Soy wax usually needs more trial runs than people expect. Jar width, fragrance load, and dye can all push the same wax blend in different directions, so this page is built around starting ranges and what to watch on the first burn.
| Jar inside diameter | Starting wick path | Typical fragrance load | First-burn checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 2.25 in | Small cotton or small paper-core test wick | 5% to 7% | Melt pool should begin reaching the edges by the second long burn. |
| 2.5 in | Small-to-medium cotton test wick | 6% to 8% | Watch for tunneling if the wax is soft but the scent load is heavy. |
| 3 in | Medium cotton test wick or a paired small-wick test | 7% to 9% | Weak hot throw often means the wick is still too timid for the jar. |
| 3.5 in and wider | Medium-to-large wick family test | 7% to 10% | Check jar heat before chasing a full edge-to-edge pool too fast. |
Soy often starts with a decent-looking flame and still ends up too weak once fragrance, dye, and a full cure settle in. That is why a wick size chart for soy candles needs notes, not just a single jar-width line.
Keep the jar, wax, and cure time steady. Change one variable and write it down.