Why The Wick Is So Important In Scented Candles

When you look at  scented candles you may be inclined  to think that of all the constituent parts,  all the little things that together make up a great scented candle, the wick is the least important . After all it's just a piece of fibre , is it not? In actual fact, the wick plays a very important role in the creation  of a good quality  scented candle, such as those  produced by luxury brands like Paddywax, Yankee Candles or True Grace candles. So what difference can the wick really make ? While the wick in a cheaper , factory-produced  scented candle is likely to be made from synthetic material, , such as nylon or other similar materials, when it comes to  luxury scented candles you will almost certainly  find that the wick is created from  plaited or braided cotton which is bound round  a central strand of zinc. In days gone by , the central strand of the wick was made out  of lead but that practice has been largely discontinued , especially for luxury  candle makers,  largely, though not exclusively, as a result of health concerns about using lead in household products .






There  are other important  considerations when it comes to creating a wick  for scented candles. For example , you may be surprised  to learn  that the diameter  of the wick is of particular significance . The wider  the diameter of the wick is, the larger the flame will be , so that  a larger sized candle will need a wick which is larger in diameter than that required for  a smaller candle. The importance of the size of the wick does not simply stop there . It is also possible to  modify  or slow down  the speed at which the wick burns, which will have a corresponding effect on the overall burn time of your scented candle . This is done by treating the cotton  with a special salt compound. Now, although  this may seem a little odd , strange as it may seem, when you set light to your favourite scented candle, it is not actually the wick which is burning . What happens is that the wick melts the wax , which then evaporates, so that the flame  you see from your candle  is the vapour from the wax burning, rather than the wick itself. So you see, the wick which you may be tempted  to take for granted, actually plays an important  role in your enjoyment of  your scented candles.






The author is owner of The Scented Candle store which supplies a wide range of luxury home fragrances, including True Grace candles and Yankee candles