Cotton vs Wooden Wicks
Cotton wicks are the reliable standard with many sizes. Wooden wicks give a wide flame and a gentle crackle, but are harder to dial in.
| Cotton wick | Wooden wick | |
|---|---|---|
| Flame | Tall teardrop | Wide, low flame |
| Sound | Silent | Soft crackle |
| Sizing | Wide, well-documented ranges | Fewer sizes, more testing needed |
| Reliability | Consistent | Can struggle to stay lit if mismatched |
| Maintenance | Trim to about 1/4 inch | Trim to about 1/8 inch, remove char |
| Best containers | Most jar sizes | Wide, shallow vessels |
Choose Cotton wick if
- You are learning
- You want predictable burns
- You make many jar sizes
Choose Wooden wick if
- You want a crackling, cosy candle
- You use wide containers
- You will test combinations carefully
The bottom line
Master cotton wicks first. Wooden wicks are a lovely upgrade once you are comfortable running test burns.