What Is The Wick Of A Candle?
What is a Candle Wick?
A candle wick is a string or braid of fiber that sits inside the wax of a candle and delivers fuel (melted wax) to the flame through capillary action (Wikipedia, 2022). The main purpose of the wick is to draw melted wax up to the flame in order to keep the candle burning. Wicks are typically made from materials like cotton, paper, or wood that can soak up liquid wax and create a capillary effect.
Candle wicks work by capillary action, which allows the melted wax to travel up the wick to the flame as the wax liquefies. The wax gets absorbed into the wick fibers and is drawn up to the top where it vaporizes in the heat of the flame (Cambridge Dictionary, 2022). This capillary action is essential for transporting the fuel source to the flame and allowing the candle to burn.
Most candle wicks today are made from braided cotton threads. Cotton makes a good wick material because it can absorb and transmit wax efficiently. The braided or twisted shape gives more surface area for the wax to adhere to. Other common wick materials include paper, wood, and fiberglass.
Wick Structure
The makeup of a candle wick depends on whether it is a braided or regular wick. Braided wicks are made by twisting together strands of cotton fiber to form a thick cord (Elements of a Candle: Wicks). This allows more wax to be drawn up the wick and provides more structure and rigidity. Regular wicks use just a single strand of cotton and are more flexible.
Wick thickness or diameter is important for proper burning. Thicker wicks allow more wax to travel up to the flame and are better for large candles or those with high meltpoint waxes. Standard wick diameters range from 1/16″ for votives up to 1/4″ for pillars and large containers (Candle wick). The wick must match the candle diameter – a wick that is too thin for the candle will tunnel, while one too thick will cause smoking.
In relation to candle size, the wick length should be approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch shorter than the diameter of the candle. This allows the melted wax pool to extend to the outer edges as the candle burns down (Candle Care 101: Trim those wicks!). The proper wick length helps ensure full melt and an even burn.
Wick Materials
The most common materials used for candle wicks are cotton, paper, wood, and zinc or tin cores. Cotton is one of the most popular wick materials because it is inexpensive and burns evenly (https://candles.org/elements-of-a-candle/wicks/). Cotton wicks are soft and flexible. However, cotton can create excess soot as it burns.
Paper-cored wicks are stiff and burn hotter than cotton wicks. They produce less soot but can create more wax pooling. Wooden wicks make a crackling sound as they burn and can give off an aromatic scent. However, they may need more frequent trimming than other wicks (https://candlewic.com/).
Metal-core wicks like zinc or tin are stiff and upright. They burn hot and drive melting wax upwards. But zinc and tin can also create more soot. Overall, each wick material has advantages and disadvantages in terms of flexibility, heat, sooting, and other factors.
Wick Types
There are several different types of wicks used in candle making:
Cotton wicks are made from natural cotton fibers and are the most commonly used wick material. Cotton wicks work well for candles made from paraffin, soy, and other wax types. They’re inexpensive and available in different ply and diameter sizes. According to Elements of a Candle: Wicks, cotton wicks provide a bright flame and can bend as they burn to remain in the candle’s molten wax pool.
Wooden wicks use wood fiber cores covered in natural fibers like cotton. As the Guide to Candle Wicks | How to Decide Which Wick To Use explains, wooden wicks make a crackling sound as they burn and are often used for decorative novelty candles. The hard wood core helps the wick stand upright. Wood wicks come in both hard and soft wood varieties.
Paper wicks are made from flat braided paper and are designed to curl back into the melted wax pool as they burn. They have a gentle flame and produce less soot than some wick types. Paper wicks work well for container candles.
Beeswax wicks are made from twisted natural beeswax sheets. They have a natural honey aroma when burning and work well with organic vegetable waxes like soy, palm, or beeswax candles. Beeswax wicks are optimal for candles using beeswax blends.
Specialty wicks include options like zinc or tin core wicks designed for big pillars or outdoor candles since they’re very stiff. There are also novelty options like square braided wicks. Wick choices depend on the type of wax, desired candle burn properties, and aesthetic. Testing different wicks to find the best option is key.
Wick Trimming
Trimming the wick before lighting a candle is an important step that many people overlook. But regularly trimming your candle’s wick can help ensure proper candle performance and safety.
As a candle burns, the wick slowly chars and forms a mushroom-like tip. This carbonized section prevents the wick from curling properly and absorbing wax, causing issues like black smoke, soot, and tall, uncontrolled flames. Trimming the wick gets rid of this charred portion so a fresh wick can burn cleanly.
Experts recommend trimming the wick to 1/4 inch before each use. This allows the wick to curl and burn slowly without getting too large. Use sharp scissors or a specialized wick trimmer tool to neatly snip off the tip of the wick.
Trimming also helps candles last longer. An improperly burning wick consumes wax more quickly. A trimmed wick optimizes wax usage so the candle burns evenly and efficiently down to the bottom.
Trimming regularly prevents common candle issues like tunneling and sinking. It’s simple routine maintenance that extends the life of any candle.
Wick Problems
There are a few common issues that can occur with candle wicks.
One problem is wick mushrooming. This happens when the wick curls over on itself while burning, creating a mushroom-like shape (source). Mushrooming prevents the wax from properly melting and the candle from burning correctly.
Another issue is candle tunneling, which is when wax melts unevenly down the sides of the candle, creating a tunnel shape. Tunneling can be caused by an improperly trimmed or centered wick (source).
Candle smoking is another common wick problem. This occurs when the wick is too large for the wax pool, causing incomplete combustion and excess smoke. Smoking can lead to a dull flame, black smoke, and an unpleasant burning odor.
Properly trimming and centering the wick, and matching the wick size to the candle diameter, can help prevent these wick issues.
Choosing the Right Wick
Selecting the proper wick is crucial for a well-performing candle. The wick must be matched to the type of wax, candle diameter, fragrance load, and other factors. Generally, a larger candle diameter requires a larger wick, while a high fragrance load needs a smaller wick to prevent smoking. For soy, beeswax, or vegetable wax candles, wicks such as CD, ECO, LX, and HTP are recommended. Paraffin wax performs well with standard cotton wicks.
Wick testing involves burning a sample candle for several hours and evaluating criteria like mushrooming, sinking, tunneling, etc. Adjusting the wick if needed and re-testing until optimal performance is reached. The CandleScience Wick Guide provides detailed recommendations based on wax type and candle specifications.
Wick Alternatives
While traditionally candle wicks are made from materials like cotton, other natural fibers can also be used to create homemade candle wicks. Wicks made from alternative materials may affect how the candle burns. Many people use natural materials around their home for emergency or makeshift candle wicks. Some popular alternative candle wick materials include:
- Newspaper
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Cardboard
- Twine or string
- Embroidery floss
- Wood
You can also braid multiple strands of a material together to create a unique wick design. For example, try braiding together cotton twine, hemp twine, and a natural fiber like bamboo. The different wick materials may cause the candle to burn at different rates for a more dynamic flame. Get creative with natural DIY wick materials around your home to make one-of-a-kind candle wicks.
History of Candle Wicks
Historians have found evidence that civilizations were creating wicked candles using waxes from available plants and insects as early as 3000 BC. The early Chinese used rice paper as a wick material, while ancient Egyptians used rolled papyrus (Source: https://blog.lafco.com/history-of-candle-making/).
Wick innovations continued through the centuries. Dipped candles made from tallow using fiber wicks were created by Romans around 1000 BC. In Medieval times, reeds and twisted linen threads were common wick materials. The early Colonial Americans experimented with wicks made from cotton, flax, and milkweed fibers. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that braided cotton wicks treated with borax became widely used, allowing for a brighter flame and preventing mushrooming of the wick tip. Synthetic wick materials like nylon and rayon were introduced in the 1900s (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_candle_making).
Importance of the Wick
The wick is arguably the most crucial component of a candle. Without the wick, the candle would not be able to burn properly. The wick serves several key functions:
The wick acts as a fuel delivery system, drawing liquefied wax up into the flame to keep the candle burning. The wick essentially pumps fuel to the flame through capillary action. As the wax pool melts, the wick soaks up the liquid wax via capillary action and transports it to the flame so it can be vaporized and burned.
The wick also regulates the size and shape of the flame. Different wick types and sizes will produce different flame heights and shapes. The width and fiber makeup of the wick impacts how quickly fuel is delivered to the flame. A wider wick will allow more wax to travel up to the flame, creating a larger flame. The flame size also impacts how quickly the wax pool melts.
Without a properly sized and constructed wick, the candle will not burn correctly. A wick that is too small will produce a flame that is too weak, sputtering and struggling to stay lit. A wick that is too large will result in an uncontrolled, sooty flame as too much fuel is fed to the flame. Choosing the optimal wick type and size for the wax and candle dimensions is critical in candle making and design.
Thus the wick enables controlled, complete combustion and optimal melting of the wax fuel source. It is an ingenious and elegant solution for delivering fuel to a flame – allowing candles to burn slowly, steadily, and safely.
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