Recently, a customer sent me this thoughtful message:
“Hi Sara! I’m wondering if your wick is 100% cotton? I’ve been reading about toxins hiding in the wick so I wanted to check in with you because I’m obsessed with your candles!
Thank you!”
- Zoe
Zoe’s question inspired this post. It’s such a good reminder that knowing what’s in the products we bring into our homes matters. If you ever have a question about how Slow Burn candles are made, please reach out. I love educating people about my process. And if I don’t know something, I’ll research it or troubleshoot right alongside you. We’re all students of life, after all.
The Wicks We Use at Slow Burn
At Slow Burn, we’re committed to crafting 100% pure, sustainable beeswax candles with integrity and transparency. That includes the wicks. We use natural cotton wicks, either braided or twisted, designed to burn steadily and consistently. Purity isn’t just a buzzword here. It’s a value that shapes every part of our process, from materials to method.
Why Cotton?
Cotton wicks are widely used in beeswax candle making because they offer a steady flame and absorb wax efficiently. This helps ensure a clean, reliable burn that feels intentional and effortless. It also aligns with our goal of creating candles that are functional, beautiful, and safe to use in your home.
The Truth About Hidden Toxins
Zoe was right to ask. Some wicks are made with or treated using materials that don’t belong in a clean-burning candle.
-
Metal-core wicks: These include a thin wire, often lead, zinc, or tin, inside the wick to keep it upright. Lead-core wicks have been banned in many countries. However, zinc and tin-core wicks are still used in some candles.
-
Paraffin-primed wicks: Even some cotton wicks are dipped in paraffin wax to improve rigidity or burn performance. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and can emit pollutants when burned.
While these materials may help with structure or burn time, they can also compromise indoor air quality and undermine the purity of the candle.
What Makes Slow Burn Different
We use only 100% cotton wicks, free from metal cores, paraffin, or stiffening agents. Our wicks are clean, simple, and untreated, just like our beeswax.
We also:
-
Source beeswax from local, family-run apiaries
-
Filter it ourselves using a two-step process
-
Pour each candle by hand in small batches
This attention to detail ensures that every candle meets the Slow Burn standard: clean, sustainable, and crafted with care.
A Promise of Purity
Lighting a candle is more than ambiance. It’s an invitation to pause. When you light a Slow Burn candle, you’re choosing a moment of calm and connection. The purity of the materials matters just as much as the ritual itself.
In a world full of hidden toxins and synthetic shortcuts, transparency and trust are everything. That’s why I care so deeply about using natural materials like cotton wicks. It’s one more way Slow Burn honors its values: mindfulness, sustainability, and local, intentional living.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support helps create a cleaner, more thoughtful, and more beautiful world, one candle at a time.
Warmly,
Sara