What are your wicks coated with?

When it comes to candle making supplies, there are tons of different options to choose from. If you’re making candles for the first time or making a new kind of candle, the choices can seem overwhelming. In addition to choosing containers, wax, and fragrances, you also have to decide what kind of wick to use.

There are benefits to each type of candle wick, but everyone has their own thoughts on which candle wick is best. If you’re looking for a quick and easy comparison of all the wicks available, this guide will help point you in the right direction!

What is the wax coating on candle wicks?

Pre-tabbed candle wicks (like the ones we sell) have a wax coating around the wick fiber. This coating provides structure and stability, while also ensuring the candle burns effectively. The most common types of candle wax coatings are clean burning paraffin and high melt point natural wax.

Because paraffin wax is more rigid than natural wax, paraffin is commonly used on wicks that do not have a rigid structure on their own. While many candle makers strive to avoid paraffin, it is highly effective as a coating, and is required for certain wicks. Wicks made of softer or more flexible fibers rely on the paraffin coating for stability. We only use clean-burning paraffin on our wicks that have a paraffin coating.

As an alternative to paraffin, many of our wicks have a high melt point natural wax coating. We opt for this coating on our wicks whenever possible. Candlemakers who want to avoid paraffin wax can choose from a large selection of our wicks that have a natural wax coating.

Wicks with Paraffin Coating	Wicks with Natural Wax Coating
Helix Wicks HPSP Wicks LX Wicks Rigid Curl Wicks Tealight Wicks (HTP-31)	Aroma Lite Wicks CD Wicks CDN Wicks Eco Wicks P Series Wicks Premier 700 Wicks Superior 800 Wicks Ultra Core Wicks Zinc Core Wicks

Please note that this information only applies to the wicks we carry at NorthWood. Other suppliers who carry these wick series may have different coatings.

What are the different kinds of candle wicks?

In the table below, you can find all of the candle wicks we currently carry. These are simply the highlights and main features of our wicks. View the product page for each type of wick to get more information.

If you don’t see a feature listed for a particular wick, that doesn’t mean it’s unsuitable for that purpose. For example, some wicks are especially good for coconut wax blends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for soy and get great results. These features are listed simply as a starting point.

Wick Type	Construction	Benefits
Aroma Lite Wicks	100% Natural Fibers Braided design Fiber core High melt point natural wax coating	Great for making candles with a high scent load Braided design helps reduce carbon build-up that causes soot
CD (Stabilo) Wicks	Flat, non-directional braid Interwoven with paper fibers Coreless wick High melt point natural wax coating	Rigid construction stays straight in wax Suitable for viscous, hard-to-melt waxes Designed to curl more than CDN wicks while burning, making CD wicks self-trimming
CDN (Stabilio KST) Wicks	Flat, non-directional braid Paper fibers woven into braid Coreless wick High melt point natural wax coating	Rigid constructions stays straight in wax Suitable for viscous, hard-to-melt waxes Designed to curl less than CD wicks, which creates a flame with a smaller base (still self-trimming)
Eco Wicks	Flat, braided cotton interwoven with paper fibers Coreless wick High melt point natural wax coating	Slow burning properties Ideal for soy wax
Helix Wicks	Two Aroma Lite wicks braided together Paper core 100% natural fibers Clean burning paraffin wax coating	Paper core creates a large melt pool, ideal for large single-wick containers Suitable for candles with a high fragrance load
HPSP Wicks	Natural cotton fiber Braided design Clean burning paraffin wax coating Cotton Core	Slow burning properties Ideal for coconut wax blends
LX Wicks	Flat, braided wick interwoven with stabilizing threads Coreless wick Clean burning paraffin wax coating	Coreless design minimizes carbon buildup Stabilizing threads create even, consistent flames Ideal for soy and paraffin waxes
P Series Wicks	Pure ring spun cotton Paper core Round wick constructed of tension threads around the paper core High melt point natural wax coating	Engineered to reduce afterglow, soot, and mushrooming Ideal for colored candles
Premier 700 Wicks	Flat, braided construction with textile-grade fibers Natural cotton core High melt point natural wax coating	Designed to curl slightly while burning (self-trimming) Construction reduces soot and carbon buildup
Rigid Curl Wicks	100% fiber construction Knitted design Cotton Core Clean burning paraffin wax coating	Designed to curl while burning (self-trimming) Rigid construction helps wicks stay straight while pouring Performs well in all wax types
Superior 800 Wicks	Braided design Paper core High melt point natural wax coating	Ideal for hard-to-wick waxes and fragrances Designed to bend slightly while burning Creates a wider melt pool without an oversized flame
Ultra Core Wicks	100% fiber construction Knitted design Fiber core High melt point natural wax coating	Designed to produce smaller, hotter flames Capable of handling high fragrance loads Excellent rigidity while pouring
Wood Wicks	Wooden construction Flat design Booster strip that creates crackle and enhances performance	Designed to produce a crackling sound Works well in soy and paraffin blends Excellent scent throw
Zinc Core Wicks	Zinc core (lead free) Natural fiber jacket High melt point natural wax coating	Zinc core provides unmatched rigidity when pouring and burning your candle Suitable for all wax types Ideal for gel wax, which requires a rigid wick

Choosing a Type of Candle Wick

There are benefits to each type of candle wick, and the best type of wick will vary depending on numerous factors. These are a few of the variables that can affect how a wick performs:

Type of wax
Size and shape of the candle container
Container material and color
Fragrance type
Fragrance load (percent)
Colorants
Additives

It’s easiest to begin by picking a wick based on the type of wax you are using. All of our wicks can be used in soy, coconut wax, beeswax, and paraffin wax. However, the table above specifies the wicks that work especially well in certain kinds of wax. When choosing a type of candle wick, we recommend starting with a wick that is recommended for the wax you are using.

What is the difference between a cored and coreless wick?

When reviewing the table, you may have noticed that some wicks are listed as “coreless” while others are “cored.”

A coreless wick is simply a candle wick that doesn’t have a rigid center core. Coreless candle wicks are not hollow tubes. Instead, coreless wicks are made entirely of fibers that stay rigid on their own. Coreless wicks usually have a flat structure. However, they often still have a round appearance due to the wax coating on the outside.

Cored wicks have an outer structure that is knitted or braided around a paper, cotton, or zinc center. Zinc is the most rigid type of core, followed by paper and cotton. No matter the center material, cored candle wicks tend to be more rigid than coreless wicks because of their construction.

Coreless Wicks	Cored Wicks
CD Wicks CDN Wicks Eco Wicks LX Wicks	Aroma Lite Wicks Helix Wicks HPSP Wicks P Series Wicks Premier 700 Wicks Rigid Curl Wicks Superior 800 Wicks Ultra Core Wicks Zinc Core Wicks

How to Choose a Size of Wick

After deciding what kind of wick to use, you can begin testing different sizes of wicks. Our Wick Size Chart is a handy tool to use. This chart lists each type of wick with size recommendations based on the diameter of your container and the type of wax you’re using.

How to Test Candles

Perhaps the most important step in making candles is the testing phase. There are so many variables that can affect how a candle performs. Testing is the only way to know with confidence that you’ve chosen the best type and size of wick. Check out our Guide to Testing Candles for a detailed walkthrough of the testing process. Be sure to also download our Free Printable Candle Testing Sheet to keep track of your results!