How To Fix Common Candle Making Issues

Got candle probs? We've got solutions. In this video learn how to fix the 10 most common candle making issues in a snap.

1) Sweating- This occurs when the fragrance separates from the wax and collects on top of the container candle in small beads. It is super common in soy wax. It is caused by changing your candle from one temperature to another in the making process. Solution: Use a heat gun and move it over the surface until all wax on top has melted and the fragrance has been reabsorbed. 

2) Jump Lines- These are the unintended lines or rings around the sides of the candle. To prevent them, you should heat your glass if you are working in a cooler environment or pour your wax in at a lower temperature. 

3) Tunneling- This occurs when the wick is too small for the candle and a full melt pool is not achieved creating a wax wall. Solution: Increase wick width and thickness. 

4) Candle won't light- This is most commonly caused by use of an incorrect type of wick. Solution: Use our wick selection guide to find out exactly what size wick you should be using for the vessel. 

5) Frosting- These are the areas where wax pulls away from the vessel caused by inaccurate pouring temperatures. Solution: Heating glass or pouring in the wax at a lower temperature. 

6) Modeling- This is that snowflake-type appearance on the candle. Solution: Try adjusting pour temperature. 

7) Sinkholes- These are holes in the wax caused by air pockets trapped inside candle. They are prevented by accurately following melting and pouring temperatures and setting on a flat undisturbed surface. Solution: Creating relief holes and finishing with a heat gun on top.

8) Poor glass adhesion- To prevent this from happening, you may need to heat the glass with a heat gun or in the oven or add in a lower temperature wax.

9) Poor hot or cold throw- This has to do with the fragrance that is being emitted. This becomes a problem when the amount of fragrance being emitted does not match the amount of fragrance you have placed into the candle. Solution: You may need to increase fragrance load up to 12% for desired scent throw. 

10) Smoking- This usually occurs when the wick is too long for wax type or vessel. Solution: You might need to wick down to the next lowest wick width or wick thickness.