Candle Wick Guide: Find the right wick for your candle
Twenty years ago when I started on my candle making journey, things were a lot simpler. We had 2 or 3 wax types and 2 wick types to choose from. These days there are dozens of each.
We haven’t gotten caught up in the hype of creating something new so clients can only buy from one place. We have remained solid in our selection to only use what’s very well tried and true and easily available.
There are two main types of candle wicks available:
We want you to use the best and safest products available and this means we only import these critical raw materials directly from Germany and the US, where ongoing consistency and standards in manufacturing are unsurpassed when compared to Asian markets.
In our workshops we teach the importance of understanding just how critical wick selection is. We can spend a lot of time on this subject, all of which we cannot convey in this short blog, but essentially if you get it wrong you have either made a dud candle that doesn’t work. Or your creation is at risk of starting a fire. We don’t wish to scare you, however I've seen too many youtube videos gloss over this subject. And it is vitality important you educate yourself of how wicks work and what their purpose is.
A wick is the heat source for the candle – just like a heat source in a room. The larger the room, the more powerful your heating capacity must be to adequately heat the room. If you select a wick that is only designed for a small jar and you put it in a larger jar – the result will be that it tunnels or the flame will struggle to stay alight. It cannot get hot enough to melt the wax to the edge of the jar.
If you select a wick designed for a large burn area and you put this in a small jar, the candle will burn way too hot and likely cause the jar to crack or explode. On some occasions this is how a fire can ignite. When the wick is limited by the small diameter of the jar, it then starts to melt more wax and the wax gets hotter and hotter until it reaches the ignition point. There are other environmental variables that can contribute to this but I think you get my drift.
For more information - Check out this short video from our online candle course - Finding the right size wick for your candle
Candle Wick Types we offer
CDN Wicks
They are also referred to as Stabilo KST Wicks. This is a flat braid cotton wick with paper filament throughout to support consistent capillary action. They are both zinc and lead-free and possess acid-resistant qualities. The bonus with Stabilo KST Wick is subtle but important for some. The Stabilo KST curls less, promoting a more even burn. CDN Wicks are used in tealights, votives, pillars, and containers because it provides increased rigidity and enhances burning properties for natural waxes. Ideal for beginners to advance candle makers.
HTP Wicks
HTP wicks consist of braided high-performance cotton fibers and contain paper filament throughout the braid. HTP wick is especially well-suited for tough-to-burn formulations with additives. It is also an excellent choice for paraffin wax, vegetable wax, and gel wax candle systems. The HTP wick will be inclined to curl a little however they also contain a self-trimming property, but this doesn’t eliminate the need to regularly trim your wick before each burn.
Wood Wicks:
We supply 100% natural wooden candle wick. These are a premium option which are a single ply and still offer reliable burn each time. They are 1mm thick and unlike others in the marketplace, there is no need to use two wicks stuck together. So you won't have to worry about these containing any glue and producing toxic fumes when burning. Wood Wicks produce a soft crackle and are suitable to use in soy wax, palm wax, paraffin wax and soy blends.
How Do I Choose the Right Wick Size?
To find the right size wick, have a look at our Wick size guide. Alternatively, choose the correct wick size by burning multiple candles with different wick sizes. An appropriate wick will:
- Have a melt pool that is 0.635cm to 1.27 cm (¼ inch to ½ inch deep) within an hour for each inch of diameter.
- Have a flame height of 1.27 cm to 5.8 cm (½ inch to 2 inch). Bigger candles will have a larger flame, while smaller ones should have a height closer to 1.27 cm.
- Not produce soot, excess smoke, or mushrooming. You’d also want a steady flame, not one that flickers or dances around.
How Do I Test My Wick?
To test your wick, you can test one at a time or create two to three candles with different wick sizes and burn together. You want to burn them simultaneously and compare the results. You can also test various kinds of wicks to determine which works best with your candles.
What you're observing in each test burn is:
- How long does it take to melt the wax to the edges, to create a melt pool
- After 5 hours on continual burn, how deep is the melt pool
- Is the flame stable or flickering too much
- Is there too much soot or smoke being produced
Final Thoughts
Wick selection isn’t just a technical detail, it’s the foundation of a well-performing and safe candle. Taking the time to understand how wicks work, and choosing the correct size and type for your specific container and wax, is one of the most important steps in the candle-making process.
If you are new to candle making and want to learn the basic fundamentals before you get started, check out our selection of workshop & classes.
