Wooden wicks are everywhere these days—from TikTok trends to boutique candle shops—but are wooden wick candles actually better?
Short answer: not necessarily. The truth is, both cotton and wooden candle wicks have their pros and cons. It all comes down to what kind of burn experience you're looking for, how you use your candles, and what matters most to you: sustainability, sound, maintenance, or ease.
Let’s break it down.
First: What Is a Wooden Wick Candle, Exactly?
A wooden wick candle uses—you guessed it—a thin strip of wood in place of the traditional braided cotton wick. They’re often marketed as luxe, modern, and crackling (literally).
But a crackle doesn’t always mean better. And just because it looks cool doesn’t mean it burns better or cleaner.
Wooden Wick vs. Cotton Wick: A Side-by-side Look
| Feature | Cotton Wick | Wooden Wick |
| Burn Consistency | Smooth, even burn with low risk of self-extinguishing | Can be harder to light and may frizzle out |
| Sound | Silent | Crackling firewood vibe |
| Maintenance | Trim and relight easily | Requires precise trimming and upright positioning |
| Eco-Friendliness | 100% biodegradable cotton; Clean-burning | Made from wood, not always sustainably sourced |
| Soot/Smoke | Minimal, especially with the clean wax and fragrance | Can produce more soot if not trimmed properly |
Are Wooden Wick Candles Better for the Environment?
Not automatically. While candle wooden wick options sound eco-friendly, many are made from composite woods or treated materials. Unless the brand explicitly states that they’re using sustainably sourced, untreated wood, you’re better off sticking with something you can verify.
At ReCandle Co., we use cotton wicks that are:
- 100% natural and biodegradable
- Free of lead, zinc, and other metals
- Designed to burn cleanly with our soy wax and non-toxic scents
Plus, our cotton wicks are easier to reuse again and again in our refillable candle system, which is where the real sustainability magic happens.
Why We Don’t Use Wooden Wicks at ReCandle Co.
We get the appeal of candles with a wooden wick—it’s trendy and cozy. But we built our system for consistency, safety, and ease, and wooden wicks just didn’t make the cut.
Here’s why:
- They can be finicky to light, especially after the first burn
- They don’t always stay lit unless trimmed and placed just right
- They can be prone to smoky burns if the wax isn’t perfectly matched
We wanted a candle that works every single time. No flicker fights. No tools. Just pop in your refill, light your wick, and enjoy.
What Matters Most: Your Burn Preferences
So—are wooden wick candles better? Not across the board. It really depends on what you value:
- Want a cozy, crackling fire sound? A wooden wick might be your vibe.
- Prefer a candle that lights fast, burns clean, and works with a refillable system? Cotton’s your best bet.
At the end of the day, the “better wick” is the one that works best for you. We chose cotton for its reliability, low maintenance, and compatibility with our zero-waste design—but we get why wooden wicks have their fans, too.
Final Verdict: Are Wooden Wicks Better?
Not better. Not worse. Just different.
Candles with wooden wick offer ambiance. Candles with cotton wicks offer reliability, reusability, and simplicity.
If you’re after a low-maintenance, clean-burning candle that fits seamlessly into your everyday rituals (and doesn’t get in the way of your sustainability goals), you’ll feel right at home with ReCandle Co.