how to do a test burn

Trim wick to 1/4″. Place the candle on a clean, flat, heat-resistant surface – away from drafts. Record time and light candle. After 2 hours, record burn pool diameter and wick appearance. After a total of 4 hours, again record burn pool diameter and wick appearance, and then gently blow out the candle. Allow the candle to cool for 8 hours. Repeat the process until all of the wax is gone.

Note: The candle should achieve the desired burn at a 2-hour check. The wax should not be more than 1/2″ deep at a 4-hour check. If either of these occurs, you need to adjust the size of your wick.

Calculating How Much Wax a Container Will Hold

Fill the container with water and use the below conversion that applies to the wax you are using.

+16 oz of weighed Paraffin Wax = 20 fluid oz

+16 oz of weighed Soy Wax = 18 fluid oz

Pillar or Votive Candle Cracks

  • If performing a second pour, make sure the re-pour wax is not too hot. This will cause thermal shock and candle cracks.
  • A candle may have cooled too quickly causing cracks or mottling.
  • Use only quality fragrance oils that have not been diluted to improve cost. This can cause the wax to mottle.
  • Prior to pouring, make sure the mold is clean and free of old wax.
  • Pillar or Votive is Difficult to Unmold
  • Do not re-pour the candle after it has become cool and started to pull away from the mold.
  • Make sure the mold is clean and in good condition.
  • As a last resort put the candle (and mold) in the freezer for 5 minutes. This will cause the wax to shrink and pull away from the mold.

Candle Flame is Too Large

Your wick is likely too large. Using the appropriate size and type of wick is fundamental to a well-burning candle.

Candle Flame is Too Small

Your wick may be too small. Using the appropriate size and type of wick is fundamental to a well-burning candle.

Pit Marks on Candle

  • Pour slowly and use minimal stirring to avoid the creation of bubbles.
  • Prior to pouring, ensure your mold is clear and free from residual wax.
  • Pit marks can happen when a candle takes too long to cool.

Poor Candle Throw (Can’t Smell Scent)

Try using a higher quality fragrance oil. Often fragrances smell good out of the bottle but lack the depth to create a candle with a good “hot throw” (smell while burning) and a good “cold throw” (smell while cold).

Try adding fragrance just prior to pouring the candle.

Try adding more fragrance (do not exceed wax recommendations).

Try changing waxes. All wax formulas perform differently.

Container Candle Sink Hole

Immediately prior to pouring candles, carefully warm containers in the oven at 150º for 15 minutes. This will allow the wax to cool very slowly thus lessening the chances of sinkholes.

Do you heat the wax beyond the pouring temperature? Overheating causes the wax to over-expand.

Make sure your candle cools slowly. Avoid drafts in the room.

Visible Horizontal Lines

When pouring a second time, make sure your wax is not too cool.

When doing a second pour, retain some wax from your first pour and use this reheated wax as your second pour. This ensures the color of the two waxes will be exactly the same.

Lower your pouring temperature.