Conventional candle metal-core wicks comprise all types of petroleum and different chemical byproducts [source] and heavy metals [source] that get launched into the air when burned. However wood wicks are biodegradable and sustainable. And let’s be trustworthy, they’re far more romantic—due to a mushy, wispy glow and that fairly crackling sound they make.
There’s a little bit of a studying curve that comes with wood wicks. Regardless of what the wick folks need you to suppose, they take a little bit planning and a touch of trial and error to get ’em good.
Right here’s learn how to use them efficiently with out losing time or pulling your hair out.
One of many first companies I ever had was a candle-making enterprise. I bear in mind standing over a scorching plate in my childhood bed room melting paraffin wax and pouring it into outdated yogurt containers since I couldn’t afford fancy molds—realllll protected.
One way or the other, I didn’t burn the home down, however I didn’t earn any cash both. Possibly it was the entire candles-shaped-like-yogurt-containers factor, however who is aware of? Flash ahead twenty years and lots of of candles later, and simply once I thought I couldn’t up my DIY candle sport any additional, I found wooden wick candles.
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4 Advantages of Wood Wicks
Sturdy and simpler to make use of
Not like cotton wicks, wooden wicks don’t require a wick stand, chopsticks, clothespins, or anything to maintain the wick standing upright. Most wooden wicks include wick clips and sticker tabs to carry them in place, however even with out these, a little bit wax can work simply wonderful. From there, simply fill the vessel with wax and let cool.
Longer burn time
Wooden wicks burn extra slowly than conventional wicks, which implies your candle will last more.
Clear burning
Since they don’t comprise paraffin, heavy metals, or carcinogenic chemical compounds, wooden wicks received’t launch toxins into the air as they burn.
Sustainable
Wooden wicks are stated to be extra sustainable than their cotton counterparts. Not solely can a number of thousand wicks be obtained from a single tree, however they’re additionally unhazardous and biodegradable, in order that they don’t clog up the landfills.
The way to Make Wooden Wick Candles
Step 1: Select your wicks
In terms of selecting a wick, there’s just one rule of thumb: wider and thicker wicks burn hotter, so that you solely need to use them in bigger containers. Should you’re simply getting began with wooden wicks, I like to recommend mastering single ply earlier than transferring on to fancier wicks.
Single-Ply Wick – The only-ply wick is the de facto wood wick most individuals consider. It’s normally 0.02″ thick and throws an honest quantity of warmth and scent.
Booster Wick – These are much like single-ply wicks, besides they’ve an added strip of wooden down the center. The additional wooden offers you a warmer flame and extra crackle. You may make your individual pseudo-booster wick by inserting two wicks back-to-back in a single wick clip.
Spiral Wick – This can be a core-less cotton wick comprised of wooden (consider it like a wood straw).
How have you learnt which measurement wick to get?
Effectively, it varies relying in your vessel measurement, wax kind, and perfume components. So it’s a must to take a look at them.
Wicks vary in thickness from .02″ (thinnest) to .04″ (thickest), with the thicker wicks being splendid for bigger containers. Should you’re utilizing a small container, reminiscent of an 8-ounce vessel that’s about 3″ in diameter, begin with a .02″ single-ply wick. And for bigger vessels, strive thicker/wider wicks.
Then make a take a look at candle.
You will have discovered your splendid wick when the floor of your candle melts all the best way throughout inside 2 to three hours, and you’ve got an roughly ½-inch deep wax pool with a ½-inch flame.
Step 2: Put together your wicks
Some on-line tutorials say you don’t must soak wood wicks earlier than use. However, actually, I’ve by no means gotten my wooden wicks to burn correctly with out soaking them first.
What you soak them in is as much as you. Olive oil, candy almond oil, and even melted soy wax are okay. However personally, I’m a fan of fractionated coconut oil. It’s odorless and doesn’t go rancid in a short time, so that you received’t have to fret about it making an odd odor. However don’t be afraid to experiment with no matter you’ve received at dwelling.
Merely place the wicks on a plate or shallow bowl and canopy with oil. You may need to toss the wicks a bit to coat them evenly, then allow them to soak for a number of hours or in a single day. The subsequent day, wipe the surplus oil off, and also you’re able to go.
If utilizing wax, soften a small quantity of plain soy wax in a deep measuring cup. Dip the wood wicks into the molten wax one after the other, guaranteeing that each side are totally coated. Let any extra wax drip off, and place the wicks someplace the place they will cool.
Step 3: Make Your Candles
Provides
Wooden Wick Candle Directions
Put together your wicks forward of time by soaking them in a single day in oil or wax. Like I discussed earlier, I choose fractionated coconut oil, however you need to use any oil you’ve available.
To make your candles, begin by melting the wax. Add 1–2 cups of soy wax flakes right into a steel wax pitcher, and place the pitcher in a small saucepan with an inch of water.
Then soften the wax over low warmth. It’s also possible to use a double boiler or microwave-safe measuring cup as an alternative and microwave in 30-second increments.
Add important oils or perfume oils and blend properly. Important oils don’t present as a lot scent as business perfume oils, however they’re extra unhazardous. Should you select to go together with important oils, right here’s a information that can assist you out. The selection is as much as you!
Wipe any oily residue from the wick and slide the wick right into a wick clip. In case your wicks got here with sticker tabs, place a single sticker onto the underside of the wick clip and press the wick firmly to the underside of the vessel. (My wicks didn’t include stickers, so I poured a ⅛-inch of wax into the vessel and held the wick in place for a number of seconds till it hardened.)
With the wick firmly in place, fill the vessel the remainder of the best way, leaving about ½-inch of respiratory room on the prime. Let it cool in a single day.
Trim the wick. You should utilize a wooden wick trimmer, when you’ve got one, or common scissors. To get a clear, flat lower, a wick trimmer is useful.
For the most effective scent throw, let your candle remedy not less than 2–3 days earlier than lighting.
Wooden Wick Candle FAQs
Are wooden wicks protected to burn?
Sure, wooden wicks aren’t coated in harsh chemical compounds, they usually produce a small, slow-burning flame, which makes them a lot safer than the normal cotton wicks.
How do you chop a wooden wick candle?
To trim contemporary wicks that haven’t been lit but, I merely use kitchen scissors. You might additionally use a wick trimmer when you choose.
To trim wicks which have beforehand been lit, I typically use my fingers to interrupt off any charred bits of wooden. A wick trimmer or scissors may also be used.
Ensure to trim your wick prior to every burn.
Why isn’t my wick staying lit?
Should you soaked your wicks forward of time and are nonetheless having issues getting the wick to remain lit, it could need to do with its measurement. A bigger wick could also be vital.
It may also need to do with how lengthy you let your candle burn beforehand. Ideally, you need to let it burn lengthy sufficient to soften the wax evenly throughout your entire floor of the candle. This prevents tunneling and may also help guarantee a extra even wax dispersal.
In case your wick can’t burn for various seconds earlier than extinguishing itself, it’s possible you’ll must take away any blackened and splintered wooden on the prime and take a look at once more.
Black smoke is popping out of my candle—what do I do?
All candles will produce black smoke when you burn them for lengthy sufficient. To maintain smoke to a minimal, be sure that to trim the wick to ⅛” earlier than every burn.
Can I make wood wicks from any form of wooden?
No, wood wicks ought to solely be comprised of untreated wooden made particularly for candles. Please don’t attempt to make your individual wicks utilizing balsa wooden, dowels, craft sticks, or every other untested wood supplies.
