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The Candle Superstore
The Candle Superstore
Have you ever crafted a candle and once you light it it’s not burning properly, meaning you are experiencing a low flame and almost zero melt pool. If this is an issue you’re experiencing, continue reading to learn more!
Candle making can become very technical and is an ongoing process of trial and error, but it's important to know that if you are experiencing issues such as low flame and little to no melt pool it can be attributed to multiple things, here we will go over the different factors that can contribute to this problem.
To begin, in order for a candle to burn properly it needs fuel/oxygen. When it comes to candle making if your candle lacks fuel/ oxygen this will affect your candle's flame. Your candle gets its fuel/oxygen from the wax. Reasons your candle may not be receiving any fuel/oxygen could be because of fragrance oil overload, too much dye added to wax, or the wrong wick size.
Moreover, if ingredients are overloaded this can lead to your wick becoming clogged and not being able to perform at its best. It could also be as simple as your wick being the wrong size for the vessel you are currently using.
So let's get to the details, what does it mean to overload your candle with additional ingredients?
First, it’s important to know that when crafting scented candles it's important to use fragrance oils that are meant or can be used for candle making. Fragrance oils are great when you want to create a scented candle(s), but if you add too much fragrance oils it can alter the size of your flame meaning it becomes clogged by an overload of oils.
When you light a candle it may look like the melt pool is what is creating the scent, you’d be surprised to know that the melt pool is not entirely where the scent is derived from. When a candle is burning, for it to burn properly the wax and fragrance oil must travel up through the wick igniting the scent but if there is an overload this burn flow will be altered.
Fragrance oil overload can also contribute to a mushrooming wick which can also affect your candle flame. Most waxes have a recommended fragrance oil load of 3% - 12% max. It is important to follow recommended instructions.
Candle making dye, much like fragrance oils can also overload your wax which can lead to clogging your wick if too much dye is being added to your melted wax. We recommend adding your dye into your wax moderately and testing the color by scooping some of the wax on a spoon and placing it on a paper towel and letting the color set to ensure you have the right color.
Having the wrong sized wick can affect your candle greatly in the way that if you have a wick that is too small it can lead to clogging as it may drown in wax as well as not be able to create the proper sized burn pool.
If your wick is too large it can cause the wick to get smaller as it will create a large melt pool that the wick may curl into. Additionally, if you have too many wicks it can cause the wicks to droop as it will also create a large melt pool, as well as cause a low flame as each wick will be taking up fuel/oxygen.
Problem-solving
In order to fix these issues, you must test everything, meaning remeasuring the amount of ingredients you are using and craft “test candles. Thus, meaning you must try reducing the amount of dye being used as well as fragrance oils. You must also test wick size meaning you must increase wick size or reduce wick size depending on what is happening to your flame. You may also want to try different candle containers as well as wax blends.
The key to candle-making is to test test TEST. Test everything to ensure you are crafting not only a quality candle but a safe quality candle.
Ultra wax coconut-soy blend is our state of the art, smooth Coconut Soy Blend. It’s ease of use and maximum glass jar adhesion leaves a smooth finish on the sides of your glass. With a melting point approximately 128℉ degrees and pour temperature of 165℉ degrees, Ultra Wax cools with minimal shrinkage.
You’ll fall in love with Ultra Wax the first time you use it!
Typically requires only a single pour (tops can be smoothed out with a heat gun if necessary)
Strong hot and cold scent throw
Typical fragrance load is 6% or less
Smooth and creamy appearance
Excellent jar adhesion
Melt point: approximately 128℉
Add dye as needed and mix thoroughly
Add candle fragrance oil as needed and mix thoroughly (fragrance oil should be added just before pouring to prevent fragrance oil from evaporating)
Pouring temperatures should typically be around 120° to 165°, though experimentation is recommended to determine optimal pouring temperature
When pouring melted wax into containers, the containers should be at room temperature or slightly warmer
Allow candles to cool as slow as possible to achieve good jar adhesion and create a smooth finish.
Available in 5 lb. trays.
Pre-tabbed cotton core waxed wick 51-32-18 is recommended for use in 3″ to 4″ diameter container candles. Also known as “X” wick.
Technical Information:
Burn rate (wax consumption): 0.24 ounces per hour
Melt pool diameters:
3 hour burn test: 2 3/8″
6 hour burn test: 2 3/4″
Flame height: 1.6″
*All information is approximate and provided for comparison purposes only. Based on a 140℉ melt point pure paraffin candle, an initial wick height of 1/4 inch, and room temperature of approximately 75℉. Results may vary according to formula, type and melt point of wax, initial wick height, and room temperature, among other factors. The best way to determine the right wick for a particular candle is by trial and error testing.
Also available in a 10 yard pack here!
Ethereal Waters candle fragrance oil – transport yourself to a tropical island, breathing in the scent of ocean air and blue waters mingled with juicy tropical fruits, sparkling citrus and Open Aire.
Our Ethereal Waters candle fragrance oil begins with top notes of passion fruit, aquatic breeze, mandora, citrus sea salt and Open Aire, balanced with middle notes of peony, Lily of the Valley, magnolia and sweet conifer, and is well-rounded with a nice base of vanilla orchid, white musk and Orris.
At Candle Making Supplies, you can find an extensive range of high-quality candle fragrance oils. There are hundreds of options for candle fragrances. You could start with some of the most popular scents: vanilla, lavender, coconut, and sandalwood (and all their subtle and bold variations), or try something fruity, like currant, fig, green melon, or blood orange. For warm smells try fragrance oils like cinnamon rolls and Envy Me.
We love our line of the finest fragrance oils! All of our scents are great for soy, paraffin, and Coconut blend wax candles. These oils are a critical part of your candle making projects. Get started today and use the best ingredients to create the best products.
* All fragrance oils are highly concentrated and for manufacturing use only. Usage amounts are recommendations only. Individual usage amounts can vary based on your desired fragrance strength, wax type, soap base, or lotion base. Usage in natural waxes for candles may be 10%, while skincare product usage may be 2%.
Our new Candle dye blocks are formulated to increase color clarity. They color more wax than the dye chips. These blocks can be mixed with both soy and paraffin candle making wax. The dye blocks can be shaved into smaller pieces to create lighter shades. The more dye that you add, the darker the color shade will become. Dye colors can be mixed in order to make different colors.
Use the candle dye blocks the same way you use dye chips.
A 1 piece block of dye colors 5-50 lbs. of wax, depending on the color shade you are trying to achieve.
Also available in 12 packs here!
Recommendations:
Once the candle dye chip has been added to the melted wax, stir thoroughly to ensure the dye chip fully disperses in the wax.
It’s always best to add your fragrance oil first because some fragrance oils can change the color of your soy wax.
Add the dye chips and dye blocks to your wax at 185 F so that they fully dissolve. The hotter the wax the more easily they dissolve.
Colors usually look darker when they’re mixed in hot wax. When you think you’ve reached your desired color take a couple of drops of hot wax and drip onto a white piece of paper. Once it cools it gives you a more accurate idea of what your candle will look like once cooled.
Always take detailed notes how much color you used per pound of wax. This way you can multiply this amount by the number of pounds of soy wax you’re using.