Candle Wicks: How To Choose The Best One?

Making your candles can be easy. There are so many tempting scents, colours and varieties. The candle wick is an important aspect of making candles. This aspect often goes unnoticed.

The wick of a candle is made up of woven or braided threads. Most commonly, it is cotton, but hemp and wood are becoming more popular. It holds the flame of an oil lamp or candle. To make candles more stable and solid, most wicks, particularly tealights, are attached.

When it comes to the mechanics and appearance of the candle flame, such as the brightness, duration and stability, the type of candlewick is crucial.

 

Below Are Some Important Considerations When Selecting The Wick:

Diameter is what determines the size and time of the flame. A larger diameter wick will produce a brighter flame and melt more wax, which in turn makes the candle burn faster.

Stiffness is a parameter that controls the flame's consistency. For example, some candle makers have a core (a wire) that holds in the wick.

Fire resistance keeps wicks safe from burning. If a wick is not fire-resistant, the wick will burn out and the wax could be used to fuel the flame.

Tethering is a device that attaches to the bottom of the candle to keep the wick in place and/or floating to the top.

These are all aspects that affect the consistency of the candlewick. They influence the duration, temperature, size, and length of the flame, as well as the melt pool, and the amount of smoke produced.

Non-toxicity is another thing to think about when choosing the right candlewick. Some candle wicks made from cotton can be coated with slightly toxic materials. This makes them more efficient in certain situations. It is recommended that you choose non-toxic and organic cotton to ensure safe and clean air.

Candles made from harder wax can be made more rigid with a thin and fine wire. This wire is used to not only make it more stable but also to meet the maximum faster by transferring heat down the wick.

 

Different Types Of Candlewicks

Because they are the most consistent in candle flame longevity and consistency, the majority of slow-burning candle wicks are made from braided or plaited fibres. Below are the most popular fibres used:

Cotton Wicks: are probably the oldest and most commonly used material for wicks. They can be made entirely of cotton or have cotton cores that are surrounded by another material.

Hemp Wicks: are more rigid than other candle wicks and can also be used to heat the flame. Hemp wicks are derived from the hemp plant and coated with beeswax to increase their effectiveness. Hemp wicks work well with all-natural waxes, including soy wax.

Wooden Wicks: These wicks are very stable and burn quickly. Wooden wicks can be used with any type of wax and are easy to use. There are two types of wood wicks: hardwood and softwood. The softwood wicks give off that warm crackle and pop as the candle burns.

Zinc Core Wicks: These wicks do a great job of holding the flame upright and can be used in tealights and container candles, as well as votive candles made with paraffin or gel wax. Natural waxes such as beeswax and soy are not recommended for zinc core wicks.

Paper Core Wicks: are slightly more hot than the zinc wicks, but they are less rigid. These wicks can be used to make containers, pillars, and votive candles.