Which Wick?
We get TONS of questions about wicks pretty much every day. We know there is a lot of confusion about wicks so we decided to shed some light on this murky subject! Read on to learn more about wicks and how they work for your container candles.
A container candle that is properly wicked will have certain characteristics.
First, the wick should be centered in the container and trimmed to 1/8-1/4 inch. A wick that is not centered may cause your candle to have excess un-melted wax on one side. Some people might assume in this case that the wick is not the correct size, however it could simply be that the wick was not centered in the container. In addition to the base being placed in the center of the container, most wicks need to be stabilized in the candle to ensure that the wick does not sag or move as the candle wax is solidifying. Sagging or slanted wicks will also cause the candle to burn irregularly.
When burned for 2.5-3 hours, the melt pool should reach the outer edges of the container, leaving little to no excess wax. The depth of the melt pool should be roughly 1/4-1/2 inch deep. If the melt pool being created is deeper than 1/2 inch, then consider testing a smaller size wick.
Excessive mushrooming or smoke may also be an indicator that the wick is too large. However, some fragrances may cause more mushrooming than others and excessive candle dye or other additives can also cause mushrooming and smoke.
Personal preference is a huge factor when choosing a wick. This is why we recommend testing when you change even one variable in your candles. Some people prefer a low flame while others like the look of a taller flame. Some candle makers are alarmed when they see any carbon formation on the tip of the wick, while others don’t mind at all. This is a highly personal process so please, test, test, test!
When we are asked to recommend a wick, we use our own experiences and knowledge to make recommendations, however product testing is critical and the maker is always responsible for their own finished product.
We have personally tested the entire LX series of wicks in both soy wax and paraffin wax. Because of this, we are most comfortable recommending this wick series to those that ask our opinion. We have included a diagram of our burn results for your use. Your results may vary depending on fragrance, color and wax used. This diagram does not substitute for proper testing, and the images may not be actual size. Please note the measurements in the centers of the circles. The manufacturer’s recommendations in addition to our burn test results are posted at CommunityCandleSupply.com. (Did I mention testing?!).
The LX wick is a uniquely braided cotton coreless, flat wick manufactured with stabilizing threads that ensure an optimum burn profile. This allows for a very stable and consistent flame, which minimizes or eliminates carbon buildup (mushrooming) while reducing afterglow, smoke and soot.
