Why I Don’t Use Wooden Wicks in My Soy Candles

Wooden wicks are everywhere right now — crackling flames, aesthetic photos, cozy vibes. They’re beautiful to look at, and I understand the appeal. But at Brimka Haus Botanicals, you won’t find wooden wicks in any of my candles.

Not because I can’t use them.

Because they don’t meet my standards for safety, consistency, or clean burning — especially in pure soy wax.

Let’s talk about why.

Soy Wax Is Dense — And Wooden Wicks Struggle With That

Pure soy wax is a natural, plant‑based wax with a dense structure. It requires a wick that generates steady, reliable heat.

Wooden wicks often can’t keep up.

They tend to:

• Struggle to stay lit

• Tunnel instead of melting evenly

• Drown in their own melt pool

• Produce weak flames

• Burn inconsistently from candle to candle

Most makers who use wooden wicks don’t use pure soy. They use blends—soy mixed with paraffin—because these blends melt more easily and enhance the wooden wick's performance.

But I don’t use blends.

I use 100% soy, and I’m not willing to compromise that.

Wooden Wicks Often Need Additives to Behave

To get a wooden wick to burn well in soy, many makers rely on:

• Additives to thin the wax

• Boosters or double‑wood wicks

• Higher fragrance loads to fuel the flame

• Softer wax blends

That’s not my style.

I don’t want to add ingredients just to force a wick to work.

I want every component of the candle to be clean, intentional, and necessary — nothing extra.

Clean Air Matters More Than Aesthetic Trends

A candle is a flame.

Whatever you put into it becomes part of the air you breathe.

Wooden wicks can create:

• More soot

• More incomplete combustion

• More variability in burn quality

And because they’re less predictable in pure soy, they’re more likely to flicker, struggle, or overheat — all things that affect air quality and safety.

My priority is a clean, stable, elegant burn.

Not a trend.

Why I Choose Cotton Wicks With a Paper Filament

Instead of wooden wicks, I use wicks made from cotton braided around a paper filament. They’re specifically engineered for natural waxes like soy.

They offer:

• A steady, centered flame

• A predictable melt pool

• Less soot

• Less mushrooming

• A safer, more even burn from top to bottom

They don’t need additives.

They don’t need blends.

They just work — cleanly and consistently.

A Candle Should Be Beautiful Because It Burns Well

Wooden wicks look cool.

But performance matters more than aesthetics.

At Brimka Haus Botanicals, I choose materials that respect your home, your air, and your safety. That means:

• No dyes

• No toppings

• No additives

• No wooden wicks

Just pure soy wax, pure essential oils, and a wick designed to burn beautifully.

Minimalism isn’t plain — it’s intentional.