The most important step in creating your dream candle is putting the right raw materials into your shopping cart. This also includes choosing the right wick, the guardian of your flame.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have a container saved from an old candle, into which I will insert a new wick and pour the melted wax? What shape does this container have? What are its dimensions?

Do I want a free‑standing candle, such as a candle made from a rolled beeswax sheet, or a candle unmoulded from a silicone mould?

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

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – WICK LENGTH IS NOT CRUCIAL

Most wicks in our online shop are 12 cm long, which is a standard length suitable for most candles. The exception is wicks for tealights, which are shorter at 4 cm. However, the length of the wick does not determine its strength or which 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, do not be misled by the numbers in the designation – a higher number means a stronger wick, which is suitable for larger candle diameters, not the length of the wick in centimetres.

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – THE RIGHT WICK FOR DIFFERENT WAXES

1. Paraffin wax
   Paraffin melts more easily than natural waxes, so you can use a thinner wick here, which will quickly create a melted wax layer. For paraffin, wicks that produce a smaller, stable flame are usually chosen.
   
   
2. Softer natural waxes (for example soy or coconut)
   Soft waxes such as soy or coconut wax require a stronger wick so that they melt efficiently all the way to the edges of the container. It is usually suitable to use ECO or STABILO wicks, which maintain a stable flame and help ensure even burning across the entire surface of the candle.
   
   
3. Harder waxes (for example 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 tunnelling. STABILO or LX wicks with greater thickness are often the best choice for these types of waxes.

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

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – DIAMETER OF THE MELTED WAX POOL

If you are making a container candle, start by measuring the diameter of the container. The goal is that, while burning, the candle forms a “pool” – a layer of melted wax – that reaches all the way to the edges of the container. The pool is important because it is from this pool that the wax travels up the wick to the flame. If the diameter of the pool were smaller than the diameter of the container, the candle would burn only in the centre, while the wax at the edges would remain unused. This would mean a shorter burn time, wasted wax and weaker scent throw. It is therefore crucial that the pool diameter matches the container diameter, which ensures efficient burning and a longer life of the candle.

The diameter of the melted wax layer, the so‑called pool, depends on the chosen wick – a properly selected wick will ensure that the melted wax reaches the edges of the container, which prevents tunnelling and unnecessary wax wastage.

The ROC value (Rate of Consumption) expresses how many grams of wax the wick evaporates per 1 hour. This value helps you to estimate how long the candle will burn. ROC also influences the flame height and the width of the melted wax layer. Remember that this value is an average and may vary according to the type of wax.

The weight of the wick (given as wick length per 1 kilogram) determines the thickness of the wick. The higher the number, the finer the wick and the weaker it burns.

In our sections with different types of wicks you will find tables with important information. At the end of the document we have included a comparison, which will help you choose the right wick for your wax type and ensure high‑quality candle burning.

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – HOW TO TRIM A NEW AND A BURNED WICK

A freshly poured candle should cure for at least 48 hours before the first lighting. Trim the wick before lighting to a length of approximately 5 mm. This length ensures an even burn and prevents excessive smoking. If you already have a candle whose wick has burned down, cut off the blackened tip of the wick to the same length – about 5 mm. You can simply snap off such a tip with a gentle touch, because the excess wick will remain in your hand.

Regular trimming helps to maintain a clean flame and prevents the formation of carbon deposits (so‑called “mushrooming”), which improves burn quality and extends the life of the candle. Regular wick maintenance is the key to a long‑lasting, clean‑burning candle.

EKO SERIES WICKS

EKO wicks are flat cotton wicks without a core with thin paper fibres that are interwoven to ensure stable burning. Specially treated paper fibres provide controlled curling of the wick, thanks to which the EKO series wick shortens itself, resulting in minimal formation of so‑called “mushrooms” at the tip of the wick. When extinguishing such a candle, no excessive amount of unpleasant soot and smoke is produced. The EKO wick is particularly suitable for vegetable and paraffin waxes with a lower melting point.

LX SERIES WICKS

LX wicks are uniquely braided, flat wicks without a core, made with support fibres that provide an optimal burn profile. The support fibres enable a very stable and consistent flame, which minimises or even eliminates the build‑up of carbon at the tip (“mushrooming”) and thus, after extinguishing, reduces smouldering, smoke and soot.

The LX series wicks are designed to improve the burning of paraffin and vegetable waxes in free‑standing pillar candles and container candles. This series of wicks does not contain heavy metals – lead or zinc.

STABILO SERIES WICKS

Stabilo wicks are coreless, flat braided wicks around which a special paper fibre is woven. This configuration is designed to support maximum and consistent capillary wax flow along the wick wall. This, in turn, ensures proper wick trimming by the flame.

The Stabilo series is used in various applications and is particularly compatible with more difficult to melt, viscous vegetable waxes. Stabilo wicks are often used in tealights, container candles and votives – long devotional candles commonly seen in churches and chapels.

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – COMPARISON OF THE INDIVIDUAL WICK SERIES

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

EKO wicks

Advantages:

• Ecological choice: They are lead‑free and made of cotton and paper, which makes them environmentally friendly.
• Clean burning: These wicks produce less soot and carbon build‑up, which helps keep candles clean and provides a more pleasant burning experience.
• Ideal for natural waxes: EKO wicks are specially designed for soy, coconut and other natural waxes, but they also work well with paraffin.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Limited performance with some waxes: They may be less suitable for certain blends or hard waxes that require a stronger flame.
• Lower stability with larger diameters: EKO wicks may be less stable in very large candles, where they may tend to self‑extinguish.
  
  

LX wicks

Advantages:

• Versatility: LX wicks work well with both paraffin and natural waxes, which makes them a versatile choice.
• Stable flame: They are known for their stable and even flame, which minimises the formation of build‑up (so‑called “mushrooming”).
• Suitable for a wide range of candles: From small tealights to larger container candles and pillar candles.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Slightly higher soot formation: Compared to EKO wicks, they can produce more soot, especially when used with harder waxes.
• Less suitable for hard natural waxes: For soy candles in cooler environments or with a high content of additives, testing may be required to ensure proper burning.
  
  
  

STABILO wicks

Advantages:

• Suitable for natural and blended waxes: They are specially designed for burning with natural waxes such as soy wax, but also work well with some paraffin blends.
• Stable flame at larger diameters: These wicks are robust and have good stability in larger candles, so they rarely go out.
• Resistance to build‑up: They form fewer carbon deposits, which improves the appearance and stability of the flame.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• Less efficient for smaller candles: STABILO wicks can be unnecessarily strong for small candle diameters, which can cause an overly intense flame or faster wax consumption.
• Higher cost: Due to their special composition and structure, STABILO wicks can be more expensive than other common wicks.
  
  

WICK FOR YOUR CANDLE – BRIEF SUMMARY

• EKO wicks – ecological, clean burning, suitable for natural waxes, less suitable for large diameters.
• LX wicks – universal, stable flame, suitable for a wide range of candles, sometimes slightly more soot.
• STABILO wicks – robust, suitable for large candles and natural waxes, can be more expensive and too strong for small diameters.
  
  

Each wick type has its advantages and it is important to test them with the specific wax and candle diameter to achieve the ideal result.