Candle Wicks

Candles and candle wicks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, suitable for every imaginable occasion. All these different candles require different wicks. In order to achieve a slow, clean burn, you must match the right wick with the right kind of candle wax. Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" formula when matching wax with wicks. In fact, there are more than 100 wicks on the market today. Generally, a high-quality wick is made from braided fabric, while a lower quality one is twisted, as with birthday candles.

Candle wicks: Four main types

• Flat: Most commonly used. Very consistent and flat-plaited, they curl in the flame for a self-trimming result. Used broadly for taper and pillar candles.
• Square: Braided wicks that also curl in the flame. More rounded and robust than flat wicks. Preferred in beeswax applications and can help inhibit wick clogging when there are higher levels of non-combustible material (such as high pigment or fragrance). Used most frequently in taper or pillar candles.
• Cored: Braided wicks with a round cross section. Designed to remain straight while burning. Contain different core materials — including zinc, cotton and paper — to provide a range of stiffness. Used in jars, columns, devotional lights and votive candles.
• Specialty and Oil Lamp: Specially designed for various applications, including oil lamps and insect-repellent candles.

Candle wick safety

Candle safety and wicks are important because when candles burn some emit trace amounts of organic chemicals, including acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein, and naphthalene. Candle wicks originally contained metal to keep the wick standing straight when the wax began to melt.

Candle wick material became a source of concern when it was discovered that the commonly used lead wicks produced harmful emissions. Candle companies began looking for alternatives that provided the same positive features of lead wicks without the health threat. Many turned to braided candle wicks, which consist of three smaller wicks wound together for stiffness. Zinc or tin cores are also commonly used, since the metal provides the desired stiffness, burns off readily with the rest of the wick, and does not have toxic effects. The vast majority of wicks now manufactured in the U.S. are of 100% cotton or cotton-paper combinations, and are found in high quality candles.

WARNING: Candle manufacturers in the U.S. voluntarily ceased producing lead wicks, but there are still candles on the market that contain them. Most of these are imported, especially from China. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has proposed banning lead wicks in all candles sold in the United States, a move strongly supported by the National Candle Association. This will help ensure that all candles on the market – not just those made by NCA members -- use safe, non-toxic wicks in their candles.

When shopping for candles, be sure to avoid lead wicks and look for wicks made of zinc or pure cotton. If in doubt use the following test: Take a piece of white paper with you to the store. Rub the paper on the tip of an un-burnt candle's wick. If it leaves a light grey pencil like mark, it is using a lead core in its candle.