How to Get the Best Burn from a Wooden Wick

A little care helps your candle burn beautifully.

Wooden wicks have a charm of their own - a soft, warm flame and sometimes a gentle crackling sound that makes a candle feel even more cozy.

But unlike a traditional cotton wick, a wooden wick needs a little extra care to burn at its best.

Here are a few simple tips to help you get a clean, even and enjoyable burn from your Slowly Sundays candle.

1. Trim the Wick Before Every Burn 

Before lighting your candle, make sure the wooden wick is trimmed to around 5mm.

If the wick is too long, the flame may become too larger or flicker more than usual.

You may notice a little charred wood left from the previous burn. Simply remove the excess before lighting again.

Always trim the wick when the candle is completely cool.

2. Give Your First Burn Enough Time

The first burn helps establish how your candle will burn for the rest of its life.

Allow the wax to melt evenly across the surface, or close to the edges of the jar, before extinguishing the flame.

This helps prevent tunnelling - when the wax melts only around the center and leaves a ring of un-melted wax around the sides.

For our 200g candles, around 1-2 hours is a good starting point.

3. Keep the Flame Away from Strong Airflow

Wooden wicks can be sensitive to airflow.

Try placing your candle away from fans, air conditioners and open windows.

Too much airflow can make the flame flicker, become uneven or struggle to stay lit.

A calm little corner is usually the best place for your candle.

4. If the Flame Looks Small, Don't Panic

A wooden wick doesn't always produce a large flame - and that's okay.

As long as the candle is melting evenly and the flame remains steady, your candle is doing what it should.

If the flame becomes very small or keeps going out, allow the candle to cool completely and check whether the wick needs to be trimmed or gently cleared of excess char.

Avoid trimming the wick too short.

5. Don't Let Wax Build Up Around the Wick

Sometimes melted wax can cover part of the wooden wick, especially if the wick is too short or the candle has been extinguished before the wax has melted evenly.

If this happens, let the candle cool completely.

You can gently remove excess wax around the wick before the next burn, leaving enough wick exposed for the flame to breathe.

6. Keep Each Burn at a Comfortable Length

Try not to burn your candle for too short or too long.

A good burn allows the wax to melt evenly without overheating the container.

For most of our candles, 1-2 hours per burn is a comfortable range.

And remember to stop burning when around 1cm of wax remains at the bottom.

A Little Note About Wooden Wicks

Wooden wicks can behave slightly differently from cotton wicks.

You may notice a gentle crackle, a smaller flame, or slight changes in the flame from one burn to another.

These little variations are part of the character of a wooden wick.

Since every candle is hand-poured in small batches, each one may burn a little differently too.

The key is simple: keep the wick trimmed, give it enough time to melt evenly, and let it burn in a calm space.

Let It Burn Slowly

There's no need to rush a candle.

Trim the wick.

Light it.

Let the wax slowly melt.

And give yourself a little time to simply enjoy the moment.

Made For Slow Living - Slowly Sundays