Ultimate Wick Guide: How to Choose the Right Wick for Your Candles
In this post, you’ll learn how to choose the right wick for your candles, conduct effective burn tests, and review criteria to help you select the right wick for your candle.
The candle making process is a science that requires the perfect harmony between wax, fragrance, additives, container, airflow, and wick to burn properly. The type of wick used plays a pivotal role when it comes to burning efficiency.
When making candles, choosing the right wick type and size is one of the most essential steps. Choosing a wick that is too small or large can lead to an array of issues, such as inconsistent burning, poor fragrance throw, wax tunneling, mushrooming, or too much soot and smoke. Furthermore, your candle may burn faster than intended.
In this post, we’ll teach you how to choose the right candle wick & how to conduct a burn test to find the optimal wick for your own candles. Let’s dive in!
What is a wick?
The candle wick is the centerpiece of any candle experience, and understanding how it works is key to a successful burn. Candle wicks siphon fuel up to the flame through a scientific principle known as capillary action. Let’s get nerdy for a second.
Capillary action is due to the adhesion, surface tension, and cohesion of a certain fuel. Candles use melted candle wax as their fuel – when combined with the wick’s ability to pull liquid by adhesion, this propels the wax upwards because of its molecules’ cohesiveness and surface tension.
You may have seen something similar if you’ve ever watched water travel up a paper towel when dipped in water! Capillary action also allows plants to take up much-needed nutrients through their roots.
When it comes to capillary action, the type and material of the wick can have a huge impact. Some types absorb more or less wax than others, affecting which size flame will be used for lighting and how quickly the candle burns.
If your wicks are burning too fast, you may run into issues with excess soot production; if they burn too slowly though, then getting them lit in the first place could be difficult! Even though small in comparison to other aspects of candles overall, selecting an appropriate wick is critical when creating your candles.
Different Types of Wicks
Generally, wicks can be classified into the following categories:
Flat Wicks: Three bundles of fiber are woven or knitted together to form flat-plaited wicks, which have become popular for taper and pillar candles due to their consistent burning. Not only that, but these wicks curl in the flame as they burn – providing a self-trimming effect.
Braided Wick: Braided or knitted wicks burn with a rounded, robust flame and are especially suited for beeswax applications. This type of wick is known to prevent clogging due to its resistance against wax formulations, pigments and fragrances that might otherwise cause blockages.
Cored Wicks: When using these intricately woven or knitted wicks, a central material helps keep the flame secure and upright when burning. They typically have an even cross-section and come in various materials for rigidity purposes such as cotton, paper, zinc or tin. You can find cored wicks in jar candles, pillars, and votives.
Wooden Wicks: Wooden wicks have recently grown in popularity, not only for the vivid effect they bring to a room but also due to the comforting sound of crackling. Single-ply, multi-layered, and curved wooden wicks are all available from suppliers as well as decorative-shaped versions made from 100% wood fibers or combined cotton and wood material.
How do I tell if a candle is properly wicked?
Before getting any further, it’s important to understand what it means to have a properly wicked candle.
An ideal wick for a candle is necessary to ensure it burns evenly, cleanly, and reliably. If the wrong wick size is chosen, you’ll experience problems such as extinguishing, poor fragrance throw, excess soot, and smoke – all of which can be highly irritating.
Here are the characteristics of a candle with the right wick size.
The flame should be no taller than 1″ in height.
The size of your wick affects the size of your flame. some wicks are engineered to generate shorter flames so consider these too.
The flame burns smoothly without excessive flickering.
Appropriately sized wicks guarantee that your candle will burn with a steady flame, no flickering and it won’t extinguish itself.
If the wick is too long or thick in comparison to your candle container’s diameter, it will receive more fuel than the size of a candle requires.
This excessive supply of energy causes an abnormally high flame and makes it susceptible to changes in air currents, resulting in an unsteady flickering or dancing flame, which could be a safety hazard.
Keep in mind you’ll see some flickering at the end burn of your candle, which is completely normal.
The wax can melt across the entire surface of the container.
The wick’s role is to act like a pump, drawing the melted wax fuel up towards the flame. It should be of an appropriate size to ensure enough wax melts and forms a fully extended pool at the edges of its container. This allows for sustained burning of the flame.
But if the wick is too short, it won’t have enough heat to melt the wax and encourage the flame to grow. Instead, the fire will slowly begin shrinking until a tunnel-like hollow form in its center – known as a candle tunnel.
When fully melted, the melt pool is between 1/4” and 1/2” deep.
The heat generated from the flame should melt down the wax by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch for an ideal burn time and temperature.
If your wick is too large, it may generate too much heat that can cause excessive melting of your wax or even shatter glass containers due to overheating.
Your container is at a temperature that is not too hot.
The temperature of your container should be no greater than 170°F. If hotter, this could be a huge safety risk.
The flame produces minimal soot or smoke.
When your candle is burning optimally, wax melts away seamlessly as the flame consumes it. On the other hand, if too much wick is drawn in at once, soot will occur instead – since the flame can only burn a certain amount of fuel simultaneously; any remaining wax will be released as smoke or soot.
At the end of your candle’s burn, you may find some smoke/soot residue. If one side has an excessive amount or your candle releases a plume of smoke while burning, it is likely due to having a wick that is too large which then causes it to become overheated.
Minimal mushrooming on the end of the wick
Experiencing a black, mushroom-like formation on the top end of your candle wick?
This phenomenon is known as mushrooming and can be attributed to incomplete combustion. The right size and type of wick may make all the difference in remedying this issue; however, other factors such as fragrance oil or color dye might also be contributing to it.
Slight mushrooming at the beginning of your burn is normal. However, you do not want huge mushrooms as you continually burn your candle.
Here is an example. The below three candles have been burning for 2 hours.
Properly Wicked Candle
The middle candle has the proper wick size. The flame is less than 1 inch tall and does not flicker. Also, the melt pool is about 1/2 inch deep and has extended to the edge of the container. Furthermore, the wick has minimal to no carbon build-up. It is burning cleanly. this candle will have a consistent burn throughout the entire burning process.
Under wicked candle
This candle is an example where the candle wick is too small (e.g. under wicked). This candle has a tunnel vs. burning out to the edge of the container. There is a high likelihood that his flame will extinguish itself before all the wax is burned. This candle will have a “softer burn.”
Over wicked candle
This is an example of a wicked candle meaning the wick size is too large. The flame flickers continually and is too small. Also, the melt pool is deeper than 1/2 inch and the wick has “mushrooming” at the end – the wick is producing excess carbon. In candle making terms, your candle burn hot.
Factors That Influence Your Candle Wick Size
As mentioned earlier, candle making is a science and your wick selection will be influenced by the following:
- Type of candle wax (e.g. paraffin wax, soy wax, palm wax, beeswax and other vegetable wax, )
- Container candles size (e.g. diameter of your candle and container)
- Type of candle (e.g. pillar candles, container candles, votive candles)
- Candle dye (e.g. mica powder, chips, liquid)
- Fragrance load (e.g. essential oil, fragrance oil, other additives)
- Environment (e.g. temperature of your room, size of the room, etc.).
Deciding on the wax, container, dye, and fragrances for your candle is only half of the equation. You also need to determine which wick best suits them based on factors such as size or type of wax used.
If you are making a soy-based candle with a diameter between 2.7 – 2.94 inches, then three potential wick options to choose from ECO wicks, Premier 700 wicks & HTP wicks.
Once you have your type of candle wick, then you’ll have to test different wick sizes to choose the right candle wick for your candle recipe.
Choosing the right wick for each candle will require a lot of testing. There is not a one-wick-fits-all situation. The best wick for your candle will be tailored to each individual candle based on your type of wax, the diameter of your container, fragrances, dye, and other additives. Even if you use different brands, but the same formulas – the size wick for that particular candle will change.
How to Choose the Right Wick Size
It’s impossible to recommend one specific kind of wick for candle types. Instead, we can recommend where to start and how to choose the correct wick size for each of your individual candles.
If other posts/bloggers recommend the “best wicks” for candles, then take their information with a grain of salt. There is a high probability they are not candle makers and are providing misinformation.
Step-by-Step Process: Choosing the right candle wicks
Step 1: What wax are you using for your candle making?
The kind of wax you use is essential in choosing the right wick because it supplies the heat (melted wax) needed to maintain burning.
Different kinds of wax have their own characteristics such as melting points, fiber density, color, and fragrance retention, etc., all of which play a huge role when determining what type of candle wick would be best suited for that particular candle.
For instance, gel candles require zinc wicks due to their higher melting point and greater density than other types of candles.
Here are the most common types of wax you can use for candle making:
Step 2: Type of candle wick
As already stated, some candle wicks work better with particular types of wax than others. Therefore, it is essential to grasp the varieties of candle wicks to make sure you pick the right type of wick to start with.
When talking about wick types, we will consider:
- The fiber of the wick: cotton, paper, wood, zinc, etc.
- The braid type: flat, square, cored, coreless, braided, etc.
- The wax coating: coated or not, coated with paraffin or other natural wax, etc.
To make the process as simple as possible, we’ve compiled a selection of popular candle wicks on the market and which type of wax they are best suited for.
ECO Wicks
Recommended wax: Soy wax
Recommended candle types: container candles, tealights, & votives.
Eco wick is a flat, coreless cotton wick woven with thin paper filament and does not require trimming for an effortless burn. It has a rigid structure, which is why it doesn’t need a core.
With ECO Candle Wick you’ll experience less smoke, soot, and mushrooming. This type of wick works well with waxes with low melting points.
Premier 700 Wicks
Recommended wax: Paraffin, Soy & Soy Blends
Recommended candle types: container candles, tealights & votives
The Premier-700 wick is a flat braided wick with a cotton core, ensuring it delivers clean-burning results and minimizes the risk of carbon buildup.
This versatile wick can be used in tealights, votives, pillars as well as container candles with both paraffin waxes and soy waxes – the benefit of Premier-700 wick is that it comes in various sizes for improved accuracy when crafting your perfect burn.
Zinc Core Wicks
Recommended Wax: Paraffin wax, paraffin-soy blends with higher paraffin %
Recommended candle types: Tealights, votives, or container candles
Zinc core wicks are cotton braid with an inner zinc core. The zinc core structure provides maximum rigidity and strength to keep the wick straight in melted wax.
The potential for mushrooming resulting from carbon buildup can be minimized by using the proper wick size and keeping the wick trimmed. Zinc core wicks are cooler burning and generally recommended for use in paraffin wax.
HTP Wicks
Recommended Wax: Paraffin, Soy, Para-Soy blends, Coconut & Coconut blends
Recommended candle types: Tealights, votives, or container candles
HTP wicks offer a unique combination of flat braid cotton and paper filament, making them exceptionally strong while also eliminating common issues such as mushrooming and soot.
HTP’s versatility allows for the utilization of soy waxes, as well as even single pour paraffin which is typically thicker than other varieties.
LX Wicks
Recommended candle types: container candles, pillars, & votives
Recommended wax for candle making: Paraffin waxes
LX is a flat braided wick stabilizing thread with special treatment, creating consistent and stable candle burning.
With LX wicks’ curling action during the process of burning, not only does it reduce soot and smoke emissions, but also maintains an appropriate temperature for your candles.
CD Wicks
Recommended wax for candle making: soy wax, para-soy waxes
Recommended candle types: container candles, tealights, votives
CD candle wick is a coreless, flat cotton wick braided with thin paper filament throughout. Unlike ECO wicks, CD wicks are non-directional.
CD wick burns perfectly with viscous candle waxes.
Wood wick
Recommended wax: soy wax, paraffin, palm wax
Recommended candle types: container candles and votives.
The Wood Wick series is composed of thin, flat wood and features a unique burning experience with its natural wick. Its sound when it sizzles adds to the appeal, as does its tendency to curl organically during use.
Wood wicks are mostly used for luxury candles or to give candles a “higher-quality” feel.
Step 3: Measure your candle container diameter or candle diameter (if pillar candle)
Grab a ruler and measure the diameter of your candle container. If you’re using a pillar candle, measure the diameter of your candle mold.
Step 4: Use a candle wick chart to find the right wick size
Below is a candle wick chart you can use to help narrow and select the right wick for your candle.
Use the chart below as a starting point. Select the type of wick you’d like to use & then choose 3-4 wick sizes to test.
Container Wax Size Chart
| Wick Type | Eco | Premier 700 | CD | HTP | Zinc | LX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wax Type | Soy | Soy, Paraffin, Coconut, Para-Soy | Soy, Para-Soy | Soy, Paraffin, Coconut, Para-Soy | Paraffin | Paraffin |
| Diameter Extra Small 1.75 in – 2.19 in | 4 | 700 (1.90) 705 (2.00) 710 (2.10) | 6, 8 | 41, 52, 62 | 28-24Z, 34-40Z, 36-24-24z | 10 |
| Small 2.2 in – 2.69 in | 8 | 715 (2.30) 720 (2.40) 725 (2.50) 730, 735 (2.60) | 12, 14, 16, 18 | 73, 83, 93, 104, 105 | 34-40Z, 36-24-24z 44-24-18z 44-32-18z 51-32-18z | 12 |
| Medium 2.7 in – 2.94 in | 10,12 | 740 (2.70) 745 (2.80) 750 (2.90) | 12, 14, 16, 18 | 73, 83, 93, 104, 105 | 34-40Z, 36-24-24z 44-24-18z 44-32-18z 51-32-18z | 14 |
| Large 2.95 in – 3.29 in | 14 | 755 (3.0) 775, 770 (3.10) 775, 790 (3.20) | 18 20 22 | 73, 83, 93, 104, 105 | 44-32-18z 51-32-18z 60-44-18z | 16 |
| Extra Large 3.3 in – 3.79 in | 16, 8 (2 wicks) | 777,780 (3.30) 785, 789, 799 (3.40) 793, 795 (3.60) 767, 799-3 (3.70) | 18 20 22 | 105, 126, 1212, 1312 | 44-32-18z 51-32-18z 60-44-18z | 18 |
| 2X Large 3.8 in – 4.2 in | 6 (2 wicks) 10 (2 wicks) | 799-2, 799-5 (3.9) 799-4 (4.0) 799-7 (4.10) 799-8 (4.30) | 18 20 22 | 105, 126, 1212, 1312 | 44-32-18z 51-32-18z 60-44-18z | 24 |
Pillar Wax Size Chart
| Wick Type | LX | LX | LX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wax Type | Natural Soy | Para-Soy | Parafin |
| Extra Small 1.75 in -2.19 in | 14, 16 | 12, 14 | 12 |
| Small 2.2 in -2.69 in | 18, 20 | 14, 16 | 14, 16 |
| Medium 2.7 in – 2.94 in | 18, 20 | 14, 16 | 14, 16 |
| Large 2.95 in – 3.29 in | 20, 24, 26 | 16, 18, 24 | 16, 18, 20 |
| Extra Large 3.3 in – 3.79 in | 20, 24, 26 | 16, 18, 24 | 16, 18, 20 |
| 2X Large 3.8 in – 4.2 in | 20, 24, 26, 28 | 18, 24, 28 | 20, 24 |
How To Perform Candle Wick Testing
As mentioned previously, a candle wick size chart will only provide us with a ballpark of potentially suitable sizes.
To discover the right wick for our candles that factors in wax type, fragrances, colors, and burn time, we must conduct tests to determine which specific size works best.
To make your candle-making experience even better, we’ll now teach you how to do a wick burn test so that you can select the optimal wick size for all of your handmade candles. After doing this simple process, you will be able to create candle batches.
To properly test the effectiveness of different wick sizes, you must use the same type of candle wax, fragrance oil load, container size, and color (if applicable) in each sample.
This way, the only variable between your three candles will be their respective wick sizes – allowing for an accurate comparison!
Instructions: How To Perform Candle Wick Testing
Phase 1: Wick Testing
Step 1: Select 2-3 wick types + 3 different sizes per each wick type.
Use the chart above to select the type of wick + sizes to test.
For example, if I’m using a soy wax. I will choose Premier wick + Eco wick to test. Then I will select 3 different sizes based on my container diameter for each wick to test. In total, I would be making & testing 6 candles.
Step 2: Make Your Test Candles
Create a batch of candles so we can test the same wax type, fragrance load, dyes, and containers.
Attach each wick to the center of your container. Label each container with the type of wick + size.
Trim your wick 1/4 inch above the wax top. Make sure you leave enough space in between your candles.
Let your candles cure overnight.
Step 3: Conduct 3 test burns
We recommend conducting 3 test burns before selecting your final wick + size. Each test burn should range from 2-3 hours to assess the melt pool of each candle.
Before you decide on the right wick size for your container candle, it is essential to do at least 3 test burns.
This is because if ‘hang-up’ or wax remains after the first two burns, this will be burned off in subsequent ones.
After completing all three tests, you can select a wick that worked the best for phase 2.
Remember to assess the following when conducting your burn tests:
- Full melt pool (1/4 ” – 1/2 ” deep) within 1 hour for each diameter. For example, a 3″ diameter candle should achieve a full melt pool within 3 hours.
- Flame is 1/2 -2′ in height. Smaller candles closer to 1/2″ in and larger candles ranging from 1 in” – 2″ in.
- Minimal smoke, soot, or mushrooming.
- Steady flame with minimal flickering or dancing around.
Step 4: Select the best-performing wick for phase 2 testing.
If none met the requirements, then go back and select a different type of wick or size.
Phase 2: Wick Testing
The purpose of phase two is to test the performance of your wick using burn variance.
Step 1: Make 2 candles with the wick that performed the best.
Use the same candle recipe (e.g. wax, fragrance load, additives, candle containers, etc) that you used during your first burn test.
Step 2: First candle: Conduct a normal burn test
Burn your first candle for 3-4 hours at a time. Then blow it out and evaluate your candle’s performance.
Wait 3-4 hours & then relight your candle and burn it for another 3-4 hours. Repeat this process until the candle is gone.
You can calculate your burn time by adding up the number of hours (each 3-4 increments) that your candle lasted.
Step 3: Second candle: Burn variance test
Let’s be honest, customers rarely follow recommended candle burning guidelines. Their candles are often left forgotten or only burned for short periods of time due to unexpected events.
So we want to assess how our candles perform using different burn variances.
For this testing process, follow the below steps:
- Burn for 2 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours: If your candle did not reach the full melting pool, see if it catches up on the 2nd burn or determine if it will tunnel.
- Burn for 3 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours.
- Burn for 4 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours.
- Burn for 8 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours.
- Burn for 3 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours.
- Burn for 8 hours – Evaluate – wait for 3 hours.
In addition to the same criteria as above, you also want to measure the temperature of your container holder during different burn times using a heat gun to ensure your candle is safe (e.g. temperature should be below 170 degrees at Fareheight).
Step 4: Evaluate Your Burn Tests
How did your candle perform? Are you satisfied with the results? If successful, you can make batches of this candle and be very confident that you chose the right wick.
However, if you change anything about your recipe (e.g. use a different wax, different type of fragrance or different fragrance percentage, used a different container, changed the color, etc) you will need to reperform your burn test to ensure this wick is the right wick for your candle.
Crafting a high-quality candle requires patience, effort, and time to execute burning tests. It might seem like an arduous process but if you want your recipe to be part of a successful candle line as part of your business, it is essential for success.
Troubleshooting Candle Wick Testing Issues
Here are some common issues that may arise during the testing process. Here is how to troubleshoot these problems and adjust your wick type/size accordingly.
Tunneling
If your wick is too small, you will experience tunneling. If this occurs, increase the size of your wick type.
Mushrooming and/or smoke
If your wick is too large, you will experience mushrooming and/or smoke. If this occurs, check your fragrance load & decrease the size of your wick type.
Flame is too high
Wick is too large and too hot. Reduce the wick size
Flame is too low or self-extinguishing
Wick is too small or too short. Increase the size of your wick.
Too much soot
Your wick is too large. Reduce the size or try another wick type.
The container is too hot or cracks
The wick size is too big and it generates too much heat. Try a smaller wick size
FAQ
When should I use two candle wicks?
If you have a large candle, where you’re unable to get a full melt pool within 3-4 hours. Add wick and conduct another burn test.
Also, if your container is an odd shape, where you may experience uneven burning, you may need to add a second candle wick to ensure an even burn.
How to Choose the Right Size for Two-wick Candles?
Divide your candle container into two equal parts. Measure the diameter of each part & select your wick sizes size based on that diameter. Also, follow this rule if using 3 wicks as well.
Should I use a pre-waxed wick?
While not mandatory, using waxed wicks to make your candle is highly recommended. This simple step will allow you to light the candle more easily and have it stand straight in the melted wax.
In addition, a pre-waxed wick helps ensure that the flame burns evenly and dependably throughout its lifespan.
For those running a candle making business, this extra detail will make your product seem more “higher quality.”
Is the wick size the same between different wick types?
No, the wick sizes between different wick types are different. Always refer to the manufacturer details for each specific wick type and size.
This is why you will want to choose 2-3 wick types + 3 different wick sizes to burn test.
Wrap-Up
Testing different wick types and sizes is essential for successful candle making candles for your hobby or business.
While this may seem like an arduous task, it’s important to remember that the goal of your burning tests is to find the right wick type and size for your recipe, which will make all the difference in creating quality candles.
Take your time, be patient and methodical when testing. The results will be worth it in the end! Good luck with your burn tests!
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