- Candle wicks are designed to draw liquid fuel into their own bodies and provide a steadily burning flame. Candle wicks are generally made of braided cotton around a core that gives the cord its rigidity (so that it stands up). The composition and position of the candle wick affects how a candle burns.
- The history of candle wicks is inextricably bound up with the history of candles. The earliest candle wicks were probably branches, reeds or rushes dipped in wax. Eventually, other natural substances were used as wicks in wax candles. Cotton wicks were also used in oil lamps because of their capacity to draw the oil up to the flame, which would then consume the oil while the candle wick burned much more slowly. Braided wicks came into common use in the 1800s after Jean-Jacques Cambaraceres, a French candle maker, discovered that plaited candle wicks burn more evenly than unbraided ones. Candle wicks were usually wrapped around a central core of lead, but concerns about lead poisoning led the United States to ban the use of lead in candle wicks. Most modern candle wicks have a center of zinc now.
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After the candle wick is woven, it is usually treated with chemicals or inorganic salts that alter the cord so that it bends as the flame consumes it. This keeps the candle wick within the flame rather than allowing it to stand straight. Treating candle wicks with inorganic salts keeps the flame from burning too quickly. If the candle burns too fast, the candle will go out when the flame reaches the pool of melted wax. If the wick doesn't curl so that it remains within the inner mantle of the flame, the candle flame would be too high and become dangerous.
Some candle wicks are made for use in specific kinds of candles. Wicks for tea candles, for instance, usually have a metal stand that keeps the wick from being pulled through the hole in the small candle. Floating candles also usually have wicks that are completely sealed inside the candle so that the water can't be drawn into the wick and extinguish the flame. - An experienced candle maker will tell you that the wick is the most important element of a homemade candle. While the shape, color and scent of the wax are the most obvious features of most candles, it is the wick that dictates how well the candle burns and what sort of flame and light it provides. The thickness of a flat candle wick or the diameter of a round wick help determine the size of the flame. A thicker candle wick provides more fuel and results in a larger flame, but may also mean that the candle burns too quickly. It's important to choose the right size wick for the type of wax and shape of candle that you are making.
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According to the National Candle Association, there are over 100 unique wicks currently on the market. These candle wicks can be divided into four basic types.
Flat wicks are designed to curl into the flame as the candle burns so that the candle wick trims itself. They are the most commonly used type of wick in the United States.
Square wicks are also braided candle wicks similar to flat wicks, but they are slightly more rounded. Because they are thicker around than flat wicks, they're usually preferred in beeswax candles, where they help slow the burning of the candle and keep the wick from getting clogged with impurities in the wax.
Cored wicks are round candle wicks that are braided around a core of tin, paper, zinc or cotton. The choice of core material depends on the qualities wanted for the candle. These are commonly used in all types of candles in the United States. Metal core wicks are often used in tea light, votive and jar candles because the stiffness of the wick keeps it upright in the candle container after the wax liquefies.
Oil lamp and specialty wicks are designed specifically to be used for different applications like oil candles and insect candles which require special properties from their wick.
