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CD vs ECO vs HTP vs LX vs Wood Wicks - Which Candle Wick Series to Buy

How we put this together: this is a research summary of supplier wicking guides (linked below), not our own burn tests. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Wick series differ in how they're braided, which changes how hot and steady the flame burns. The right series depends mostly on your wax, your fragrance load and your jar diameter - and the only way to be sure is a test burn. Here's what each series is designed for.

CD

Flat-braided cotton with paper threads woven in. Built for a consistent burn with higher fragrance loads and softer natural waxes; CandleScience pairs it with soy and paraffin blends. Single-pour soy often needs one to three sizes larger than you'd expect. Sold in sizes CD 3 to CD 26. CandleScience · Lone Star guide · CD wicks on eBay

ECO

Flat, coreless cotton braided with thin paper threads for rigidity, and self-trimming. Recommended for soy, wax blends and low-melt paraffin in containers, votives and pillars. Sizes ECO 1 to ECO 16 plus tealight. A common first choice for soy container candles. CandleScience · ECO wicks on eBay

HTP

Coreless flat braid with paper filaments; the tip bends into the flame for fuller combustion and less carbon buildup ("mushrooming"). Used with soy and paraffin blends, including difficult formulations. Like CD, it often needs to be sized up for single-pour soy. Lone Star guide · HTP wicks on eBay

LX

Flat-braided cotton with a stiff structure that's easy to pour around, a tighter, controlled flame and self-curling to reduce mushrooming. CandleScience calls it its recommended wick for paraffin and also pairs it with coconut blends - its current Starter+ kit ships with LX 18. Sizes LX 8 to LX 28. CandleScience · LX wicks on eBay

Aroma-Lite (AL)

100% natural cotton, made in the USA, that unfurls as it burns. CandleScience pairs it with coconut apricot and paraffin blends. Sizes AL60 to AL140. CandleScience

Wood wicks

Thin strips of wood that draw wax up by capillary action and give a lower, flatter flame and a soft crackle. Styles include flat, booster, spiral and crackle. Unlike self-trimming cotton, they need trimming to about 1/4 inch before every burn. Thinner single-ply wicks suit softer waxes like coconut-soy; firmer waxes need booster or spiral styles. Suppliers advise extra care with low-melt soy - size up and keep fragrance load moderate. Bramble Berry · Wood wicks on eBay

How to pick a starting size

  1. Look up your wax's recommended series (see our wax specs comparison).
  2. Use the supplier's chart for your jar's inside diameter to choose a starting size.
  3. Buy a sampler with the sizes either side of that number.
  4. Test-burn for 3-4 hours: you want a full melt pool to the edge, a flame under about an inch, and no heavy smoke. Size down if it's too hot; size up if it tunnels.

More detail: how to choose a candle wick and wood wick vs cotton wick.