Candle Troubleshooting Quick Reference

How to Use This Guide

Find your problem. Check the likely causes. Try the fixes in order.

Surface Problems

Wet Spots (Container Candles)

What it looks like: Wax pulled away from the glass, creating gaps or cloudy patches.

Causes:

• Cold containers when pouring
• Poured too hot
• Cooled too fast (drafts, AC)

Fixes:

• Pre-warm containers
• Pour at lower end of temperature range
• Cool at steady room temperature

Frosting

What it looks like: White crystalline patches on surface or sides.

Causes: Natural in soy-based wax. It's polymorphism - the wax crystals rearranging.

Fixes:

• Pour cooler
• Accept it - it's cosmetic only
• Use a heat gun to temporarily smooth (it will return)

Sinkholes / Craters

What it looks like: Holes or depressions around the wick after setting.

Causes: Wax shrinking as it cools. Air trapped under surface.

Fixes:

• Poke relief holes when skin forms
• Do a second pour
• Pour at cooler temperature

Rough / Bumpy Tops

What it looks like: Uneven, bumpy surface instead of smooth.

Causes: Air bubbles, poured too cool, cooled too fast.

Fixes:

• Pour at higher end of range
• Tap container after pouring
• Heat gun to smooth after setting

Cracks

What it looks like: Lines or splits in the wax surface.

Causes: Cooled too fast. Temperature shock.

Fixes:

• Cool at room temperature
• No refrigerator
• Away from drafts

Burning Problems

Tunnelling

What it looks like: Burns down the middle, leaving wax on the sides.

Causes: Wick too small. First burn too short.

Fixes:

• Size up the wick
• Instruct customers: burn until full melt pool on first use

Mushrooming

What it looks like: Carbon ball forming on wick tip.

Causes: Wick too large. Too much fragrance.

Fixes:

• Size down the wick
• Reduce fragrance load
• Customer should trim wick between burns

Smoking / Sooting

What it looks like: Black smoke, soot on container rim.

Causes: Wick too large. Too much fragrance. Wick not trimmed.

Fixes:

• Size down the wick
• Reduce fragrance to 8%
• Include wick trimming instructions

Drowning Wick

What it looks like: Wick falls over into melt pool, flame dies.

Causes: Wick too small. Too much fragrance (wick drowns in oil).

Fixes:

• Size up the wick
• Reduce fragrance load

Flame Too High

What it looks like: Tall, flickering flame. Container getting very hot.

Causes: Wick too large.

Fixes:

• Size down the wick

Fragrance Problems

Weak Cold Throw

What it looks like: Can barely smell the candle when not lit.

Causes: Not cured long enough. Fragrance added at wrong temp. Low fragrance load.

Fixes:

• Cure 2 weeks minimum
• Add fragrance at correct temp (usually 75°C)
• Increase fragrance load

Weak Hot Throw

What it looks like: Burning candle doesn't fill the room with scent.

Causes: Melt pool not reaching edges. Fragrance added too hot. Poor quality fragrance.

Fixes:

• Check wick size (need full melt pool)
• Add fragrance at 75°C, not higher
• Try a different fragrance supplier

Sweating / Oil on Surface

What it looks like: Oily beads or slick on candle surface.

Causes: Too much fragrance. Added fragrance when too cool. Stored too warm.

Fixes:

• Reduce fragrance to 8%
• Add fragrance at correct temp
• Store under 22°C

Colour Problems

Fading

What it looks like: Colour fades over time, especially in sunlight.

Causes: UV exposure. Some dyes fade naturally.

Fixes:

• Store away from light
• Use UV-stable dyes
• Warn customers about sunlight

Bleeding / Migration

What it looks like: Colour spreads where it shouldn't (e.g., up the wick).

Causes: Too much dye. Dye not compatible with wax.

Fixes:

• Use less dye
• Use candle-specific dyes only

Yellowing

What it looks like: White wax turns yellow over time.

Causes: Vanillin in fragrance. Natural oxidation.

Fixes:

• Use vanillin-free fragrances for white candles
• Add UV stabiliser
• Accept some yellowing as natural