Wooden candle wicks are becoming more popular nowadays with the growth of candle-making businesses. There was a time when people would consider cotton wicks suitable for candles only. Now, wood wicks have replaced the cotton ones more gracefully and efficiently. So, while using wood wicks, the critical question is, how long do you soak wood wicks?
Roughly, soaking the wood wicks for a maximum of twenty to thirty minutes can do your job. It would be best if you allowed the wick this time to soak sufficiently and absorb the oil. For this purpose, it is better to use oils that do not become rancid quickly.
If you love making candles, it is vital for you to know every detail about them. Also, using wood wicks in candles is pretty much a newer trend. You need to understand how to care for the wood wick, why you should soak it in oil, and for how long you should soak it. This article will walk you through all these facts. So, to know in detail, please read the entire article!
Do You Need To Soak Wood Wicks?
Actually, the idea of soaking wooden candlewicks comes from a very old concept. Soaking in oil helps the wooden candlewicks burn better and protects them from going bad. In addition, soaking in fragrance oils can help infuse a sweet aroma! So, yes, you can soak it!
To be fair, wood wicks were not even used in candles a few years back, and only cotton wicks were available for that matter. Even people would believe that nothing will burn better than cotton. But, now, old customs like the use of wood for burning candles are coming into vogue!
The idea of soaking wooden wicks is a traditional practice. Previously, people used to think soaking wood in oil helped to burn it better. The ancient people would burn wood lamps and oil them to let them burn better.
Gradually, the idea of soaking wood wicks came up. However, soaking the wick in oil has a vast purpose for candles. The wood you use to make the wick is basically some plywood or spiral wood from Balsa.
Every wood has its own life, after which it will burn into ashes and dust. If you coat it in some oil, the oil burns first and then allows the wood to burn.
The oil will consume most of the energy while burning. So, the lifetime and burning time of the wood increases. Also, if you use fragrant oils like coconut oils, essential oils, etc., soaking will allow the wood to absorb the fragrance.
Thus, every time you burn the candle, the wood will burn, spreading this sweet aroma and producing the very natural crackling and popping sounds!
Besides, the oil also protects the wood from going bad. If you leave the candle out for long without burning it, the wood may rot at one point. But soaking in oil may help to prevent this.
Best Oils For Soaking Wood Wicks
Usually, if you have a small-scale business, you should consider your budget first. Use oils that do not cost much and can give you the best results with fewer expenditures.
For this purpose, you should choose oils that can help you with the burning and aroma at the same time. If you do not wish to make scented candles, that is a different matter whatsoever.
Regular cooking oils are costly, and using these can double your expenses! However, if you use some less expensive olive oil, it will serve the purpose for the time being. But if you wish to add some fragrances, use coconut oils, lavender oils, essential oils, etc. They can impart the scent for as long as your candle will burn!
Also, if you want to gift the candle to somebody or if you simply want to use the batch for your business, you need to use oils that do not go bad or rancid. Most regular oils can go bad after a while, which will affect your wood wick in turn. In this case, olive oils have a longer shelf life and can help you serve better.
For How Long Should You Soak Wood Wicks?
When you soak wood wicks, you need to make sure you have let it soak for enough time to allow the nourishment to reach deep into the wood’s substance. Soak the wicks for at least twenty to thirty minutes in oil.
Now, you should understand the primary process of soaking the wicks first. Only then can you know how long you need to soak the wicks and why.
Process Of Soaking Wood Wicks
Take a big bowl with a hollowed center for soaking the wood wicks. Pour oil as much as you require to dip your wicks and coat them thoroughly. You do not need to heat up the oil because once the wick burns; it will become hot already.
Now, keep the wicks soaked for about thirty minutes. This amount of time is essential to infuse the wicks completely. Cotton wicks do not take much longer. But wood wicks are more rigid, and they need time to soak. The more time you allow, the merrier the results will be!
Then, after thirty minutes, please take out the wicks with some tweezers and place them on a paper towel. Wipe the excess oil off the wicks. You can test one wick immediately to see instant results. If you think your wick needs to be soaked more, then allow to soak it for fifteen minutes more.
Do Not Soak Longer Than Necessary!
However, do not soak for indefinitely long periods. Some people prefer to soak overnight, but this will only hamper the wood’s quality. Your wicks may go bad sooner than you actually expected!
Your purpose is to infuse the flavor and to allow the oil molecules to get absorbed well into the wood. So, soaking for a minimum amount of time should do the job well.
Moreover, when recycling candles from the leftover ones, it is best not to use them again if the old wood wick has gone bad already. In fact, soaking this may not even make any difference to it. It is better to get a new wood wick, soak it well, and then use it in your newly recycled candle.
So, you can understand why soaking is essential, and so is the amount of time you allow it. Fairly, thirty minutes are enough to soak one wick. If you have a large batch, soak them altogether! It will save your time and money!
Care For Candle Wood Wicks
Wood wicks are now used more than ever. They burn evenly and give out a tall and bright flame that cotton wicks lack. Besides, they are good at holding fragrances too! Since they offer you so much, they require you to care for them as well!
To be fair, wood wicks are more costly than counter cotton wicks. They can be double the price, so you must care adequately for them! What you can do is-
- When you burn the candlewick for the first time, burn for as long as the entire diameter of the candle melts. It will allow the creation of an even surface, and there can be no gaps. So, your wick will burn better, creating a good flame.
- When you put off the candle, you can see dust, ashes, or some black charring specks. Wipe those off properly and keep the candle clean. Or they can settle at the bottom of the wick, and the flame won’t look good. These can block the fragrances too!
- Before you light the candle, always make sure that the wick size should be 0.25 inches above the surface. On your subsequent burns, maintain this wick size.
- Non-uniform wax accumulations can disturb the burning of your wick. So, always burn until the surface becomes uniform, even if it takes an hour or two!
Conclusion
Candlewicks are tricky and hard to manage. Especially when it comes to using wood wicks, there is a lot that most people don’t know! As a beginner, you must learn all about soaking candle wicks, how long you soak wood wicks in oil, and how to do it correctly!
There are not enough resources to learn about wood wicks. But you can learn more from your own experiences by using these and troubleshooting on your own! I hope this article helped you to know about wood candlewicks in detail. Thank you for reading the entire piece with patience. Have a great day!
