Best Wicks for Soy Candles: Beginner’s Guide

Choosing the right wick is essential for creating beautiful, evenly burning soy candles. The wrong wick can cause tunneling, mushrooming, or excessive soot, while the right wick ensures a stable flame, proper melt pool, and optimal fragrance throw. This guide helps beginners understand the best wick types for soy wax and how to select the perfect one for your candles.

Why Wick Selection Matters for Soy Wax

Soy wax is denser and softer than paraffin, which affects how heat is distributed during burning. Using the wrong wick can lead to:

• Uneven melt pools
  
• Weak scent throw
  
• Flame instability
  
• Excessive soot
  

The wick must be matched to the candle size, wax type, fragrance load, and container to create a safe and enjoyable candle experience.

Types of Wicks That Work Well With Soy

HTP Wicks

• High-temperature paper-core wicks
  
• Burn hotter and maintain rigidity in soy
  
• Ideal for medium to large containers
  

ECO Wicks

• Cotton-core wicks with eco-friendly reinforcement
  
• Burn cleaner with less soot
  
• Great for small to medium jars
  

CD Wicks

• Braided or square cotton wicks
  
• Offer strong burn and fragrance throw
  
• Work well in mid-sized candles with low FO load
  

Wooden Wicks

• Provide a crackling effect and aesthetic appeal
  
• Require testing for proper melt pool
  
• Best for container candles, not pillars
  

Zinc-Core Wicks

• Generally cooler burn, not recommended for pure soy
  
• Can work in soy-paraffin blends for small candles
  

How Candle Size & Container Affect Wick Choice

The diameter of your jar or vessel plays a major role in wick selection:

Other factors include vessel shape, wall thickness, and wax additives such as vybar or stearic acid. Always test your wick with your specific candle setup.

Other Factors That Influence Wick Performance

• Fragrance Oil Load: Higher FO load can cool the flame; adjust wick size accordingly.
  
• Additives & Dyes: Wax hardeners or colorants may affect melt pool and flame height.
  
• Burn Testing: Beginners should create small test batches with 1–3 wick sizes to find the optimal one.
  

Pro Tip: Keep a notebook documenting wick type, vessel, wax, FO load, and burn observations. This helps reproduce successful candles consistently.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Wick for Soy

• Using a wick too small → tunneling, weak melt pool
  
• Using a wick too large → mushrooming, excessive flame, soot
  
• Skipping test batches → inconsistent results
  
• Not adjusting wick when changing fragrance or additives
  

FAQ’s

Q: Can I use the same wick for soy and paraffin?
A: Not always. Soy wax is denser and may require a hotter-burning wick like HTP, while paraffin burns faster.

Q: Why does my wick mushroom?
A: Mushrooming happens when the wick is too large or the wax burns too hot. Reduce wick size or adjust additives.

Q: How many wicks do I need for a wide jar?
A: Larger jars often require multiple wicks spaced evenly to create an even melt pool.

Q: Do wooden wicks work in soy?
A: Yes, but testing is crucial. Wooden wicks require proper sizing for container diameter and wax type.

Find the Right Wick With Candlewic

Selecting the right wick is key to soy candle success. Beginners should test a few wick types with their chosen wax and container to find the perfect match.

At Candlewic, we offer a wide selection of HTP, ECO, CD, and wooden wicks, ideal for beginners and hobbyists. 

Explore our wick collection and start creating beautiful, perfectly burning soy candles today!