Cotton, Wood, or Eco? Your Guide to Candle Wick Types

Choosing the right wick is the most important decision you'll make when creating candles. Get it wrong, and you'll face tunneling, soot, or poor fragrance throw. Get it right, and you'll create perfect, clean-burning candles every time.

This guide breaks down the three main wick types—cotton, wood, and eco—to help you make the best choice for your candle creations.

Why Your Wick Choice Matters

The wick is the engine of your candle. It determines:

Burn quality (preventing tunneling and soot)

Fragrance throw (how well scent disperses)

Burn time (how long your candle lasts)

Safety (preventing overly large flames)

Cotton Wicks: The Classic Performer

Best for: Beginners and all-purpose use
Works well with: Soy wax, coconut wax, paraffin, beeswax

Cotton wicks are the most common and versatile choice. They're typically braided and often come pre-waxed for easier lighting and cleaner burns.

Pros:

Consistent performance across different wax types

Easy to find and affordable

Good for containers, pillars, and votives

Cons:

Can mushroom (form carbon buildup) if not properly sized

Less aesthetic appeal than wood wicks

Wood Wicks: The Rustic Experience

Best for: Luxury and decorative candles
Works well with: Soy wax, coconut wax blends

Wood wicks create that popular crackling sound and rustic appearance that many candle lovers enjoy.

Pros:

Beautiful crackling sound

Modern, aesthetic appeal

Excellent scent throw

Cons:

Can be trickier to keep lit

Requires specific width sizing

More expensive than cotton

Eco Wicks: The Clean-Burning Choice

Best for: Natural waxes and clean burns
Works well with: Soy wax, coconut wax, other vegetable waxes

Eco wicks (often made from cotton and paper fibers) are designed specifically for cleaner burning with less mushrooming.

Pros:

Minimal mushrooming

Excellent with natural waxes

Clean, consistent burns

Cons:

Can be more expensive

Less widely available than cotton

Quick Comparison Guide

Feature	Cotton Wicks	Wood Wicks	Eco Wicks
Best For	Beginners, all-purpose	Luxury, decorative candles	Natural waxes, clean burns
Cost	$	$	$
Ease of Use	Very Easy	Moderate	Easy
Scent Throw	Good	Excellent	Very Good
Burn Time	Standard	Standard	Long

Pro Tip: Perfect Your Wax Melting for Better Results

No matter which wick you choose, proper wax preparation is essential. Consistent melting temperatures ensure your wax and fragrance bind properly, which directly affects how your wick performs.

For professional results, consider using a dedicated wax melter like those from Toauto. Their double-boiler style wax melters provide gentle, even heating that helps preserve fragrance oils and ensures consistent results batch after batch.

How to Test Your Wick Choice

Always test multiple wick sizes and types with your specific:

Wax type

Container size

Fragrance load

Dye amount

Start with the manufacturer's recommendations, then test one size up and one size down to find your perfect match.

Choose cotton wicks for reliability and ease of use
Choose wood wicks for aesthetic appeal and ambiance
Choose eco wicks for clean burns with natural waxes

Proper wax melting with a quality wax melter makes testing and production easier and more consistent.

Happy candle making!