Scentroma Candle Wick Guide
Choosing the right wick is one of the most important parts of candle making. Wick performance depends on a combination of factors, including the wax, fragrance, colour, vessel and intended burn time. It is essential to choose the right wick to ensure optimal candle performance and satisfaction.
The guide below is designed to give you a starting point for wick selection. The recommended wick should always be confirmed through your own testing, as the specific formulation of your candle may require adjustments.
Selecting a Wick for Scentroma Glassware
We provide a suggested wick size for our candle vessels in their individual product descriptions. These recommendations are a starting point based on the vessel specifications. Keep in mind that depending on your wax, fragrance, and other formulation variables, you may need to test a smaller or larger wick to achieve the desired burn profile.
Selecting a Wick for Your Own Vessel
For vessels not listed in our product range, measure the inside diameter of your container and use the burn diameter chart to identify a suitable starting point. The chart provides approximate burn diameters for HTP, CDN, and wooden wicks.
Important: The results shown are based on wicks burning freely in Golden Wax 464 without fragrance. They were not tested inside containers and therefore do not account for heat generated by the vessel. Actual results will vary depending on the wax, fragrance, colour, vessel, and other factors.
HTP, CDN & Wooden Wicks
HTP and CDN are both cotton wick systems, while wooden wicks use a different material and construction. Each type has different burning characteristics and should be tested with your specific candle formulation. Remember to choose the right wick based on these distinct characteristics.
| Wick Type | Characteristics | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| HTP | Primarily suited to soy and coconut waxes. They provide a softer burn and tend to curl slightly as they burn. HTP wicks also self-trim, although trimming when required is still recommended. | Rounder cross-section |
| CDN | More universal and suitable for a wider range of waxes, including denser waxes such as paraffin. They tend to burn hotter and are more rigid. CDN wicks can mushroom as they burn and should generally be trimmed after each burn. | More oval cross-section |
| Wooden Wick | Made from wood rather than cotton and provides a different flame profile and burning experience. | Flat, wooden profile |
HTP and CDN wicks with similar burn diameters are not necessarily interchangeable. Their construction and burning characteristics differ significantly, so each wick type should be tested independently.
Wick Burn Diameter Guide
| Burn Diameter | HTP Wicks | CDN Wicks | Wooden Wicks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31mm | HTP 13 | — | — |
| 33mm | HTP 31 | — | — |
| 36mm | HTP 41 | CDN 3 | — |
| 38mm | HTP 52 | — | — |
| 39–40mm | HTP 62 | CDN 4 | — |
| 42mm | HTP 72 | CDN 5 | — |
| 43–44mm | HTP 73 | — | — |
| 45–46mm | HTP 83 | CDN 6 | — |
| 47mm | HTP 93 | CDN 7 | — |
| 49–50mm | HTP 104 | CDN 8 | PW 6mm |
| 52mm | — | CDN 10 | — |
| 55mm | — | CDN 12 | PW 8mm |
| 56mm | HTP 105 | CDN 14 | — |
| 59mm | — | CDN 16 | — |
| 63mm | — | CDN 18 | PW 10mm |
| 66mm | HTP 126 | — | — |
| 68mm | HTP 136 | CDN 20 | PW 12mm |
| 71mm | HTP 1212 | — | — |
| 73mm | — | CDN 22 | PW 13mm |
| 75mm | — | CDN 24 | — |
| 78mm | — | CDN 26 | PW 14mm |
| 80mm | HTP 1312 | CDN 28 | — |
| 82mm | HTP XL100 | CDN 30 | PW 16mm |
| 83mm | — | — | PW 18mm |
| 86mm | — | — | PW 20mm |
| 87mm | — | — | PW 22mm |
| 90mm | — | — | PW 24mm |
Wick Length
Different wick lengths are suited to different candle applications. To ensure you choose the right wick for your project, refer to the following lengths:
| Wick Length | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| 27mm | Tealight candles |
| 33mm | Larger tealight cups |
| 150mm | Container candles, tins and glassware |
| 300mm | Primarily pillar candles |
150mm container wicks generally include a metal tab. 300mm pillar wicks are supplied without a tab, although tabs can be applied separately if required.
Wick Tab Size
The metal tab anchors the wick to the base of the candle and helps prevent the flame from burning directly against the bottom of the vessel. Common tab sizes include:
- 15mm diameter × 3.8mm height
- 20mm diameter × 6mm height
The taller 20mm × 6mm tab can leave a small amount of wax at the bottom of the candle as it burns down, which can help reduce heat transfer to the base of the vessel.
Factors That Affect Wick Selection
Wick performance can change when any part of the candle formulation or construction changes. Wick selection should consider important variables such as:
- Wax type
- Fragrance and fragrance concentration
- Wax colour or dye
- Container type and size
- Container diameter
- Candle or mould type
- Fill volume
- Intended burn duration
Different fragrances can also affect how a candle burns. Some may require a smaller wick, while others may require a larger wick. The intended burn duration is another consideration. A candle burned for a short period may require a different wick from one intended to burn for several hours. As a general guide, an average burn period is around 2–3 hours. Any change to your wax, fragrance, colour, vessel or other formulation variable should be followed by further testing.
Wick Testing
Finding the right wick requires testing. We recommend starting with smaller quantities of several suitable wick sizes before purchasing larger packs. For more reliable results, test at least three candles using the same formulation and burning conditions.
When testing, consider:
- Melt pool development
- Flame size and stability
- Soot or smoke
- Mushrooming
- Vessel temperature
- Residual wax around the vessel
- Overall burn performance
Once you change your formulation or vessel, previous test results may no longer apply. All wick recommendations provided by Scentroma are a guide only. Always conduct your own testing before producing candles for sale.
