The Core Function - Understanding Wick Types, Sizes, and Basic Performance

The wick is the silent engine driving your scented candle. Its selection is paramount, directly influencing safety, burn quality, scent throw, and longevity. At its most fundamental, choosing a wick involves understanding the different types, sizing principles, and their core performance functions.

• Primary Wick Types:

• Flat Braided Cotton: The workhorse. Braided cotton fibers create a flat profile. Reliable, clean-burning (when properly sized/trimmed), versatile. Comes in various widths (e.g., CD, CDN, LX, ECO series). Good for most waxes, especially soy and blends.
• Cored Wicks: Feature a central core (cotton, paper, zinc, or tin) surrounded by cotton braid. The core provides rigidity, preventing curling and aiding stability in softer waxes or container candles.

• Cotton-Cored / Paper-Cored: More rigid than flat braid, still natural. Good for votives, pillars, or softer waxes.
• Zinc-Core / Tin-Core: Metal core offers maximum rigidity. Excellent for pillars, outdoor candles, or very deep containers. Note: Concerns exist about potential trace metal emissions; lead-core wicks are banned in many places. Look for "lead-free".

• Wooden Wicks: Solid or laminated wood strips (balsa, cherry, birch). Offer a unique aesthetic (wide flame) and signature soft crackling sound. Require specific sizing and meticulous trimming (often shorter than cotton) to avoid excessive smoking and carbon buildup ("mushrooming"). Best suited for certain waxes (soy, coconut blends) and wider containers. Sustainability depends on sourcing.

• Wick Sizing - It's Not One-Size-Fits-All:

• Diameter Dictates Size: The container diameter is the primary factor determining wick size/number. A wick too small won't create a full melt pool (leading to tunneling). A wick too large creates excessive heat, deep melt pools, soot, fragrance degradation, and potential container cracking.
• Wax Type Matters: Different waxes (soy, paraffin, coconut, beeswax, blends) have different densities and melt points, affecting how the wick draws fuel. Soy generally needs larger wicks than paraffin for the same diameter. Coconut wax often requires slightly larger wicks than soy.
• Fragrance Load & Type: High fragrance oil concentration (over ~10%) or heavy/dense oils (like vanilla, some musks) can require a slightly larger wick. Lighter citrus scents might need a smaller wick.
• Additives: Dyes or hardeners can affect wax flow and wick performance.

Why this matters: Selecting the correct wick type and size is the absolute foundation for a safe, functional candle. It ensures complete wax consumption (no wasted tunneling), optimal scent release (hot throw), controlled flame height, minimal soot, and prevents overheating. Ignoring this leads to frustration, wasted product, and potential hazards.