Last Updated on 26.01.2023
Candle wicks are usually made of braided cotton and hold the flame of a candle. They work by capillary action and deliver the fuel to the flame. They also influence how the candle burns; the melted candle wax vaporizes and combusts when it reaches the flame. When choosing a candle wick, there are various factors to consider, including fire resistance, stiffness, diameter, and tethering.
The wick of a candle is what controls the flame and the time it burns. It is essential to get the proper wick for your candle as it is probably one of the most vital parts of the candle.
Best Candle Wicks on the Market
Wicks come in different treatments, all aimed at making use more straightforward. Most wicks are pre-cut to either small, medium, or large sizes, and others are pre-treated and pre-tabbed for user convenience. Using a wick made from quality material, for example, cotton or linen is the real deal. The following are reviews or recommended wicks currently in the market.
1. EricX Light 100 Piece” – Best Cotton Candle Wicks
- Pre-wax and tabbed 100% cotton
- Lenght: 6 inch.
- Dia: 2.5 mm
- Base Dia: 12.5 mm
- Quantity: 100 pcs
EricX light candle wicks are top-class and are made of pure cotton. They provide a large, stable flame and are ideal for all-size candle-making. They are pre-waxed, tabbed, and contain no zinc, lead, or other metals. They offer an excellent and clean burn with a friendly and clean burn.
These wicks work in pillars and most containers. Care should be taken with the dosage of dye and scent while making candles, and high dosages might influence the burning effectiveness, may cause smoke, and reduce the candle’s ability to stay lit.
Pros
- Large and stable flame
- Nice and clean burn
- Perfect for all size candle making
- Paraffin free
- Made of non-toxic cotton
Cons
- Gives off soot
- Leaves dirty residue
2. Wicks with Stickers for Soy Candles
- Contains no lead, zinc or other metalls, no smoke & no bad smell.
- Candle Wick Centering Device
- Lenght: 8 inch.
- Dia: 2.5 mm
- Base Dia: 12.5 mm
- Quantity: 60 pcs
The EricX light candlewicks are pre-waxed, tabbed, and cut; hence, the primary steps are not needed. They come with candlewick stickers that help create a more intense glow and improve fragrance strength. These stickers are made of heat-resistant glue, keeping wicks in an appropriate position even when it’s hot.
It has a candlewick-centering device for a good scent throw. Keeping the wick centered helps make candles at home and saves time and labor, reducing fatigue for work efficiency.
Pros
- Metal-free
- Made of non-toxic cotton
- No smelly odor
- Stable when lighting
Cons
- Many do not fit containers of all sizes.
- Wick centering device may rust.
3. Natural Candle Wicks With Tabs – Wholesale
- 100% cotton
- Lenght: 4x6x8 inch.
- 60 stickers
- 2 holders
- 1 wick placing tube
Have you been looking for an all-purpose candle wick? The CandMak natural candle wicks have tabs to hold them upright for maximum scent throw. This wick is suitable for candles of all types in the homemaking process. They have a sleek thickness allowing you to use more than one wick if you need a wider diameter.
The all-cotton core provides a smoke-free flame, all thanks to the keenness of its construction. For maximum rigidity, and easy pouring, all of pretabbed candlewicks have a high melt coating of natural wax. Wick holders make sure your wicks are upright and center when pouring wax into the container.
Pros
- Produce little to no soot
- Biodegradable
- Non-toxic
- Burning stability during incineration
Cons
- The little to no soot may be a nuisance.
- It becomes unstable when burning on low wax
4. Organic Wicks for Candle
- Made of 100% Organic Hemp and 100% Beeswax
- Lenght: 8 inch.
- Dia: 3 mm
- Base Dia: 19 mm
- Quantity: 100 pcs
Are you looking for a top-of-the-class candle wick? EricX Light Organic Candle Wicks comprise 100% organic Hemp and 100% Natural Beeswax. The performance of beeswax candles varies on how the beeswax was obtained and converted into wax, and beeswax is a drip-free and slow-burning candle wax with widespread uses.
Though beeswax may be challenging to wax, they burn to create a calm, relaxed ambiance by pulling toxins from the air through ionization. The EricX light organic candle wicks are high quality with an extra-long size suitable for all candle sizes.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly
- Burn longer
- Soot free
- Create ambiance
- Easy to use
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires additives to improve the scent
5. Wood Candle Wicks + Clips
- Includes iron stands and warning labels for DIY candle making
- Size: 130 mm x 13 mm / 5.1 inch x 0.51 inch
- Can be used for about 9 oz(260 ml)container
- Quantity: 50 pcs
Are you a DIY lover who takes pride in using your handmade products? The 100 pieces of 100% pure cotton knitted with professional craftsmanship burn without smoking at a decent rate. It’s a perfect match for DIY enthusiasts who would love to make pillar candles or teacup candles.
Wicks are held in place by the added iron stands helping wicks stand straight, and reducing nuisance during the candle-making process. For better burning, they support combustion improvers increasing fuel-burning efficiency and diffusion of scent.
Youngrich wood candle wicks have metal bases holding two wicks for improved burning. I know you are a big fan of reusing wax from leftover candles if you are reading this. Youngrich candle wicks are of great size, making it possible to melt enough wax to make tall candles from previously used candles.
If you find other types of wicks hard to use, here is a simple but sleek type of wick for you. Fixing the candlewick only requires you to hold the top of the iron stand as you carefully pour your wax until it cools. The result is a breathtaking candle for use either by your family or on a romantic gateway.
As a natural and environment-friendly wick, the Youngrich wicks have a wide range of applications. They can perfect outdoor weddings, bedrooms, living rooms, cafes, or engagement party decorations. The wide range of applications stems from their ability to be customized through DIY projects.
One can use them for an engagement party and still use them for a baby shower. This is a top-of-the-class blend of convenience and flexibility.
Pros
- Wide range of use (for DIY projects)
- Burn without black smoke
- Great size
- Have an iron stand to hold wicks in place
- Easy to use
Cons
- Hard to keep the wick lit for long
- Uneven melting of wax
- Forms a hole in the middle affecting the appearance
Buyer’s Guide
The wicks are the means by which fuel can be converted to a flame. When making candles, they are the most important part of the puzzle. Their size and texture affect the amount of energy that is delivered, the burning time, as well as the diffusion of scent into the room. A smokeless and consistent burn is guaranteed from high-quality wicks crafted by weaving and twisting fibers.
Creating a relaxing, romantic, fresh, festive, or sensual environment in your room requires a wise wick selection. Depending on the mood in mind, using single or multi-wick designed candles does not necessarily determine scent strength. The quality of the wick is the primary determinant of whether your experience will be a blast.
How to Conduct a Burn Test
A burn test is essential as it maintains quality control and assurance for all your candle products and ensures that you create a candle burning safe and clean. You will need three different wick sizes with the same candle, and you must have three candles with the same wax type, fragrance concentration, fragrance, same color, and same container.
The wick size should be the only difference; all the others must be the same to make it easier to reference each candle. After wicking the testing candles, ensure that they cure for at least 24 hours, and cut them into a quarter-inch before lighting them.
After lighting the candles, allow them to burn for around 3-4 hours depending on the diameter. Before conducting additional tests, let the candles sit for at least 5 hours. Finally, inspect the melt pools and detail your observations about each candle.
Definition of Terms
Burn Rate
This is the amount of wax used up in grams per hour by the candlewick. A high burn rate will result in more wax consumed, and you can test your wicks to determine the burn rate.
Wax Consumption
The candle wick’s size and construction determine the candle wax consumption rate. A loose braid consumes more fuel than a tighter braid, even with the same construction.
Smoking Wick
Using a wick that is too large will consume more melted wax than the flame can burn effectively. The materials that fail to burn usually escape the flame as smoke or soot. Smoke is produced when there is more fuel in the wick than being fully combusted with the available oxygen.
Mushrooming
Carbon head mushrooming on candle wicks is caused by various reasons. Carbon formation occurs mainly on cored candle wicks since they are rigid. The core is made of either a tight braid or a stiff core material, making them more prone to become clogged by wax formulation by-products.
Cored candle wicks are usually burned in the cooler areas of the candle flame. Here, there is a buildup of impurities that leads to the formation the carbon head. To help solve this problem, ensure that you test for wax formulation and candlewick combination.
Choosing the Right Wick Size
One of the crucial factors in candle making is choosing the right wick size. Choosing the right size will ensure that the candle burns clearer and gives a reliable burn time and scent. It also ensures that the wick burns cleanly with minimal to no carbon build-up, and the flame does not flicker. A properly wicked candle burns longer than an over wicked candle.
Learn more about why your candle won’t burn in this article.
An under wicked candle burns down the middle of the container instead of burning out to the edge. The flame often extinguishes itself before all the wax is burned out since the wick is small for the candle. An over wicked candle’s flame flickers continually and is too tall.
Factors that Determine Proper Wick Size
- Fuel type
- Physical shape and size of the candle
- Fragrance oil
- Colorant percentage
- Additives
- Environmental design
- Colorant type
- Fuel melt point
- Type of candle
- Wax type
Types of Wicks
Zinc Core Wicks
They are widely used for many candles, including pillars, votives, and gel candles. They have a wire core that helps the wick remain straight when the candle is lit or poured. After the lead core was discontinued, many manufacturers started using zinc for wicks.
The wicks are cut to the specified length, primed with a standard wax at 180 degrees F, and crimped with a 20mm diameter by 10 mm tab. The recommended diameter for votives, pillars, and small containers of size 44-24-18 is 2 to 2.5 inches. For sizes 51-32-18, the recommended diameter is 3 to 3.5 inches for pillars and medium containers.
The recommended diameter for pillars and large containers of size 60-44-18 is 3.5 to 4 inches. It is important to note that the diameters are based on the wick used in a base paraffin wax and require you to approximate the wick 1 or 2 sizes to achieve a proper melt pool.
Paper Core Wicks
These burn very hot and produce a large melt pool. They are usually based in large containers only. The wicks are cut in the specified length, primed with a standard wax at 180 degrees F, and crimped with a 20mm diameter by 10mm tall tab.
The recommended application for sizes 60-44-18 is between 4 to 4.5 inches for large containers. This is based on the wick being used in the paraffin wax base. Vegetable and paraffin waxes require a larger wick or multiple wicks to achieve a proper melt pool.
CD Series Wicks
These wicks are popular amongst many seasoned candle makers. They are flat braided and have a special paper filament woven around them. This design promotes maximum and consistent burn and ensures the candle has a wick-trimming flame posture.
They are widely applicable and compatible with viscous waxes that are harder to melt of vegetable and paraffin bases. The wicks are cut, primed with a high melting point wax at 212 degrees F, and crimped with a 20 mm diameter by 10 mm tall tab.
The CD-22 is the only exception, with a 20 mm diameter by 6 mm tab. The recommendations are based on a paraffin wax base wick, and you may require to upsize the wick from 1 to 3 inches to get a good melt pool since vegetable and paraffin waxes require a larger wick.
Size recommended diameter
- CD-4 1.25 to 1.75 inches
- CD-5 1.75 to 2 inches
- CD-6 2 to 2.25 inches
- CD-7 2.25 to 2.5 inches
- CD-8 2.5 to 3 inches
- CD-10 3 to 3.5 inches
- CD-12 3.25 to 3.5 inches
- CD-14 3.5 to 3.75 inches
- CD-16 3.75 to 4.0 inches
- CD-18 4 to 4.25 inches
- CD-20 4.25 to 4.5 inches
- CD-22 4.5 to 4.75 inches
ECO
These wicks are explicitly engineered for natural waxes. They are flat, coreless cotton wick braided with thin paper filaments interwoven to increase the stability of the burn. It also improves rigidity compared to standard cotton and paper-cored wicks. They contain specially treated threads that offer controlled wick curling, making the wicks self-trimming and reducing smoke, soot, and mushrooms.
As seen in paper-cored wicks, ECO series wicks are designed to reduce smoke and afterglow. They are all-natural since they are primed with vegetable wax at 161 degrees F rather than paraffin wax. They are cut to the specified length and crimped 20mm diameter by 10 mm tall tab.
Size recommended diameter (based on the wick being used in a soy wax)
- ECO-1 1.25 to 1.5 inches
- ECO-2 1.5 to 2 inches
- ECO-4 2 to 2.5 inches
- ECO-6 2.5 to 2.75 inches
- ECO-8 2.75 to 3 inches
- ECO-10 3 to 3.25 inches
- ECO-12 3.25 to 3.5 inches
- ECO-14 3.5 to 3.75 inches
HTP
These wicks have no core and are made entirely from cotton. They bend at their tops when they are burned to push the tip of a wick into the flame’s outermost region, where it burns the hottest. This results in less carbon buildup because of complete combustion.
They are applicable in pillars, votives, gel, and container candles. They are cut to a specific length and crimped with a 20mm diameter by 10mm tall tab. They are also primed with a high melt point wax of 212 degrees F.
Size recommended diameter
- HTP-31 1.5 to 2 inches
- HTP-41 2 to 2.5 inches
- HTP-52 2.25 to 2.5 inches
- HTP-62 2.5 to 2.75 inches
- HTP-73 2.75 to 3 inches
- HTP-83 3 to 3.5 inches
- HTP-104 3.5 to 4 inches
- HTP-105 4 to 4.5 inches
- HTP-1212 4.5 to 5 inches
LX
These flat braided cotton wicks are chemically treated with a high melt point wax at 212 degrees F. They reduce carbon build-up at the top of the wick. They are also designed to reduce soot and smoke and are self-trimming when appropriately used. They are used in almost every application. The wicks are cut to the specified length and are crimped with a 20mm diameter by 10mm tall tab.
Size recommended diameter
- LX-8 1.25 to 1.5 inches
- LX-10 1.5 to 2 inches
- LX-12 2 to 2.25 inches
- LX-14 2.25 to 2.5 inches
- LX-16 2.5 to 3 inches
- LX-18 3 to 3.25 inches
- LX-20 3.25 to 3.5 inches
- LX-21 3.5 to 3.75 inches
- LX-22 3.75 to 4 inches
- LX-24 4 to 4.25 inches
- LX-26 4.25 to 4.5 inches
- LX-28 4.5 to 4.75 inches
- LX-30 4.75 to 5 inches
Wooden Wicks
Wooden wicks are the latest entry to the candle-making industry, including softwood wicks and hardwood wicks. Softwood wicks are far superior to hardwood wicks, and they can also burn with the unique sound of a wood-burning fire and pop. Softwood wicks comprise two similar pieces of wood pressed together.
They are ideal for natural waxes like soy and waxes that can hold a lot of fragrance oil. It is vital not to use too much fragrance oil if you want to achieve a good crackle sound since it results from using the right amount of dye, fragrance oil, and type of wax.
How to Use Multiple Wicks in a Candle
You may prefer to use more than one wick in a candle jar. You should ask yourself important questions like when you should have more than one wick, the size to use, and where to place the wicks in the jar.
Conclusion
Ensure that you test your candles to get the desired end product. Choosing the proper wick can be daunting, and you may not get it right the first time. The above information should help you make the right choice and make quality candles.
The candle industry is rapidly evolving and adapting new technology in candle making. A new wick-to-flame feature allows the candle to transform from a realistic wick when off to a flickering moving flame when on. This feature makes flameless candles look authentic, and it is also cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
