Candle Care

How to Care for Your Sweetwick Candle

Sweetwick candles use a wooden wick soaked in avocado oil — which burns differently from a standard cotton wick and deserves its own care guide. A few simple habits will give you a cleaner burn, a longer life, and a better experience.

About Your Wooden Wick

Your candle's wick is made from wood, not cotton. Before it was set into the wax, it was soaked in avocado oil. This combination is what gives Sweetwick its signature crackling sound as it burns — quiet and ambient, like a small fireplace. That sound is completely normal and intentional. It is one of the things that makes the experience distinct.

Wooden wicks behave a little differently than cotton wicks, so read the tips below before your first burn.

The First Burn

Before extinguishing for the first time, let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the jar. This takes about 2–3 hours. Wax has memory — if you burn for too short a time on the first burn, the wax will only ever melt in a narrow tunnel, wasting a significant portion of the candle. A full first melt pool sets the pattern for every burn that follows.

Trimming a Wooden Wick

Trim the wooden wick to approximately 1/8 inch (3mm) before every burn. This is shorter than the 1/4 inch standard for cotton wicks — wooden wicks work best with a shorter, more controlled flame.

Use a wick trimmer, small scissors, or your fingers to break off the charred wood at the tip. Remove any debris from the wax surface before lighting. A mushroomed or charred tip left on the wick can cause a weak flame, difficulty relighting, or uneven burning.

Lighting a Wooden Wick

Wooden wicks can take a moment longer to fully establish than cotton wicks on first light. Hold the flame along the width of the wick — not just at the end — and give it 10–15 seconds. Once lit, the flame will settle into a soft, steady burn. If it goes out during the first few seconds, trim the charred end gently and try again.

Burn Time Per Session

Burn for no more than 4 hours at a time. Beyond 4 hours, the wick can over-char, the glass can overheat, and the flame can become less stable. After 4 hours: extinguish, let cool fully, trim the wick, then light again.

If the Flame Is Weak

A low or flickering flame on a wooden wick is almost always a wick trimming issue. If this happens, extinguish the candle, let it cool completely, then remove the charred wood from the tip so clean wood is exposed. Relight. The flame should recover immediately.

How to Extinguish

Use a candle snuffer — it is the cleanest method and prevents wax splatter. Or gently blow out the flame. Never use water. After extinguishing, let the candle cool completely before replacing the lid or moving it.

Keep the Wax Pool Clean

Before each burn, remove any wick trimmings or debris from the wax surface. Foreign material in the melt pool can cause flaring, off-scent, or uneven burning.

Placement & Storage

Burn on a stable, flat, heat-resistant surface away from drafts and vents. Moving air disrupts a wooden wick flame more noticeably than a cotton wick. Store away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep the lid on when not in use to preserve the fragrance and protect the wax surface.

Knowing When to Stop

Stop burning when approximately 1/2 inch (1.25cm) of wax remains at the bottom. Burning below this can cause the glass to overheat. When done, clean the jar with hot soapy water — the wax releases easily — and reuse it.