Wooden wick, .02 white, 19.1 mm

Wooden wick, .02 white, 19.1 mm

Flat wooden wick for container candles that quietly crackles like a fireplace while burning and produces a low, wide flame. Supplied as a complete set with a holder – a metal piece that keeps the wick perpendicular to the base of the container and makes pouring wax easier. It is intended for makers who want to give their candles a different character than a classic cotton wick offers: a broad melt pool, a more distinctive look in glass, and a sound that customers perceive as part of the experience.

The wick is made from certified wood in the USA. The manufacturer describes it as natural, allergen-free and biodegradable. The white colour is a cosmetic finish on the strip – the wick blends into light, minimalist candles where the natural wood tone would look out of place.

Key features

• Single strip, thickness .02 – the .02 designation is the manufacturer's sizing system, where a higher number means a thicker strip. A thinner strip burns more gently with a smaller flame, making it suitable for candles where the crackling should be subtle and the flame low.
• Width 19.1 mm – the strip width, together with the thickness and wax type, determines the size of the melt pool. It is the primary parameter when selecting a wick for a given container diameter.
• Wide, low flame – a wooden wick does not burn at a single point like a cotton wick, but across the full width of the strip. The wax melts more evenly sideways and less deeply.
• Sound effect – burning produces a quiet crackling whose intensity depends on the wax, fragrance and the height of the wick above the wax.
• Holder included – a round metal holder with a small base keeps the flat wick upright. It is suitable for single, double and cross wooden wicks, so it works with other variants in the range.

How to work with the wick

The wick is inserted into the holder and the holder is fixed exactly at the centre of the container base with an adhesive pad or a drop of hot wax. During pouring, the strip must remain perpendicular – a tilted wooden wick burns unevenly and overheats one side of the container.

Once the candle has fully set and cured, the wick is trimmed to a low height above the wax. A wooden wick requires a significantly shorter extension than a cotton wick; too long and it is difficult to light and will smoke. The exact height depends on the wax and container diameter and must be determined through testing.

After each burn, a charred layer forms on the edge, which should be broken off or trimmed; otherwise the candle becomes harder to light and the flame weakens. We recommend including this advice on the label or in the instructions for the finished candle.

Suitable for products such as

• Glass and ceramic container candles – the primary use. The flat wick with holder is designed for containers with a flat base, where the holder sits firmly and the strip has room.
• Soy and other natural wax candles – softer waxes with a lower melting point heat well with a wooden wick. The specific wax–fragrance–container combination must be tested.
• Light and minimalist candles – the white strip blends into designs where the natural wood tone would not fit.
• Gift and decorative candles – the crackling and visible flat flame are a selling point that a cotton wick does not offer.

The wick is not intended for freestanding candles without a container (pillar candles, mould candles) – the holder-and-flat-flame construction is not designed for these.

Good to know

Selecting a wooden wick cannot be calculated precisely the way cotton wicks can be with sizing charts. Performance is affected by the wax type, the quantity and type of fragrance oil, colourant, container diameter and material. A width of 19.1 mm and thickness .02 are the starting point – the final decision comes from a test burn in the intended container with the intended wax.

During testing, watch for three things: whether the melt pool extends to the container wall after a few hours (with no unmelted rim that grows with each subsequent burn), whether the flame smokes, and whether the outside of the container becomes uncomfortably hot. If the melt pool is too small, try a thicker strip or a wider wick. If the candle smokes and overheats, try a thinner or narrower one.

Wood is a natural material, so individual wicks in a pack may vary slightly in structure and burn rate. When producing larger batches, it is advisable to test several pieces, not just one.

Frequently asked questions