The best DIY makers are intentional about the candle making supplies they select. The jar size, wax, and wick style matter. The type of wick you choose can lead to a clean-burning candle or a poorly designed candle.
Most wicks are made from braided cotton fibers, often woven with thin paper threads that help the wick stand up and burn evenly. Bramble Berry wicks are pre-tabbed and prewaxed. The metal clip at the base is already attached, and the wax coating keeps the wick stiff and centered.
Your wax type matters too. Softer Waxes that have a lower melt point like Soy or coconut need a strongwick that won't fall over and drown the flame in the melt pool. While harder waxes with a higher melt point like Beeswax need a larger wick to generate more heat to melt the same burn pool width as the softer vegetable waxes.
Different Types of Wicks for Candle Making
- Flat-Braided Cotton Wicks: The most versatile wick for DIY candle making. Available in three sub-series. CD wicks create high-heat burns and strong melt pool formation. HTP wicks provide a stabilized flame that balances heat and cleanliness. The Premier wicks have the most controlled burn with reduced mushrooming and soot.
- Ultra Core Wicks: A rigid fiber-core wick that stays upright during the pour, burns hot and short, and produces minimal soot across soy, beeswax, and paraffin.
- Wooden Wicks: Flat strips of American cherry wood that produce a soft crackling flame and a wide melt pool. Available in narrow and wide sizes to match your container diameter, and best paired with natural waxes like soy or beeswax.
Sizing Wicks and Avoiding Common Burn Problems
Use the Bramble Berry Wick Guide to determine which wick is right for your project based on your jar size and wax type. From there, burn-test at least three sizes to confirm your final choice. After a three-hour burn, your melt pool should reach the container walls. If it doesn't, size up. If you see heavy soot or mushrooming on the wick tip, size down. Fragrance oils and colorants can also shift wick performance, so retest any time your formula changes.
Wood wicks need trimming before every burn. A pair of wick clippers makes this easier and gives you a cleaner cut than scissors. If your wick is hard to light, hold the flame across the full width.
For candle jars wider than 3.5", two wicks placed symmetrically will give you a more even burn than a single centered wick. Use wick stickers to anchor the tab to the bottom of your jar before pouring, then hold the wick taut with a popsicle stick or a cut straw while the wax sets.
For freestanding pillar candles, sizing down is key. You want a smaller melt pool that leaves a buffer of unmelted wax around the edges to prevent dripping. CD-12 wicks work well for pillar candles up to 2.5" wide.
If you want to simplify the candle making process, candle making kits are a great option. Each kit comes with all the ingredients and supplies you will need. The style of wick will match the wax type and jar size since we have already tested the recipe. These kits are perfect for learning the basics of wax pouring, balancing wicks, and following a recipe.
Can I reuse a candle wick?
No. wicks are consumed during the burn and can't be reused. Each new candle needs a fresh wick.
How do I fix a drowning wick?
Carefully pour off some of the liquid wax to expose more of the wick, then let it resettle. Going forward, size up your wick or consider a wax with a slightly higher melt point.
Why is my candle tunneling?
Tunneling happens when the wick is too small to generate a full melt pool across the container. It can also happen when you don’t burn the candle for long enough during the first burn. Always burn the first light until the melt pool reaches the edges.
What is mushrooming in candle making?
Mushrooming is carbon buildup on the wick tip that forms a small ball or knob. It means your wick is too large or has gone too long without trimming. Trim to 1/4" before every burn.
Why does my candle wick flame keep flickering?
Check for drafts first. An air vent or open window is usually the culprit. If the environment is calm and the flame is still unstable, your wick may not be the right size or type for your wax.
What is the best wick for soy candles?
CD wicks are the top choice for soy. Their flat-braided cotton construction and paper filament are specifically designed for strong melt pool formation in vegetable-based waxes.