Getting Started

The challenge of selecting the right wick takes time. 

The best way to find the right wick is to test each wick in the final candle formula chosen.

Before test burning, the following should already be established:

Candle type: 

• Tealights
• Votive
• Pillars
• Container (Glass, Metal, Ceramic, etc.)  

Wax type: 

• Paraffin Based (Fully-refined, Semi-refined, Petrolatum, etc.)
• Natural Based (Soy, Palm, Stearic, etc.)
• Paraffin/Natural Blends (Comprised of both Paraffin and Natural Waxes)  

Fragrance:

• Essential or Synthetic oil
• The percentage of fragrance in the candle.  

Color: 

• Light or dark.
• Chips, liquid, powder or flakes.

Once the formula of the candle is complete, it is then time for the step of testing for the right wick. 

Certain wicks may not burn as well as others depending on the final make-up of the candle.  Be sure to read the full product description of our wicks before testing. (See the “Products Page” for further details.) 

Several different wick types for each size candle should be tested. 

Sample Preparation:

• Melt wax to 10 – 15 degrees above its melting point (refer to supplier specifications).
• Pre-glue the wick if preferred.
• Pre-heat the containers if necessary.
• Mix in the dye (for powdered dyes, it is best to mix the dye into the fragrance before adding it to the wax).
• Mix in the fragrance just before wax is ready to pour.
• Pour candle evenly into container
• Wait until bottom is cloudy, then insert wick if not already glued.
• Allow candle to cool
• Add second layer or “top-off” if necessary

The candle should cool overnight before lighting it. This allows for it to completely cool into its solid state.

Test Burning:

• Test burn a candle for a minimum of 3-4 hours each time.
• The candle should sit 4-5 hours between lightings.
• Repeat 4-5 times, or to the end of the candle, before deciding which wick is best.
  • NOTE: Getting a candle to burn to the edge in the first 3-4 hours is not always the best way to judge how good a wick is. Too big a wick can lead to a poor burning candle that may smoke.
• Once the wick is narrowed down to the “right” size, several more candles should be produced under the same test conditions as before and then burned to their entirety.
• Be sure to test the chosen wick in several different colors and scents.
• Quite often, it may be necessary to chose more than one wick per candle type based on color and fragrance content.