Choosing the correct wick is one of the first challenges new candle makers face. The wick has a huge impact on how your candle burns, and the wrong choice can lead to frustration long before you’ve really had a chance to enjoy the craft.
This guide will give you simple, reliable starting points for wick testing so you can avoid the most common mistakes - especially using a wick that’s the wrong size for your candle’s diameter.
Why Wick Testing Is Essential
Even if a wick works perfectly with one recipe, a small change (such as switching to a new fragrance oil, adding dye, or using a different wax batch) can change the way the candle burns. This is especially true for natural waxes, which vary slightly from season to season.
Because of this, it’s important to test your wick each time you make a significant change to your materials.
Which Wick Works With Which Wax?
Natural Wax (Soy, Rapeseed, etc.)
- TCR
- Wedo Stabilo
- Wedo VRL
- Wedo RRD
- Wedo ECO
These are the main wick families we recommend starting with for natural wax. The TCR and Wedo Stabilo are usually our first choices. If the burn isn’t quite right, try moving to a Wedo VRL or Wedo RRD wick.
The WickWell NT is an excellent “last resort” wick and works especially well in beeswax, which can be more difficult to wick due to its higher melting point.
Paraffin Wax
- Wedo LX
- WickWell P2
Paraffin wax is generally easier to wick than natural wax.
If these wicks are not giving you the results you want, you can try a Stabilo wick.
Choosing the Correct Wick Size
Selecting the right wick size is just as important as choosing the right wick type. Here are the two main issues that can occur:
- If the wick is too small: the candle won’t melt the full surface, and the wick may drown in its own melt pool.
- If the wick is too large: you’ll get a high flame, excess soot, and possibly overheating.
For a good starting point, look at the wick’s diameter guide on our wick product pages. Each wick type has an estimated melt pool diameter that helps you match it to your container or mould size. Note that this information is based on unscented and uncoloured wax, so you will have to compensate for the addition of fragrance oil or dye.
Tip: Some wicks are “self-trimming,” but as a rule, always trim the wick to about 5mm before each burn.
Votive Wicks
Natural Wax
- Wedo VRL
- WickWell NT
- Wedo RRD
The Wedo VRL works very well in small soy votives. For rapeseed or beeswax votives, the WickWell NT is a strong choice.
Paraffin Wax
- V45/SPC-60
- V45/S5-80
The WickWell V45 series was designed specifically for paraffin votive candles. The Wedo LX8 can also work in many paraffin votive recipes.
Tealight Wicks
Natural Wax
- WickWell NT-TL (three available sizes)
These NT-TL sizes cover most natural wax tealight needs. For beeswax tealights, the NT tealight wick is the best option.
Paraffin Wax
- Wedo TL Series
The Wedo TL range is generally all you need for paraffin tealights.
Safety reminder: Tealights burn very hot. Always warn your customers to place them on heat-safe surfaces.
Final Thoughts
Wick testing may feel tedious at first, but choosing the right wick is the foundation of a safe, clean-burning, great-looking candle. Start with a recommended wick family, match the size to your candle’s diameter, and test each time you change a key ingredient. With practice, wick selection becomes second nature and your candles will burn beautifully.