Noticed some problems with the candle you made? Don’t worry, it’s easy to make mistakes with candle making!
Most of the common problems with candle making are easy to avoid, once you know what causes them. So keep reading to find out more about candle making issues and how to avoid them!
Contents
- What is Tunnelling?
- What is Cracking?
- What is Frosting?
- What is Sooting?
- What is a Sinkhole?
- What is Mushrooming?
- What is Poor Scent Throw?
What is Tunnelling?
Every candle maker will have encountered tunnelling before. It is a very common problem, with a fairly simple fix.
When burning a candle, you want the candle to melt from edge to edge. Tunnelling is when the candle burns down and leaves a ring of unmelted wax around the edge.
Common Causes
Not letting the candle burn for long enough to reach the edge of the container. If you blow out the candle when it hasn’t reached the edge, then the next time you burn it, it will continue to burn down.
If you’ve burnt your candle for a few hours and it is just burning down, you will need to rethink the wick you have chosen as this happens when the wick is too small for the container.
How to Avoid This
When you first burn your candle, you must leave it to burn for long enough to allow the wax to melt all the way to the edge. We usually recommend leaving the candle to burn for up to 4 hours. However, this will depend on the size of your candle as some may reach the edges quicker, and some may take longer.
You may also need to rethink the wick size. If your container has a wide diameter, you may need more than one wick in the candle. Alternatively, you can use bigger wicks like wide wooden wicks. This may take some trial and error to get it right!
What is Cracking?
This is more common in plant based waxes, like soy wax, as they expand and contract a lot during the cooling process.
Cracking can look like small cracks around the edge of the container or it could be a large crack through the middle of the candle.
Common Causes
This usually happens if the candle cools too quickly. If the room the candle is curing in is drafty and the temperature keeps changing, it will affect the way the candle sets.
Cracking can also happen if the container the wax is being poured into is too cold. There is too much of a temperature change between the hot wax and cold container which will cause it to crack.
It can also occur if the wax has been overheated as the wax may shrink as it sets. Likewise, if the wax has been underheated, it may start solidifying before it’s properly poured.
How to Avoid This
Keep the candle in a room with a stable temperature and avoid sudden temperature change.
You can also try to warm the container before pouring the candle wax into it. This way, the hot wax won’t experience such a big temperature difference while it sets.
It is also really important to know the maximum temperature your candle wax can handle so you can avoid overheating the wax.
What is Frosting?
Frosting is when a white, powder-like coating appears over the surface of the candle after it cools.
It is important to know that frosting is only a problem for the appearance of the candle and it won’t affect the quality or function of your candle.
Common Causes
Frosting mostly occurs when working with natural waxes like soy wax. It happens because the wax naturally forms crystalline structures as it cools and hardens.
However, it is more likely to occur if there are temperature fluctuations.
How to Avoid This
When working with soy wax, there’s not always a way to stop frosting.
One way you may be able to stop frosting is by keeping the candle at a level temperature while it is curing.
If you usually pour your wax at a certain temperature and it is frosting, you could try pouring the wax at a different temperature to see if this changes the result.
What is Sooting?
Sooting is when a candle produces lots of black smoke when burning. It is caused when candle wax and fragrance oils don’t burn completely, which forms carbon particles (soot).
It is not uncommon for candles to produce a little bit of soot when burning, but some factors may cause too much soot to be produced.
Common Causes
It can occur if the candle is in a drafty area as the flame will flicker, leading to soot.
Another common reason for sooting is if the candle wick is too long as it creates a bigger flame, causing incomplete combustion.
If too much fragrance is added, this can cause incomplete combustion which leads to sooting.
How to Avoid This
Make sure to trim the wick down to ½ inch or less before lighting the candle. Also avoid burning the candle in a drafty room.
You may also need to reduce the amount of fragrance used in the candle so check the recommended usage of fragrance oils for your specific candle wax.
What is a Sinkhole?
A sinkhole is a shallow or deep dip in the surface of a candle. Sinkholes usually appear in the centre of the wax, near the wick or all the way down the core of the candle.
Common Causes
This usually occurs if the wax cools too quickly and the outer edges cool before the centre. When this happens, it traps air pockets in the middle of the candle which later collapse into sinkholes.
If you pour the wax when it is too hot, it can cause uneven cooling which can lead to sinkholes. Similarly, if the wax is too cool it can trap air pockets.
Some waxes expand and contract more than others (like soy wax), which can make them more prone to sinkholes forming.
How to Avoid This
The best way to reduce the chances of sinkholes forming is by pouring the wax at a consistent temperature, avoiding overheating or pouring it when it is too cool. This should then cool at a slower rate, reducing the chance of air pockets forming.
What is Mushrooming?
Mushrooming is the formation of carbon at the tip of the candle wick because of incomplete combustion. It builds up at the top of the wick, forming a mushroom shape.
Mushrooming can cause problems like sooting, a flickering flame and it can cause the flame to burn out faster.
Common Causes
If the wick is too long or there is too much fragrance in the candle, it can cause incomplete combustion, which can cause soot to build up on the wick.
How to Avoid This
It is important to choose the right type of wick for your candle, so you may need to change the size or type of wick.
Trim the wick down to ½ inch or less before lighting the candle to ensure the wick is not too long.
You may also need to reduce the amount of fragrance used in the candle so check the recommended usage of fragrance oils for your specific candle wax.
What is Poor Scent Throw?
A poor scent throw is when the scent of the candle isn’t very strong. There is a hot throw and a cold throw in candles. The hot throw is how the scent comes through when the candle is burning and the cold throw is the scent when the candle is unlit.
A poor scent throw can mean the scent isn’t very strong when the candle is burning but also when the candle is unlit.
Common Causes
If the wrong type of fragrance is used in the candle, the scent may not be very strong. When working with natural essential oils, certain types of essential oil don’t work in candles. Typically, synthetic fragrance oils are used in candles as the scent throw is more reliable.
Similarly, if too much or too little fragrance is added to the candle it can cause problems. Too little fragrance will mean the scent won’t come through, even when it is unlit. Using too much fragrance will overload the candle and it won’t make a stronger scent throw.
The size of the wick can also affect the scent throw. If the wick is too short, it will create a small melt pool which can affect the release of the fragrance. However, if the wick is too long it can create too much heat and cause the fragrance to evaporate.
If the candle wax is too hot when you add the fragrance, this can cause the fragrance to evaporate before the candle sets.
It may also occur if you don’t leave the candle to cure for long enough. If the candle is lit before it has finished curing, the scent throw will be much weaker.
How to Avoid This
Make sure you choose the right type of fragrance for your wax and research which fragrances are best for your candle. We recommend using between 6% and 10% fragrance in a candle. However, you should check the usage rates for the specific wax you are using.
We recommend trimming the wick down to ½ inch or less before lighting the candle to ensure the wick is not too long.
Check which temperature your wax should be before adding the fragrance to ensure it is not too hot.
Finally, ensure you leave the candle to cure for long enough! We recommend leaving the wax to cure for around 2 weeks.
Continue Reading
Now you know how to fix common issues with candle making, why not continue reading?
- Want to try a new candle recipe? Try our autumn spice candle recipe!
- Have you ever tried making wax melts? Try our simple recipe!
- Struggle with cold process soap making? Read our troubleshooting blog!
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