Wick Standards — Lead-Free & Performance

Lead-Free Wick Requirement

Since 2003, the CPSC has banned the manufacture and sale of candles with lead-core wicks in the United States. This is a mandatory federal regulation, not a voluntary standard.

• Wicks must be made of cotton, paper, wood, or other non-metallic material.
• Wire-core wicks must use zinc or tin cores only — lead is strictly prohibited.
• Quick test: rub the wick on white paper. A gray metallic mark indicates lead content.

Wick Performance Requirements

Per CPSC regulations and industry standards, wicks must:

• Produce a stable, consistent flame throughout the candle's life.
• Self-trim or not increase in height more than 50% from the initial trim.
• Not cause the candle to flare, sputter excessively, or drip dangerously.
• Achieve a melt pool that reaches the container edge within a reasonable burn time (typically 2–4 hours for the first burn).

Wick sizing must be tested for each unique combination of container diameter, wax type, fragrance oil type and load, and colorant used.

Wick Centering

Wicks must remain centered throughout the burn. An off-center wick can:

• Cause uneven burning and tunneling.
• Allow the flame to contact the container wall, creating a safety hazard.
• Result in an uneven melt pool and reduced fragrance throw.

Wick tabs should be heat-resistant and properly anchored to the container bottom.

Char & Mushrooming

Wicks must be evaluated for carbon buildup (mushrooming). Excessive char can:

• Increase flame height beyond safe limits.
• Release soot particles into the air.
• Create a fire hazard if the carbon ball falls into the melt pool.

Trim wicks to ¼ inch (6mm) before each lighting. This is both a safety standard requirement and a best practice for clean burning.