What a wick actually controls
The wick controls the rate of combustion. A larger wick pulls more melted wax up to the flame, which creates a larger melt pool, more heat, and stronger scent throw. A smaller wick does the opposite. The goal is a wick that creates a full melt pool — liquid wax reaching the edges of the vessel — within 2–4 hours of burning, without overheating the jar or producing soot.
Get it right: full melt pool, clean burn, strong throw, no black smoke. Too large: mushrooming, soot, excessive heat, possible jar cracking. Too small: tunneling, wax waste, weak throw, poor aesthetics.
Understanding wick series
Wicks are grouped into series — CD, ECO, LX, HTP, and others. Each series has different construction characteristics that affect how it burns. Within each series, higher numbers mean larger wicks and stronger burn.
CD series — Cotton core, coreless design. Burns cleanly with minimal mushrooming. Good general-purpose wick for container candles. A CD-6 burns stronger than a CD-4.
ECO series — Cotton and paper core. Slightly stiffer than CD wicks, good self-trimming behaviour. Often performs well in coconut and natural wax blends.
LX series — Flat braided cotton, slight curl when burning. Produces a consistent flame with minimal carbon buildup. Good for soy and soy blends.
HTP series — Flat braid with paper filament. Burns hotter than LX, excellent for fragrance throw. Good for dense waxes.
The specific series matters less than understanding the principle: stay within one family during testing, adjust up or down by number until you find the right burn.
The single most important measurement
Before you select a wick, measure the inside diameter of your vessel. Not the ounce count. Not the height. The inside diameter — the distance across the opening at the widest point where the wax sits.
A "10oz" candle means nothing for wick selection. An 80mm internal diameter tells you everything. Wick manufacturers publish sizing guides based on internal diameter. Start there, then test.
How to test wicks properly
Pour at least three test candles with three different wick sizes — one size you think is right, one size larger, one size smaller. Cure for the appropriate time (48 hours minimum for soy, 72–96 hours for coconut blends). Then:
• Light each candle and burn for exactly 2 hours
• Photograph the melt pool from above
• Check whether the melt pool reaches the vessel edges
• Observe flame height — should be no more than 1 inch
• Check for mushrooming (carbon buildup on the wick tip)
• Trim the wick to ¼ inch, extinguish, and note any smoke
• Burn again for another 2 hours and repeat observations
Document every test. The goal is repeatable results — a wick that performs consistently across multiple burn sessions, not just the first light.
Multiple wicks
Vessels wider than 3.5 inches (approximately 90mm) often need two wicks to achieve a full melt pool. Three wicks become necessary above 4.5 inches. When using multiple wicks, position them evenly — for two wicks, place them at one-third and two-thirds across the diameter. Test the combination the same way you'd test a single wick.
What fragrance load does to your wick selection
Higher fragrance loads make wax less viscous when melted, which changes how the wick draws fuel. A wick that works at 6% fragrance load may need to go up a size at 10%. Always test wicks at your actual intended fragrance load — not at a test percentage you later plan to change.
Use the Fragrance Load Calculator to establish your exact fragrance weight first, then begin wick testing at that load.
Vessel shape and wick behaviour
Straight-sided vessels burn more predictably than vessels that taper, flare, or have thick walls. Thick-walled glass retains heat differently than thin-walled glass, which affects how quickly the melt pool forms and how the wax behaves near the edge. If you're switching vessels, treat it as a new wick test — don't assume the same wick will work in a different container even if the diameter is similar.
Browse Makesy's vessel range — consistent wall thickness and quality control make wick testing more reliable.
The wick and your brand
A candle that tunnels or soots isn't just a product problem — it's a brand problem. A customer who buys once and gets a tunneled candle doesn't come back. A customer who burns through a candle cleanly and gets that full melt pool every time becomes a repeat buyer and tells people about you.
Wick testing is not optional. It's the work.
The Six Figure Wick ebook covers wick selection in depth — including the specific wick families that perform best with coconut-apricot blends, how to document your test results, and what to do when a wick that wor