Here are the most reputable and widely used wick guides in the candle industry — the actual resources most serious makers reference during testing.
CandleScience Wick Guide
Probably the most-used wick guide in the modern candle space.
Best for:
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soy candles
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beginner testing
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vessel sizing
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CD / ECO / LX / CDN starting points
Also useful:
CandleScience’s biggest advantage is that their guides are organized in a way beginners can actually understand. Their recommendation engine is still one of the best starting points in the industry. (CandleScience)
The Flaming Candle Wick Guide & Size Chart
One of the better practical guides for:
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container diameter
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wick family comparisons
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testing logic
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troubleshooting
Additional resources:
Their newer educational content has gotten significantly better over the last couple years and feels much more operationally useful than older “hobby blog” style resources. (The Flaming Candle)
Makesy Wooden Wick Selection Guide
The primary reference for:
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wooden wicks
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luxury coconut blends
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multi-wick setups
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modern luxury vessels
Makesy dominates the wood-wick conversation right now, especially among upscale candle brands using coconut-apricot systems. (makesy®)
Most Common Wick Families Serious Makers Use
ECO
Usually recommended for:
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soy wax
-
natural waxes
-
cleaner-burning systems
Often the default beginner recommendation.
CD / CDN
Very common in:
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soy
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parasoy
-
stronger fragrance loads
A huge portion of modern handmade candle brands eventually test into CD series.
LX
Known for:
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stable flames
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cleaner burns
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good container performance
Often used in paraffin and parasoy systems.
HTP
Common for:
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parasoy
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paraffin-heavy blends
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stronger hot throw systems
Premier
Has become increasingly popular because many makers find:
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smoother burns
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less mushrooming
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more forgiving performance
Especially in modern soy systems.
Wooden Wicks
Mostly associated with:
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Makesy
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luxury candle brands
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coconut blends
-
upscale aesthetics
But wood wicks also introduce:
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significantly more testing complexity
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environmental sensitivity
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combustion inconsistency
Aesthetic payoff can be worth it though.
The Reality About Wick Guides
Every reputable supplier says the same thing for a reason:
Wick guides are starting points — not guarantees.
Your wick changes based on:
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wax type
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fragrance load
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dye
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vessel diameter
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vessel thickness
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ambient temperature
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additives
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cure time
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even fragrance chemistry itself
That’s why experienced makers eventually stop asking:
“What wick should I use?”
…and start asking:
“What wick should I test first?”
That’s a massive mindset shift in candle making.
My Honest Industry Take
The three most important wick resources right now are:
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CandleScience
-
The Flaming Candle
-
Makesy (for wood wicks specifically)
Between those three, you can cover probably 90% of modern candle testing workflows.
