Soy Wax TroubleShooting Guide
White, chalky coating
The white-ish chalky coating that can show up on the tops and sides of your finished candles is commonly known as frosting.
Pull away or "wet spots"
The wet spots that you see are not really "wet spots." The spots are caused by shrinkage and air bubbles that occur as the wax cools.
Rough, uneven surface
Common for even experienced candle makers, a rough top is caused by air escaping out of the top surface of the wax.
Hole by the wick
Cracks or little holes can form on the top of your newly poured candles, caused by air bubbles trapped in the wax.
Rough tops after burning
A common trait of all soy waxes, caused by the melt pool cooling unevenly when the flame is blown out.
Wet or oily surface
Fragrance leaching, "seeping," or "bleeding" is usually a sign that the fragrance has not bonded with the wax, or too much fragrance was used.
Smoke and soot while burning
Visible dark smoke coming from the flame can be a sign that the wick is too large for the candle, or there is an excessive amount of fragrance and/or dye in the candle.
Tunneling
What is known as "tunneling" is a sign that the wick size is not large enough for your candle.
Small melt pool
A small melt pool shows that the candle is under wicked, meaning the wick size is too small for the candle.
'Mushrooming' wick
The "mushroom" shape formed at the end of a candle wick after burning is the result of carbon buildup.
Yellow layer at the bottom
Fragrance can settle at the bottom of a candle if it does not completely bond with the soy wax, causing a yellowish discoloration.
Clumpy, oily wax
When soy wax is exposed to excessive heat, moisture, or has a high oil content it can become soft and clump together.
Air bubbles in melted wax
On occasion, additional air can get incorporated in the wax during the manufacturing process.
Cloudy wax
Cloudy wax is typically a sign of additional moisture and air that on rare occasion gets incorporated into the soy wax during processing.
Candle turns yellow over time
Natural ingredients in fragrances, like vanillin and cinnamon, can cause your candles to discolor over time.
Cracks on the surface
Cracks can form on the top of your newly poured candles, caused by air bubbles trapped in the wax.
Off-center wick
The wick can move off-center in the container if it is not tightly set when the poured wax cools.
Helpful Tips and Solutions
Frosting
Mix melted wax less vigorously...
Preheat your glassware...
Pour at a lower temperature...
Let your poured candles cool more slowly...
Wet Spots
Clean and preheat your glass containers...
Pour the wax slowly into the containers...
Space candles out to help them cool slowly and evenly...
Rough Tops
Avoid over-stirring...
Adjust your pour temperature...
Cover the imperfection with a layer of wax...
Re-melt the surface with a heat gun...
Cracking
Gently tap the container...
Elevate your container...
Adjust your pour temperature...
Pour additional hot wax...
Fragrance Leaching
Mix fragrance oil in at 185°F...
Stir gently for 2 minutes...
Adjust your fragrance load...
Sooting and Large Flames
Check your wick size and series...
Decrease fragrance load...
Try another wick series...
Tunneling
Increase your wick size...
Decrease your wick size...
Mushrooming
Use less fragrance and/or dye...
Trim wick between burning...
Size down your wick...
Clumpy, Wet Wax
Heat wax to 185°F...
Don't worry...
Air Bubbles in Wax
Allow air bubbles to release...
Be gentle while stirring or mixing ingredients...
Slowly heat wax to 190-200°F...
Cloudy Wax
Allow wax to stay between 185-200°F...
Give the wax time to air out...
Store wax in a cool, dry location...
Wax Discoloring
Use a UV inhibitor...
Add a small amount of ivory dye...
Minimize your use of vanillin containing fragrances...
Small Melt Pools
Increase your wick size...
Don't trim the wick too short...
Allow enough time for melt pool to form...
Sink Holes
Pour additional melted wax...
Melt the surface...
Monitor the wax and remove existing air bubbles...
Wick Is Off-Center