Candle Wicks

Where would we be without candle wicks?  They produce the flame and funnel scent up and out, helping to fill the room with fragrance.  Making scented candles would be tough without wicks (although it can be done).

Surprisingly, there is more than one kind of candle wick available; they can be made out of several different materials.  Which one is best?  It depends on the type of candle you plan to make.  Let's take a look at how to choose your cande wicks.

Parts of a Wick

You didn't realize that this material that lights the candle has parts, did you?  I didn't know that originally either!

The candle wick has two main parts; the outer wick, which can be made of several different kinds of materials.  Braided cotton, however, is the most common material.

Then there's the inner wick, which has been stiffened, usually with zinc.  Wicks used to be stiffened with lead, but those kinds have been banned since the 1970's in the United States.  (Keep that in mind, though, if you happen to buy candles overseas.)

However, zinc isn't the only stiffener out there.  Paper and other natural materials are sometimes used to keep the wicks upright.  And for that matter, some candle wicks don't even have a stiffened core!

How Candle Wicks Work

You're familiar with the term "wicking", right?  We always get told to wear cotton clothes in the summer because cotten "wicks" moisture away from our bodies.

Well, the wicks use the same type of action (called capillary action) to move the fuel (wax) to the flame.  Wax by itself tends to just melt; the wick is what keeps the flame alive.

The wicks also work to drive fragrance to the flame.  The scent is in the wax, and when the wax melts, it releases the fragrance.

Here's something to think about, though, the next time you hear the term, "100% soot free candle".  There isn't one, because even if the wax is soot-free, the wick and the fragrances aren't.  However, it is safe to say that candles labeled as soot free are indeed very, very low soot -- so little that for all intents and purposes, there isn't any.

Trimming

Did you know that that a wick should be trimmed before using the candle for the first time (and even possibly after)? For everyday candles, the wick should be trimmed to 1/8 to 1/4 inch, in order for the candle to have a maximum burn time. 

Note:  If your candle has different burning instructions on the label, use those instructions.

Making Candles and Buying Wicks

If you plan to make your own candles, here's something else you should know before running off to buy your wicks -- there are different sizes (as in diameter). As you might guess, the larger the diameter, the larger the flame.

Not that larger is always better when it comes to wicks -- the hotter the flame, the faster the candle burns.  The faster it burns, the sooner you'll have to get a new one.   Too big a wick can also mean extra sooting.   Here's more infomation on the proper candle wick to choose.

If you're looking for a wick supplier you can try Candlewic , Lone Star Candle Supply and Discount Candle.

Top of Candle Wicks Page

How to Make Candles Page

The Richly Scented Candle Home Page

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A Note About Lead Core Candle Wicks

While the vast majority of US candlemakers and suppliers voluntarily removed lead-cored wicks from their stock in the 1970's and 1980's, that doesn't mean that lead core wicks aren't still around!

There are sellers that import candles from other countries that may not have banned the use of lead core candles wicks.

Not sure about a candle you want to purchase, and the seller can't give you more information? 

Bring a piece of white paper with you and rub it over the wick (assuming you can reach the wick).

If it leaves a black streak, like that of a pencil, there is lead in the core.