If you’re a true candle connoisseur you’ve dealt with all sorts of wick types and sizes, but if you’ve just discovered your passion for candles you might not know the different in candle wicks.
We love creating candles with both wick types, which is why we offer both wicks on all our products. We do feel however there are enough differences between each to warrant us covering each in detail.
Cotton Wicks
Chances are if you’ve ever lit a candle, it was a cotton wick. Cotton wicks are by far the most popular wick type in the market today. Cotton wicks are made by braiding strands of cotton, then dipping the braid in wax and compressing to help hold their shape. This creates a lower cost wick over wood and generally easier to maintain candles.
Scent Throw
In our experience, cotton wicks have a slightly weaker scent throw than wood. We find this is generally because wood wicks sit lower within a candle’s wax pool and smolders while lit.
Ease Of Use
Cotton wick candles are much easier to use and maintain. Cotton wicks will generally burn through anything, and will light easier than wood wick. It is very difficult to light a wood candle with a match without coming away with singed fingers, but a cotton wick candle will light pretty much every time with a match.
Cotton wick candles are actually more forgiving if they aren’t trimmed correctly. Wood wicks are generally more finicky and particular about their length.
Mushrooming
With cotton wicks comes the unsightly mushroom issue. Mushrooming is when a wick bulges out from the tip to create a mushroom shape at the top. While this really has no affect on the candle and how it burns, it looks sloppy and odd.
Wooden Wicks
Wood candle wicks are mainly thought as the “premium” candle wicks, and for good reason. These wicks are made of thin wooden slabs or wooden tubes crafted specifically for candle making. They are generally wider than cotton wicks, and project a more pleasing aesthetic in our eyes than cotton wicks.
Wood wicks are more difficult to maintain and light than cotton wicks. With wood wicks, length matters as too long and your flame will be very large and can pose a fire hazard. Too short and your wick will down in the candles wax pool. Trimming your wooden wick is key. For tips on maintain your wood wick candle refer to our How To Light Your Candle For The First Time blog post.
Scent Throw
The scent throw of wood wick candles is fantastic, and one of the biggest benefits of wood wicks. This is mainly due to the fact that wood wicks need constant trimming, so they sit and burn lower in the candle’s wax pool. This combined with the fact that they are wider overall creates a more robust scent throw than cotton wicks.
The Crackle
Nothing beats a wood wick’s crackle while burning. Combine this with a good book and glass of wine and you’ll be relaxed in no time.
Wood wicks give off a very distinct crackle when burning, which is why many people prefer them over cotton wick candles which are generally silent while lit.
Toxin Free
Being made entirely of wood, wood wicks are toxic free and cleaner burning overall. In addition to being toxin free our wood wick supplier pledges to plant a tree with the “Trees for the Future” organization, working to end hunger and poverty for small farmers by revitalizing degraded lands.
Longer Lasting
Wood wick candles can help extend your candles overall burn time by burning much slower than cotton wicks.
Regardless of which wick type you choose when purchasing your candle, you can’t go wrong. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages but as long as you care for your candle and perform a proper “First Burn” when lighting for the first time, your candle will provide a wonderful fragrance and beautiful glow for any room in your house.