What Kind Of Wood Is Used In Woodwick Candles?

WoodWick candles are known for their distinctive crackling sound that mimics a real wood fire. As the candle burns, the wooden wick creates a peaceful, soothing noise reminiscent of logs popping and snapping in a cozy fireplace. The wooden wick contains tiny wooden beads that rub together when heated, producing the familiar crackling wood fire sound. This sets WoodWick candles apart from regular candles, creating a multi-sensory experience for the user. The unique wooden wick is what makes WoodWick candles so special.

The purpose of this article is to provide an in-depth look at WoodWick candles, exploring what type of wood is used in the wicks and how it creates that authentic crackling fire sound. We’ll take a behind-the-scenes look at the wood sourcing, preparation, and safety testing involved in making the wooden wicks. This article aims to satisfy the curiosity of WoodWick enthusiasts and provide a comprehensive understanding of how these innovative candles are made.

History of WoodWick

WoodWick candles were first invented in the 1990s by candle maker John Houghton in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1999, the WoodWick candle company was founded and a patent was filed for the unique wooden wick created by Houghton.

The key innovation was the wooden wick used in WoodWick candles. Most candle wicks at the time were made of cotton. Houghton discovered that using wood for the wick made an audible crackling sound when the candle was lit, similar to a fireplace. This provided both light and comforting ambient sound when burning the candles.

Another important development was the use of premium natural wax instead of cheaper paraffin wax. WoodWick uses a blend of soy, palm and paraffin wax to produce a slower, cleaner burn compared to standard paraffin candles.

Over the years, WoodWick has expanded from a small craft candle company to a leading global candle brand. They have patented several wick innovations and introduced new candle scents and designs while maintaining the homespun, craftsman feel associated with the brand.

What Makes the Crackling Sound?

The distinctive crackling sound of WoodWick candles comes from a patented wooden wick at the center of each candle. This specialty wick contains wood particles that are tightly bound together with other natural fibers to form the wick. As the wick burns, small pockets of air between the wood particles heat up and pop, creating a natural crackling sound reminiscent of a wood fire.

The sound profile is customized for each WoodWick candle fragrance by adjusting the thickness, width, and wood content of the wick. This helps produce the ideal wood-fire sound to complement each scent. Extensive testing and custom engineering goes into designing each wick to replicate the soothing, relaxing sound of burning wood.

The wooden wick contains no chemicals, adhesives, or synthetic materials. It is made from natural cotton, wood, and other plant materials. When the candle burns down completely, the wick self-extinguishes and leaves behind a soft, powdery ash, just like wood burning in a fireplace.

Types of Wood Used

WoodWick candles utilize several types of natural wood to create their unique crackling sound. The most commonly used woods are bamboo, pine, cedar, and beech.

Bamboo is a popular choice as it burns evenly and produces a pleasant crackling noise. It’s a renewable resource as bamboo regrows quickly after harvesting. Pine and cedar are softwoods that provide a subtle, quiet crackle. Beech wood generates a louder pop and snap when burned. It’s a hardwood that’s more dense and durable.

In addition to these primary wood types, WoodWick also uses secondary woods like oak, maple, and birch. The specific combination of woods results in the signature WoodWick crackle. Natural oils and resins present in the wood contribute to the sounds created as the wood heats up and burns inside the candle. Woods are carefully selected and tested to ensure optimal performance and pleasing sounds when the candles are lit.

Sourcing the Wood

WoodWick sources its wood from carefully selected regions and suppliers known for producing high quality, sustainable wood. Their primary sources include oak trees from the Appalachian mountains and maple trees from New England forests in the United States. WoodWick has also sourced wood from aspen trees from Scandinavian countries for some of its products. These are all regions with a long history of supplying wood for various industries and crafts.

WoodWick focuses on using suppliers that practice responsible forest management and harvest their logs sustainably. The company prides itself on developing longstanding partnerships with local businesses and sawmills within these major wood sourcing regions. This allows them to have full visibility into the supply chain and ensure all their wood comes from renewable forests. Many of their North American suppliers are responsible forestry program certified, meeting stringent industry standards for sustainable practices.

The high quality and consistent grain of wood from these legacy supplying regions is crucial to the performance of WoodWick candles. The careful selection of wood type and source allows WoodWick to produce candles that meet their brand standards for crackling sound, burning time, and aroma diffusion.

Wood Preparation Process

The unique crackling sound of WoodWick candles comes from tiny slivers of real wood that are embedded into the wick. But before the wood can be added, it goes through an extensive preparation process to make sure it is safe and optimized for use in candles.

The wood preparation process involves several key steps:

• Selection – Only natural, sustainable wood is selected, often maple, pine or other softwoods. Hardwoods are avoided as they can create more smoke.
• Chipping – The wood is chipped into tiny slivers no more than 1mm thick. This maximizes surface area for an even burn.
• Cleaning – The wood slivers are thoroughly cleaned to remove any dust, sap or resins. This helps reduce unwanted smoking.
• Drying – The wood chips are carefully dried to reduce moisture content. Too much moisture can affect the burn quality.
• Sterilization – The chips are sterilized using pressurized steam to destroy any bacteria or organisms.
• Mixing – The sterilized wood slivers are then mixed with the cotton wick material so they are evenly distributed.
• Quality Control – Samples from each wick batch are tested to ensure proper wood content and optimal crackling sound.

By starting with sustainably-sourced wood and putting it through this multi-step process, WoodWick is able to integrate real wood into their candle wicks safely and effectively. The result is the signature crackling sound WoodWick candles are known for.

Safety and Testing

WoodWick takes pride in producing safe, high-quality candles. All WoodWick candles undergo rigorous safety testing and quality control procedures.

Every batch of wax and every wick is tested to ensure it meets flammability standards. Wicks are trimmed to specific lengths and widths that have been proven to burn cleanly and safely. The candle making process is closely monitored, with finished candles subject to strict quality checks before packaging.

WoodWick adheres to established industry safety standards, including those from the ASTM International and National Fire Protection Association. This ensures candles meet requirements related to factors like flame height and stability, resistance to ignition from common household sources, and more.

In addition to third-party testing, WoodWick conducts extensive internal testing on all candle designs. From burn tests to product performance reviews, the goal is to guarantee excellent quality and safety. No candle is sold without undergoing a battery of assessments first.

Thanks to this stringent testing protocol, WoodWick candles have an excellent safety record. The brand puts consumer wellbeing first and takes every precaution to minimize risk.

Environmental Sustainability

WoodWick takes sustainability very seriously when sourcing the wood for their candles. They only use wood from responsibly managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. Their goal is to source wood in a way that does not damage forest ecosystems or deplete natural resources.

All the wood used in WoodWick candles is FSC-certified, meaning it comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. The FSC certification ensures several important criteria are met, including:

• Protection of water resources
• Maintenance of soil health and fertility
• Conservation of biodiversity
• Sustainable harvesting levels

In addition, WoodWick has partnered with American Forests to replant trees in high need conservation areas across the United States. For every WoodWick candle sold, a portion of proceeds goes towards planting a new tree. So far, WoodWick has helped plant over 400,000 trees through this initiative.

Overall, WoodWick sets a strong example for sustainable sourcing and environmental responsibility when it comes to producing their signature wooden wick candles. Their commitment to using FSC-certified wood and giving back through reforestation displays their ethos of caring for the Earth while crafting a quality product.

The WoodWick Difference

WoodWick candles stand out from other candle brands because of their distinctive crackling sound as they burn. This soothing, natural sound creates a relaxing environment and mindset for the candle user. The sound comes from the unique WoodWick at the center of each candle, which has a wooden core that cracks and pops as the flame heats the wood. This wood core sets WoodWick apart from standard cotton wicks used in most candles.

In addition to the patented WoodWick, these candles use premium natural waxes and fragrance oils. The wax helps the candles burn cleaner and longer than standard paraffin candles. The fragrance oils are carefully crafted to deliver bold, natural scents. From classic aromas like vanilla and cedar to seasonal scents like pumpkin spice and winter pine, WoodWick offers sensorial fragrances that fill a space beautifully.

Ultimately, WoodWick aims to create an exceptional candle experience. The soothing crackle, clean burn, and bold fragrances transport candle users and create a relaxed, cozy mood. WoodWick sets a higher bar for quality and sensory impact so that lighting a WoodWick candle becomes a special moment to savor.

Conclusion

The WoodWick candle, with its patented wooden wick, has become a popular candle choice for consumers. As we learned, the natural wood wick is what creates the soothing, familiar crackling sound that makes WoodWick candles so unique. While most candles use cotton wicks, WoodWicks use wood sourced from sustainably harvested trees.

The specific wood used depends on the scent and style of the candle, but commonly used woods include pine, oak and bamboo. WoodWick puts great care into sourcing quality wood and preparing it properly so that it burns evenly and smoothly. Extensive safety testing also ensures that the wooden wicks meet safety standards.

The natural wood wick is ultimately what sets WoodWick candles apart. Consumers appreciate the warm, welcoming crackle and the environmental sustainability of using wood sourced from replanted trees. With their inviting scents and familiar wooden crackling, WoodWick candles create an enjoyable and relaxing experience.