The Comprehensive Guide to ECO and TCR Wick Sizes, Wax Types, and Container Sizes in Candle Making

Creating the perfect candle is both an art and a science. Achieving the right balance between wick sizes, wax types, and container sizes is essential to ensure that your candle burns cleanly, releases fragrance effectively, and lasts a long time. In this blog, we’ll focus on how ECO and TCR wicks interact with different wax types and container sizes, helping you craft candles that burn beautifully.

1. Wick Sizes: ECO and TCR Wicks

ECO and TCR wicks are among the most popular wick types for both beginners and experienced candle makers. Each wick type has its own characteristics and is suited for different wax types and containers.

ECO Wicks

ECO wicks are made from flat, coreless cotton with a thin paper filament woven into the cotton strands. These wicks are designed to minimize mushrooming (the carbon build-up on the wick) and reduce soot. ECO wicks burn hot and are often used with natural waxes like soy and coconut wax.

• ECO-2 to ECO-10: These smaller wicks are ideal for candles with a diameter of 2 inches or less. They provide a steady flame and are great for small containers, such as votives, tea lights, or tins.

• ECO-12 to ECO-14: These medium wicks are suitable for containers with diameters of 2–3 inches. They help to melt the wax evenly across the surface, reducing the risk of tunneling (where the wax melts only in the middle and leaves excess wax on the sides).

• ECO-16 and larger: Larger ECO wicks are best suited for containers with diameters of 3 inches or more. They create a larger flame, ensuring the entire surface of the wax melts evenly and efficiently.

TCR Wicks

TCR wicks are round braided cotton wicks with a consistent flame and are designed for use with both paraffin and soy waxes. These wicks provide better stability than many other wick types and work well in a variety of candle styles.

• TCR 18/10 to TCR 21/12: These smaller TCR wicks are great for small containers (up to 2 inches in diameter), offering a controlled burn and steady flame. They are often used in votives and tea lights.

• TCR 24/14 to TCR 27/16: These medium wicks work well for containers between 2 and 3 inches in diameter, ensuring an even melt pool and avoiding tunneling.

• TCR 30/18 and larger: For containers larger than 3 inches, these wicks provide a larger flame that can melt a greater amount of wax across a broader surface. They work well for larger candles and deep containers.

2. Wax Types

Different wax types require different wick sizes due to variations in burn rate, melting point, and density. Let’s look at how ECO and TCR wicks perform with various waxes.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is a natural, renewable resource that burns longer and cleaner than paraffin. However, soy has a lower melting point and can produce a smaller melt pool, so it often requires larger wicks to achieve a full surface melt.

• ECO wicks: Soy wax pairs well with ECO wicks, which burn hotter and help achieve a wider melt pool. For a medium-sized soy candle (about 3 inches in diameter), an ECO-14 wick might work well.

• TCR wicks: TCR wicks also work with soy wax, but since they burn cooler than ECO wicks, you may need to use a larger size, such as a TCR 27/16, to achieve the same melt pool as an ECO wick.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is more forgiving than soy, with a faster burn rate and better scent throw. It holds fragrance and color well, making it a versatile option for many candle types.

• ECO wicks: Since paraffin wax burns more easily, smaller ECO wicks like the ECO-10 or ECO-12 may be sufficient for medium-sized containers. These wicks create a steady, controlled flame without overheating the wax.

• TCR wicks: TCR wicks are a good choice for paraffin wax as they offer a stable burn. A TCR 24/14 or TCR 27/16 will work well for paraffin candles in medium-sized containers.

Beeswax

Beeswax burns the longest of all waxes and requires a wick that can handle its high melting point. Beeswax candles are often used for their natural, subtle fragrance and slow burn.

• ECO wicks: Due to its density, beeswax needs larger ECO wicks to maintain a full melt pool. An ECO-16 or ECO-18 would be ideal for a 3-inch beeswax candle.

• TCR wicks: TCR wicks also perform well with beeswax, especially the larger sizes like TCR 30/18, which can handle beeswax’s slow burn rate and high heat requirements.

Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is softer and melts at a lower temperature than both soy and paraffin wax, giving it a longer burn time and excellent scent throw.

• ECO wicks: Because coconut wax melts easily, it generally requires a smaller wick size. For a 3-inch diameter candle, an ECO-12 wick should be sufficient to achieve a full melt pool.

• TCR wicks: With TCR wicks, a smaller size like TCR 24/14 or TCR 27/16 should be enough to ensure the candle burns evenly without overheating the wax.

3. Container Sizes

The size of the container is another critical factor in choosing the right wick. The wick must be large enough to melt the wax across the entire surface but not so large that it causes the candle to burn too hot or too fast. Here’s how to select the appropriate wick for different container sizes:

• Small Containers (up to 2 inches in diameter): Tea lights, votives, and small jars fall into this category. For these, a smaller wick such as ECO-2, ECO-6, or TCR 18/10 will work well, providing a steady flame without overheating.

• Medium Containers (2 to 3 inches in diameter): Most standard candles in jars or tins require a medium-sized wick. For a medium container, you can use an ECO-10 to ECO-14 or a TCR 24/14 to TCR 27/16, depending on the wax type.

• Large Containers (3 inches and above in diameter): For larger candles, either a larger wick or multiple wicks are necessary to achieve an even melt pool. For a 3- to 4-inch diameter container, you can use an ECO-16 to ECO-18 or a TCR 30/18. For extra-large containers, multiple wicks (e.g., two TCR 24/14 wicks) might be needed to avoid tunneling.

4. Linking Wick Sizes, Wax Types, and Containers

To create the perfect candle, it’s important to match the right wick with the wax and container size. Here are a few general rules to guide your wick selection:

• For soy wax: Use a slightly larger ECO or TCR wick, as soy burns slower and can struggle to reach the edge of the container. For a 3-inch diameter soy candle, an ECO-14 or TCR 27/16 is a good choice.

• For paraffin wax: Since paraffin wax burns faster, you can use a smaller wick. For a 3-inch diameter paraffin candle, an ECO-10 or TCR 24/14 should provide an even burn.

• For beeswax: Beeswax requires a large wick due to its high melting point. For a 3-inch diameter beeswax candle, an ECO-16 or TCR 30/18 will ensure the wax melts evenly across the surface.

• For coconut wax: A smaller wick is often sufficient for coconut wax, as it burns easily. For a 3-inch diameter candle, an ECO-12 or TCR 24/14 should work well.

5. Testing and Adjustment

Always remember that candle making is part science, part experimentation. While wick charts provide a good starting point, it’s essential to test your candles to ensure they burn evenly, don’t produce excess soot, and have a good scent throw. Factors like fragrance load and dye can affect how a wick burns, so be prepared to adjust your wick size based on your specific recipe.

Conclusion

The success of a candle depends on finding the right balance between wick size, wax type, and container size. ECO and TCR wicks offer different burning properties that make them suitable for a range of waxes and containers. By carefully selecting the right wick for your wax and container, and testing your candles for performance, you can create high-quality candles that burn evenly and deliver a great scent throw.