Candle Smoking / Soot Problem
Troubleshooting Guide

Candle makers come across smoking or sooty candle problems often. The most common causes of smoking candles are listed below in the order of how difficult they are to correct. To use this page, just follow the steps in order.

Step 1 - Untrimmed Wick
Poorly trimmed wicks are sometimes accompanied by smoking. This is especially true when the wick is too large to begin with, and only makes the problem worse.

Prevention - Keep all wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch.

Step 2 - Burning In A Draft
If the flame seems to be shifting from side to side with a puff of smoke coming off it with each shift, the candle is in a draft.

Prevention - Move the candle to a less drafty location, or eliminate the source of the draft.

Step 3 - Wick Is Too Large
If the wick is too large it may pull the melted wax to the wick faster than it can consume it. Much of this excess wax goes un burnt and gets carried into the air in the form of smoke or soot.

Prevention - A properly sized wick will ideally consume the wax at the same rate it is melting it. This will prevent the buildup of excess melted wax. Experiment with progressively smaller wick sizes. Note: Wick size charts are approximations that cannot take all factors into consideration - consider these as suggested sizes for starting experimentation.

Step 4 - Additives
Some folks advocate the use of petroleum jelly or vegetable shortening to soften wax. In our experience, this causes excessive sooting.

Prevention - Discontinue the use of petroleum jelly or vegetable shortening. If a softer wax is needed, switch to a softer wax rather than trying to make harder wax soft. Note: Removing these products from your wax formula will usually require a wick size change as well. Experiment with smaller wicks.

Step 5 - Excessive Oil
On occasion the addition of too much oil can cause a candle to smoke. This may be caused by mottling oil, scent oil, etc...

Prevention - Keep the total amount of oil added at or below one ounce per pound of wax.

Step 6 - Scent Oil
Although this is not commonly encountered, some scent oils seem to increase the probability of a candle smoking. If the above five steps did not correct the problem, then the scent oil is most likely at fault. This will rarely occur if the candle is made perfectly (correct wick size, trimmed wick, no excessive scent oil, etc...). To determine this make an identical candle with a different scent oil and see if the same thing occurs. If it does not occur, then try another candle with the original (problem) scent to make sure you didn't make a measuring mistake on the first one.

Prevention - Make sure your wax formula is mixed correctly . Do not mistake teaspoons (tsp.) for Tablespoons (Tbs.). If necessary switch to another scent.

If this does not help with your problem, please search our knowledgebase. If the answer is not in the knowledgebase, click here to submit your question.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common candle making practices as of the time of this writing - January 2006. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This article is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.

Author: Bob Sherman

Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.

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