Golden Rule: Always Test
We cannot stress this enough: testing is the most important step in the candle making process. Wick suggestion charts are a guide, not a guarantee. The unique combination of your chosen wax, jar, fragrance oil, and dye creates a system that must be tested for safety and performance.
To conduct a proper burn test:
- Make a test candle using your exact formula.
- Allow the candle to cure completely.
- Trim the wick to about 5 millimetres.
- Burn the candle for three to four hours, or until the melt pool reaches the edge of the jar.
- Observe the flame height, the melt pool depth, and whether there is any sooting or mushrooming.
- Extinguish the candle, let it cool completely, and then repeat the process.
This testing phase might feel tedious, but it is the only way to ensure you are producing a candle that burns beautifully and safely from the first light to the last. make sure you write down you findings so you can refer back. Using one of our testing booklets is a good way to keep track!
Conclusion
The candle wick may be a small component, but its role is immense. It governs the burn quality, scent throw, and overall safety of your finished product. By understanding how the wick interacts with your wax, jar, and fragrance, you can move from guesswork to a more scientific approach. Start with the manufacturer’s recommendations, but always dedicate time to thorough testing. Mastering the art of wicking is a key step on the journey to becoming an expert candle maker.
