Thank you to Joyce in Connecticut for sending this helpful wick placement tip for The Soap Queen readers:
A suggestion for wicks. I have used cotter pins that are around 4 inches long to hold wicks in the center while candles are hardening/setting up. I have also used the long bobby pins. I put candle wick pinched in either of these and then I put some masking tape on the both ends and to the glass containers to hold in place. This leaves enough room on either side of the candle to pour in your wax and you can adjust the wick easily if it shifts when you pour the wax in.
The photo on the right is of a candle with a poorly placed wick. The wick was about 20% off center. Because of the centering issue as well as a too-small wick choice, there was a lot of extra wax left after a full burn. As a consumer who spent over $11 for this candle, I was a little bummed about the extra hours of wax left sitting in the candle.
i use popsicle sticks from a craft store to center wicks. the ones that have all the little notches already cut into them. the wick sticks into the notch and stays in place very well.the stick fits across most containers that i use for candles. i use tins and recycled jars as well as mason jars. it works great. just make sure wax is set before removing the wick from the notch.
Fantastic tip! Thanks for sharing =)
I have one of those heat lights that warm the candle from the top and create the scent in the room without the worry of fire. I even found a bum practically new Yankee Candle at the thrift for a buck with no wick in sight and used it under the warmer. I love it! This way you can make “candles” without wicks if you prefer so you can get the good smells in the room. The scents do eventually “go away” after many meltings. Maybe you could add more essential oils to it…
You can definitely add more fragrance oil to a wickless candle. Often over scenting results in odd burning or “mushrooming”, which is that big bump that you see on the top of some wicks. Great idea, Lucie!
Courtney from Bramble Berry
To center wicks (I saw this on another site) use a bic pen casing (take out the pen) and thread the wick thru the pen case. Now you can easily place the wick in the CENTER of the bottom of the jar.
After I pour a candle I use the disposable chopsticks you get with takeout. Do NOT BREAK APART THE CHOPSTICKS. All I do is put the wick between the chopsticks in the little slit (that is why you don’t break them) and slide it back until it grips the wick. Then you can hold the wick and press the chopsticks down onto the top of the container and then make sure the wick is in the center. Voila! When candle is cool, slide off chopsticks and use again.
You can always break out your burner and place your tin on. They cost around $4 at Hobby Lobby and you can get the most out of what is a bum candle. 🙁 Hopefully this wasn’t a handmade one!
Grrr! I hate it when I buy a candle and it burns halfway down. My biggest culprit for these is the largest Yankee Container ones. THey start smoking so much half way down that I end of throwing them out. It really bums me out because they are expensive!