How do I test a wick?
Short answer
Cure the test candle 7 days, light it and time the melt pool: it should reach the edges in 1.5–2 hours at about 1 cm deep.
Explanation
24 hours after pouring, trim the wick to 0.5 cm, close the jar and let it cure 7 days. Note the wick brand and size, jar diameter, wax brand and fragrance %. Then light it and watch how long the melt pool takes to reach the edges, and how deep it is after 2 hours.
Deeper than 1 cm and melting fast means the wick is too large; it may flare if burned for 6 hours. No full melt pool after 2 hours, or tunneling, means it's too small.
What to do
- Change one variable at a time between tests.
Source: The Big Book of Sweet Dessert Candles — Wick Testing