Wooden wick, .02 red, 19.1 mm

The wooden wick .02 in red is a flat single-layer wick for container candle making. Unlike a classic cotton wick, it gives the candle a wider, flat flame and crackles softly while burning, reminiscent of a fireplace. The red colour turns the wick into a visual element that stands out particularly in light or transparent wax. It is supplied complete with a metal sustainer that holds the wick upright on the bottom of the container, so nothing extra needs to be purchased.

The wicks are manufactured by the American maker Makesy from certified wood. According to the manufacturer, they are natural, allergen-free, and biodegradable.

Key features

• Single layer, thickness .02 – the .02 designation refers to the layer thickness as defined by the manufacturer; a higher number means a thicker layer, which draws more fuel to the flame. Which thickness suits a given container and wax is determined by a test burn.
• Layer width 19.1 mm – together with the thickness, this determines how much wax the wick can melt. Suitability for a specific container diameter must always be verified by a test burn.
• Crackling while burning – wood crackles gently when it burns; this acoustic effect is the main reason candle makers reach for wooden wicks.
• Red colour – a coloured wick is visible through the wall of a glass container and on the surface of the candle, and can be coordinated with the wax colour or label.
• Metal sustainer included – a round metal tab with a small circular base into which the layer slides. The sustainer is suitable for straight, double, and cross wooden wicks.

How to work with the wick

The wick is inserted into the metal sustainer and the sustainer is fixed to the centre of the container bottom. A wick sticker, hot-melt adhesive, or a drop of melted wax works well for securing it. The sustainer must sit straight; if it is off-centre the wick will tilt as the wax solidifies and the candle will burn unevenly.

Wax is poured at the temperature recommended for the given wax type. A wooden wick does not need to be held taut during pouring the way a cotton wick does — the sustainer holds it in place. After the candle has cooled and cured, the wick is trimmed just above the wax surface; the exact height is determined by a test burn.

Wax and container selection

Wooden wicks are used primarily in container candle waxes that are sufficiently fluid in the melted state, such as soy, coconut, or rapeseed wax and their blends. In harder waxes with a higher melting point the flame may be weak, in which case a thicker layer or a double wick should be considered. The melted wax pool should reach all the way to the container wall on every burn: if a tunnel remains at the edge, the wick is too narrow for that container; if the wax boils and produces soot, it is too wide.

In scented candles the fragrance load also affects burning behaviour, so every new combination of wax, fragrance, and container is tested separately.

Suitable for products such as

• candles in glass or ceramic with a crackling wick, where the acoustic effect is part of the experience,
• colour-coordinated decorative candles in which the red wick is intended to show through clear glass or in light-coloured wax,
• gift and seasonal candles (Christmas, Valentine's Day), where the red colour reinforces the theme,
• massage candles in containers, provided the wax and wick pass a test burn.

Good to know

The wick is intended for container candles, not for freestanding poured candles. Wood ignites more slowly than cotton on the first lighting, so the wick is lit at the top edge of the layer and the flame is allowed to spread across the full width. If the candle goes out during the first burn, the most common cause is a wick that is too long, not a defective wick.

A coloured wick should also be assessed from the perspective of the finished candle's appearance, especially with white wax, to ensure the colour effect reads as intended. The sustainer is metal; once the candle has burned down it can be removed from the container so the container can be reused.

Frequently asked questions