Multi wicked candles provide a magnificent ambience creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. If you have ever thought of crafting your own but weren’t sure where to begin, below is a quick breakdown of the principles that need to be followed to ensure your final product is a success and remains within the safety guidelines.
Due to a wider diameter, multi wicked candles need a longer burn time than the general 4-hour time frame. Jars comprising of a diameter exceeding 10cm may not produce the desired liquid layer in its entirety on the surface bearing only one wick, within abovementioned time frame. And that’s where multi wicking comes into play.
Multi wicked candles provide a full burn utilizing the entire wax, therefore making wick placement and size extremely important. Overcrowding your wicks can cause them to overheat and generate a flame that burns too hot, leaving you with a “mushroomed” wick and a dramatically reduced scent throw. Not just limited to jars – large oval, rectangular or square shaped candles may also call for more than one wick.
Number of Wicks and Placement
Wicks need to be equally spaced, the same size and clear from the sides of the jar. Following these guidelines will see to it that your wicks deliver an even burn. When it comes to determining the number of wicks to use, please refer to table below.
- Diameter <7.5cm = single wick
- Diameter >7.5cm but <10cm = double wick
- Diameter >10cm but <12cm = triple wick
A round multi wicked candle requires wicks to be placed evenly in a triangular formation in the centre, and 2.5cm apart. If you are creating a round double wicked candle, the wicks are to be placed 2.5cm apart and in the centre.
Wick Sizing
This formula is handy for determining what size wicks you will need.
D/NW=X+0.5cm = WICK SIZE burn diameter
D (diameter of your glassware/mould)
/ (divide)
NW (number of wicks)
2 comments
If testing the candle does not give you the burn you want you need to change the wick to what you are after. Websites generally offer a guideline to wick size that will burn totally to the edge. If you want something to burn short of that you need to downsize until you achieve the right burn.
Do you have experience with Palm wax & large pillar candles.
I have a questions.
I make beautiful pillars candles. But they do not stay beautiful after ignition.
I know with pillars it needs to burn more than one hour less than 3 hrs. Is that correct?
so that it won’t tunnel down. However my pillars will eventually go so thin around the sides & hot like melting away. if I don’t put it out it will collapse. Although Ive followed instructions on suppliers website to which size wick to use for a particular size mold. I’ve measured the diameter etc.
what am I doing wrong. Is it the wax or the wick