How to Choose the Right Kind of Candle Wick

When it comes to candle making supplies, there are tons of different options to choose from. If you’re making candles for the first time or making a new kind of candle, the choices can seem overwhelming. In addition to choosing containers, wax, and fragrances, you also have to decide what kind of wick to use.

There are benefits to each type of candle wick, but everyone has their own thoughts on which candle wick is best. If you’re looking for a quick and easy comparison of all the wicks available, this guide will help point you in the right direction!

What are the different kinds of candle wicks?

In the table below, you can find all of the candle wicks we currently carry. These are simply the highlights and main features of our wicks. View the product page for each type of wick to get more information.

If you don’t see a feature listed for a particular wick, that doesn’t mean it’s unsuitable for that purpose. For example, some wicks are especially good for coconut wax blends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for soy and get great results. These features are listed simply as a starting point.

Choosing a Type of Candle Wick

There are benefits to each type of candle wick, and the best type of wick will vary depending on numerous factors. These are a few of the variables that can affect how a wick performs:

• Type of wax
• Size and shape of the candle container
• Container material and color
• Fragrance type
• Fragrance load (percent)
• Colorants
• Additives

It’s easiest to begin by picking a wick based on the type of wax you are using. All of our wicks can be used in soy, coconut wax, beeswax, and paraffin wax. However, the table above specifies the wicks that work especially well in certain kinds of wax. When choosing a type of candle wick, we recommend starting with a wick that is recommended for the wax you are using.

What is the difference between a cored and coreless wick?

When reviewing the table, you may have noticed that some wicks are listed as “coreless” while others are “cored.”

A coreless wick is simply a candle wick that doesn’t have a rigid center core. Coreless candle wicks are not hollow tubes. Instead, coreless wicks are made entirely of fibers that stay rigid on their own. Coreless wicks usually have a flat structure. However, they often still have a round appearance due to the wax coating on the outside.

Cored wicks have an outer structure that is knitted or braided around a paper, cotton, or zinc center. Zinc is the most rigid type of core, followed by paper and cotton. No matter the center material, cored candle wicks tend to be more rigid than coreless wicks because of their construction.

What is the wax coating on candle wicks?

Pre-tabbed candle wicks (like the ones we sell) have a wax coating around the wick fiber. This coating provides structure and stability, while also ensuring the candle burns effectively. The most common types of candle wax coatings are clean burning paraffin and high melt point natural wax. 

Because paraffin wax is more rigid than natural wax, paraffin is commonly used on wicks that do not have a rigid structure on their own. While many candle makers strive to avoid paraffin, it is highly effective as a coating, and is required for certain wicks. Wicks made of softer or more flexible fibers rely on the paraffin coating for stability. We only use clean-burning paraffin on our wicks that have a paraffin coating. 

As an alternative to paraffin, many of our wicks have a high melt point natural wax coating. We opt for this coating on our wicks whenever possible. Candlemakers who want to avoid paraffin wax can choose from a large selection of our wicks that have a natural wax coating.

Please note that this information only applies to the wicks we carry at NorthWood. Other suppliers who carry these wick series may have different coatings.

How to Choose a Size of Wick

After deciding what kind of wick to use, you can begin testing different sizes of wicks. Our Wick Size Chart is a handy tool to use. This chart lists each type of wick with size recommendations based on the diameter of your container and the type of wax you’re using.

How to Test Candles

Perhaps the most important step in making candles is the testing phase. There are so many variables that can affect how a candle performs. Testing is the only way to know with confidence that you’ve chosen the best type and size of wick. Check out our Guide to Testing Candles for a detailed walkthrough of the testing process. Be sure to also download our Free Printable Candle Testing Sheet to keep track of your results!