Most consumers usually think of a candle’s shape, color, or fragrance as its most important element. However, the wick also plays a crucial role. In this article, we will explore what candle wicks are made of and their significance in candle burning.
About Candle Wicks
The purpose of a wick is to deliver fuel (wax) to the flame. Acting like a fuel pump, the wick draws the liquefied wax up into the flame to burn. Different wick sizes allow for different amounts of fuel to be drawn into the flame. Too much fuel, and the flame will flare and soot; too little fuel, and the flame will sputter out.
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There are hundreds of different styles and sizes of wicks. The type of wax used in a candle, as well as the candle’s size, shape, color, and fragrance materials, all impact wick choice. Selecting the correct wick is critical to making a candle that burns cleanly and properly. Reputable candle manufacturers take great care in choosing a wick of the proper size, shape, and material to meet the burn requirements of a particular candle.
Types of Wicks
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Most high-quality wicks are made from braided, plaited, or knitted fibers to encourage a slow and consistent burn. In general, twisted wicks are of lower quality than braided or knitted wicks. They burn much faster because their loose construction allows more fuel to quickly reach the flame. However, twisted wicks are useful for certain applications, such as birthday candles.
In general, wicks can be divided into the following major types:
Flat Wicks
These flat-plaited or knitted wicks, usually made from three bundles of fiber, are very consistent in their burning and curl in the flame for a self-trimming effect. They are the most commonly used wicks and are often found in taper and pillar candles.
Square Wicks
These braided or knitted wicks also curl in the flame but are more rounded and a bit more robust than flat wicks. They are preferred for beeswax applications and can help inhibit clogging of the wick, which can occur with certain types of wax formulations, pigments, or fragrances.
Cored Wicks
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These braided or knitted wicks use a core material to keep the wick straight or upright while burning. The wicks have a round cross-section, and the use of different core materials provides a range of stiffness effects. The most common core materials for wicks are cotton, paper, zinc, or tin. Cored wicks can be found in jar candles, pillars, votives, and devotional lights.
Wooden Wicks
Wooden wicks have become popular in recent years for the visual aesthetic they create and the soft crackling sound they produce. Wooden wicks are available as single-ply, multi-layered, curved, and decorative-shaped wicks made from 100% wood, semi-wood, fibrous material, or cotton and wood combinations.
Specialty Wicks
These wicks are specially designed to meet the burn characteristics of specific candle applications, such as oil lamps and insect-repellent candles.
Comments: It is fascinating to see the variety of wick types available in the market. Each type serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall burning experience of a candle. Manufacturers invest considerable effort in choosing the appropriate wick for their candles to ensure optimal performance and customer satisfaction.
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