Wood wick candles: how to make them, choose the right size and stop them going out
October 13, 2026 · 3 min read
The short answer: a wood wick candle uses a thin, flat strip of wood instead of braided cotton. It burns with a wider, lower flame and is known for a soft crackle. Wood wicks are sized by width and thickness to the vessel diameter and wax, they need to be trimmed short (often about 1/8 inch) before each burn, and most "won't stay lit" problems come from a wick that is too thin, too long, or drowning in a melt pool it can't keep up with.
Wood wicks vs cotton wicks
| Wood wick | Cotton wick | |
|---|---|---|
| Flame | Wide, low, horizontal | Taller, teardrop shape |
| Sound | Soft crackle | Silent |
| Trim length | Often about 1/8 inch | Often about 1/4 inch |
| Sizing | Width and thickness vs jar diameter | Series and size vs jar diameter |
| Common issue | Going out / hard to relight | Mushrooming or soot when oversized |
Cotton wick sizing follows supplier charts such as CandleScience's wick guide. Wood wick suppliers publish their own charts by vessel diameter and wax — use them as a starting point, then test, exactly as you would with cotton. Our wick testing guide covers the process.
How to make a wood wick candle
- Measure the vessel's inside diameter and choose a wood wick width from your supplier's chart.
- Insert the wick into a metal clip and secure it to the center of the jar with a wick sticker.
- Melt the wax and add fragrance oil at the temperature your wax supplier recommends.
- Pour slowly so the wick stays upright; wood does not bend back like cotton.
- Let the candle cool undisturbed, then trim the wick to about 1/8 inch above the wax.
- Cure, then burn-test for the full life of the candle before selling.
Why wood wick candles go out — and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Won't stay lit | Wick too thin or too long | Trim to about 1/8 inch; test a thicker or wider wick |
| Flame drowns in melt pool | Wick too small for the jar | Size up; check fragrance load |
| Hard to relight | Charred wood left from last burn | Pinch off the charred tip before lighting |
| Tunneling | Under-wicked for the diameter | Wider wick or double wood wick |
| Very large flame | Wick too long or too wide | Trim shorter; size down |
Fictional teaching values showing how width tends to increase with diameter. Follow your wood wick supplier's chart and test with your exact wax and fragrance.
Chart data
| Item | Value ( in) |
|---|---|
| 2.5 in jar | 0.375 in |
| 3.0 in jar | 0.5 in |
| 3.5 in jar | 0.625 in |
| 4.0 in jar | 0.75 in |
Tips customers should know
- Trim to about 1/8 inch before every burn and remove charred bits.
- Light the wick at its base and tilt the candle slightly while lighting.
- Let the first burn melt close to the edge to avoid tunneling.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended — the National Candle Association's fire safety tips apply to wood wicks too.
Record wood wick widths and burn notes in WaxLogic's burn-test log so the winning size stays attached to the recipe. Use the candle calculator for wax and oil weights, and see tunneling and melt pools for judging a full burn.
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