Wick Choice: Fragrance Oil's Impact On Candle Wick Selection

Choosing the right wick for your candle is a complex process that can take weeks or even months to get right. It's important to take into account whether you'll be using fragrance oil or not, as adding fragrance oil to your wax changes the composition and relationship between the wax blend and the flame of the burning wick. For example, if you've made an unscented candle that burns well with a particular wick, adding fragrance oil may cause the candle to burn differently. The type of fragrance oil you choose can also impact the size of wick you need, with some oils requiring a bigger wick for the candle to perform at its best.

The type of fragrance oil used can change the relationship between the wax blend and the flame of the wick

The type of fragrance oil you choose will also determine the brand and size of wick you need to use. For example, the brand and size of wick you use for a Karen 30cl Clear Glass Container with a 78mm diameter will differ from the brand and size of wick you use for a Karen 20cl Matte Black Container with a 70mm diameter.

The blend of the oil with the wax can cause the wick to burn differently

When it comes to choosing the right wick for your candle, it's important to consider whether you'll be using fragrance oil or not. This is because adding fragrance oil to your wax changes the composition and relationship between the wax blend and the flame of the burning wick. For example, if you've made an unscented candle that burns well using a particular wick, adding fragrance oils may cause the candle to burn differently. This is purely down to the blend of the oil with the wax, which causes the wick to burn differently than an unscented candle. In this case, you may need to use a larger wick size to get the best performance.

The process of choosing the right wick can be frustrating and time-consuming, as it often requires testing different brands and sizes to find the best option. The size of the vessel also matters, as different vessel sizes require different wick sizes. It's worth noting that there isn't a universal wick that fits all candles, so it's important to be prepared to test and adjust as needed.

The size of the wick may need to be adjusted depending on the fragrance oil used

The process of choosing the right wick can be frustrating and time-consuming, requiring testing of different brands and sizes of wicks in your chosen vessels to see which performs the best. If you're using a variety of vessel sizes, each will require a different wick. Unfortunately, there isn't a universal one-size-fits-all wick.

The fragrance oil you choose may require you to go up or down a size or more in wick. For example, if you're using the Karen 30cl Clear Glass Container with a 78mm diameter, you'd use the TCR30/18, Eco14, LX20 or Stabilo14 wick as a starting point. However, if you then decide to add fragrance oils, you may need to use one or two wick sizes bigger (a process known as 'wicking up') for the wick to perform at its best.

Different brands of wicks may be needed to be tested to find the best one

Yes, the fragrance oil used does matter when choosing a wick. Adding fragrance oil to your wax changes the entire composition and relationship between the wax blend and the flame of the burning wick. For example, if you've made an unscented candle that burns well using a certain wick, adding fragrance oil may cause it to burn differently.

It's important to test different brands and sizes of wicks to see which performs the best. This process can be frustrating and time-consuming, but it's worth it to ensure your candle burns properly.

The size of the vessel will determine the type of wick needed

When it comes to choosing a wick, it's important to take into account whether you'll be using fragrance oil or not. This is because adding fragrance oil to your wax changes the entire composition and relationship between the wax blend and the flame of the burning wick. For example, you may have made a well-burning unscented candle using a Stabilo8 wick. If you then add fragrance oils, you may find the candle doesn't burn as expected.

Different vessels may require two, or even three smaller wicks rather than one large one for optimal performance. Larger containers or wide-diameter pillars demand thicker wicks to ensure proper burning. Consider using wicks labelled as "Large" or "Pillar" size for these vessel sizes.

It's important to test different brands and sizes of wicks in your chosen vessels to see which performs the best. If you're using a variety of vessel sizes, each vessel will require a different wick.

Frequently asked questions