The most important step in creating your dream candle is to put the right ingredients in your shopping cart. This includes choosing the right wick, the keeper of your fire.

Answer the questions:

Do I have a discarded container from an old candle into which I will put my new wick and pour melted wax? What is the shape of this container? What are its dimensions?

Do I want a freestanding candle, such as a candle made from wrapped beeswax, or a candle removed from a silicone mold?

What type of wax will I use for my candle? What is its melting temperature?

THE WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - THE LENGTH OF THE WICK IS NOT CRUCIAL

Most of the wicks in our shop are 12 cm long, which is a standard length suitable for most candles. The exception to this are the tea light candle wicks which are shorter at 4cm. However, the length of the wick does not determine its strength or what type of candle it is suitable for. If the wick is too long for your candle, simply trim it with scissors.

When choosing a wick, don't be fooled by the numbers in the label - a higher number means a stronger wick that is suitable for larger candle diameters, not the length of the wick in centimetres.

THEWICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - THE RIGHT WICK FOR DIFFERENT WAXES

1. Paraffin wax
   Paraffin wax melts more easily than natural waxes, so here you can use a thinner wick that will quickly form a molten layer. For paraffin wax, wicks that produce a smaller and stable flame are usually chosen.
   
   
2. Softer natural waxes (such as soy or coconut wax)
   Soft waxes, such as soy or coconut wax, require a thicker wick to melt effectively to the edges of the container. It is usually a good idea to use ECO or STABILO wicks to keep the flame stable and help ensure an even burn across the entire surface of the candle.
   
   
3. Harder waxes (such as palm or beeswax)
   Hard waxes need the strongest wick to burn because their melting point is higher. Larger or double wicks can help achieve the necessary wax pool to prevent tunneling. STABILO or LX wicks with greater thickness are often the best choice for these types of waxes.

Proper wick selection for a particular wax helps to extend burn time and ensures that the candle burns evenly and efficiently, without wasting wax or weakening the scent.

THE WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - THE DIAMETER OF THE POOL OF MELTED WAX

If you are preparing your candle in a container, start by measuring the diameter of the container. The goal is that as the candle burns, it will form a "pool" - a layer of melted wax - that extends to the edges of the container. The pool is important because it is from this pool that the wax reaches the flame along the wick. If the diameter of the pool were smaller than the diameter of the vessel, the candle would burn only in the centre, leaving the wax at the edges unused. This would mean a shorter burn time, wasted wax and a weaker fragrance. Therefore, it is crucial that the diameter of the pool matches the diameter of the container to ensure efficient burning and a longer lasting candle.

The diameter of the melted wax layer, called the pool, depends on the wick chosen - a correctly chosen wick will ensure that the melted wax reaches to the edges of the container, preventing tunnelling and unnecessary wax waste.

The ROC (Rate of Consumption)value expresses how many grams of wax the wick evaporates in 1 hour. This value helps you estimate how long the candle will burn. The ROC also affects the flame height and the width of the wax melt layer. Remember that this value is an average and can vary by wax type.

The wick weight (given as wick length per kilogram) determines the thickness of the wick. The higher the number, the finer the wick and the weaker it burns.

You will find tables with important information in our sections on the different types of wicks. We have included a comparison at the end of the document to help you choose the right wick for your wax type and ensure a quality burning candle.

THE WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - HOW TO CUT A NEW AND BURNT OUT WICK

A new cast candle should age for at least 48 hours before lighting for the first time. Cut the wick to a length of approximately 5 mm before lighting. This length will ensure even burning and prevent excessive smoking. If you already have a candle whose wick is burnt out, cut the charred end of the wick to the same length - about 5 mm. You can easily break off this end with a gentle touch, as the excess wick will remain in your hand.

Regular trimming helps to maintain a clean flame and prevents carbon deposits (called "mushrooming"), which improves the quality of the burn and prolongs the life of the candle. Regular wick maintenance is the key to a long-lasting, quality burning candle.

ECO SERIES WICKS

ECO wicks are flat, coreless cotton wicks with paper-thin fibers that are interwoven to ensure burning stability. Specially treated paper fibres ensure controlled twisting of the wick, allowing the EKO series wick to shorten itself, resulting in minimised mushrooming at the tip of the wick. Extinguishing such a candle does not produce excessive amounts of unpleasant soot and smoke. The ECO wick is particularly suitable for vegetable and paraffin waxes with a lower melting point.

LX SERIES BOOKS

LX wicks are uniquely braided, flat wicks with no center, made with support fibers that provide an optimal burn profile. The support fibers allow for a very stable and consistent flame that minimizes or even eliminates the accumulation of embers at the tip ("mushrooming") and thus reduces smoldering, smoke and soot after extinguishing.

The LX Series wicks are designed to improve the burning of paraffin and vegetable waxes in freestanding pillar candles and vessels. This series of wicks is free of heavy metals - lead and zinc.

STABILO SERIES WICKS

Stabilo wicks are coreless, flat braided wicks around which a special paper fiber is woven. This configuration is designed to promote maximum and consistent capillary flow of wax along the wick wall. This also ensures proper flame shortening of the wick.

The Stabilo series is used in a variety of applications and is particularly compatible with harder to melt, viscous vegetable waxes. Stabilo wicks are often used in tea lights, in vessels and in votives - the long prayer candles seen in churches and chapels.

THE WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - A COMPARISON OF THE DIFFERENT WICK SERIES

Each wick line is designed for different wax types and candle characteristics.

ECO Wicks

Benefits:

• The eco-friendly choice: They are lead-free and made from cotton and paper, making them environmentally friendly.
• Clean Burning: These wicks produce less soot and carbon deposits, which helps keep candles clean and provides a more enjoyable burning experience.
• Ideal for natural waxes: ECO wicks are specifically designed for soy, coconut and other natural waxes, but work well with paraffin wax as well.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Limited performance with some waxes: They may be less suitable for some blends or hard waxes that require a stronger flame.
• Lower stability with larger diameters: ECO wicks may be less stable with very large candles where they may tend to burn out.
  
  

LX Wicks

Advantages:

• Versatility: LX wicks work well with both paraffin and natural waxes, making them a versatile choice.
• Stable flame: They are known for their stable and even flame, which minimizes the formation of deposits (called "mushrooming").
• Suitable for a wide range of candles: from small tea lights to larger jar candles and pillar candles.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Slightly higher soot production: Compared to ECO wicks, they can produce more soot, especially when used with harder waxes.
• Less suitable for hard natural waxes: For soy candles in colder environments or with high additive content, they may need testing to ensure proper combustion.
  
  
  

STABILO Wicks

Benefits:

• Suitable for both natural and blended waxes: They are specifically designed to burn with natural waxes such as soy wax, but also work well with some paraffin wax blends.
• Stable flame at larger diameters: these wicks are sturdy and have good stability at larger candle diameters, so they rarely go out.
• Resistance to deposits: Fewer carbon deposits form, which improves appearance and flame stability.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Less effective for smaller candles: STABILO wicks can be unnecessarily thick for small candle diameters, which can cause too intense a flame or faster wax burn.
• Higher cost: Due to the special composition and texture, STABILO wicks can be more expensive than other common wicks.
  
  

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE - BRIEF SUMMARY

• ECO wicks - eco-friendly, clean burning, suitable for natural waxes, less suitable for large diameters.
• LX wicks - versatile, stable flame, suitable for a wide range of candles, occasionally slightly more sooty.
• STABILO wicks - robust, suitable for large candles and natural waxes, can be more expensive and too thick for small diameters.
  
  

Each type of wick has its own advantages and it is important to test them with your particular wax and candle diameter to get the ideal result.