Wooden wick, .02 blue, 15.9 mm

This is a wooden wick for making candles in jars and containers. When burning, it produces a wide, flat flame and a soft crackling sound reminiscent of a fireplace, giving the candle a different character than a cotton wick. It comes as a complete set with a sustainer – the wick slides into a metal tab that holds it perpendicular to the bottom of the container, eliminating the need to glue or fix the wick when pouring wax.

The wick is made in the USA from certified wood as a single-ply wick. The manufacturer describes it as natural, allergen-free, and biodegradable. The blue colouring is a decorative element – it remains visible in the uncoated upper portion of the wick and suits candles where the wick is intended to be part of the overall appearance.

Why choose a wooden wick

• Different burning character – a flat wooden wick burns with a wider flame than a cotton wick and produces a gentle crackling sound. The candle behaves differently both visually and audibly, which is the primary reason wooden wicks are used.
• Easier assembly – the metal sustainer holds the wick centred in the container; no adhesive or centring tools are needed. Place the sustainer on the bottom and slide the wick in.
• Labelled thickness – the designation .02 is the ply thickness according to the manufacturer's system; a higher number means a thicker ply. Plies can be combined into a double wick in a single sustainer if needed.
• Colour accent – the blue colour sets the candle apart from ordinary natural wicks. The colouring does not affect burning behaviour; it is purely for the appearance of the finished candle.

How to work with the wick

Slide the wick into the sustainer tab so that the ply sits firmly and perpendicular. Place the sustainer in the centre of the container and pour the wax. Once set, trim the wick low above the wax surface; a wooden wick trimmed too high is difficult to light and produces smoke, while one trimmed too low will extinguish in the melted wax.

A wooden wick behaves differently from a cotton wick: when lighting it, it requires slightly longer contact with the flame and the flame takes a moment to stabilise. It is important that during the first burn the wax melts across the full diameter of the container – otherwise a tunnel forms and the wick gradually loses its draw.

Good to know

• Choosing the width – the wick width determines the diameter of the melt pool. If the melt pool is narrow during testing and wax remains on the sides of the container, switch to a wider wick or use a double wick (two plies in one sustainer).
• Effect of wax and fragrance – softer plant-based waxes and a higher fragrance load alter flame behaviour. The same wick width may perform differently in paraffin versus soy wax.
• Extinguishing – if a wooden wick repeatedly goes out, the usual causes are trimming it too short, too much melted wax pooling around the ply, or a ply that is too thin for the container.
• Crackling – the intensity of crackling depends on the moisture content of the wood, the wax type, and the flame height. It is not a sign of a defect, but cannot be precisely controlled.
• Sustainer – the metal tab with a circular base is designed for flat wooden wicks and is compatible with straight, double, and cross wicks.

Frequently asked questions