Stuck on your candle making journey? Our team has pulled together tips & tricks for the most commonly asked questions. With answers straight from our lab, you can rest assured you’ll be back on the right track in your candle making journey.
9cl container candles
rcx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 38ºC - 40ºC
- Suggested wick: CL6, Stabilo 5
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8% - 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
scx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL8, Stabilo 8
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8% - 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7% - 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
rs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL6, Stabilo 6
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 - 72 hours
c-3
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL10-12, Stabilo 10-12
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3% - 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX8-10
- Suggested wooden wick: SA1, SB1, SC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7% - 8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 6% - 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3% - 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs2
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: CL6, Stabilo 6
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8% - 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7 - 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3% - 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
sasol 6213
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX8
- Suggested wooden wick: SA1, SB1, SC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7% - 8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3% - 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
Kerax 4105
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL6, Stabilo 6
- Suggested wooden wick: LA1, LB1, LC1
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
20cl container candles
rcx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 38-40ºC
- Suggested wick: CL10, Stabilo 10
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
scx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL12, Stabilo 12, VRL11-14
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7–8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
rs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL12, Stabilo 12
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48-72 hours
c-3
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL14, Stabilo 14
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX12-14
- Suggested wooden wick: SA2, SB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 6-7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs2
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: CL8-10, Stabilo 10
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
sasol 6213
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX12-14
- Suggested wooden wick: SA2, SB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
kerax 4105
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL10, Stabilo 10
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB2
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
30cl container candles
rcx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 38-40ºC
- Suggested wick: CL12-14, Stabilo 12-14
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
scx
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL14, Stabilo 14-16
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7–8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
rs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL14-16, Stabilo 14-16
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7–8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48-72 hours
c-3
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL16-18, Stabilo 14-16
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs1
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX16-18, TG16
- Suggested wooden wick: SB2, SC3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 6-7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs2
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: CL14, Stabilo 12
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 8-10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
sasol 6213
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Suggested wick: LX18, TG16
- Suggested wooden wick: SB2, SC3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 7-8%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 7%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 3-5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
kerax 4105
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Suggested wick: CL14, Stabilo 12
- Suggested wooden wick: LA2, LB3
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
wax melts
rcx melt blend
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 45-50ºC
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
kerasoy pillar wax
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
ecoysoya melt
- Recommended melting temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 55ºC
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
hpm
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
cs blended pillar wax
- Recommended melting temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended pouring temperature: 65ºC
- Recommended content for fragrance oils: 10%
- Recommended content for essential oils: 8%
- Recommended content for concentrated fragrance oils: 5%
- Curing time: 48 hours
pillar candles
kerasoy pillar blend
• Recommended Melting Temperature: 70ºC
• Recommended Pouring Temperature: 65ºC
• Recommended FO ratio: 3-5%
• Recommended EO ratio: 3-5%
• Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3%
• Cure time: 48-hours
hpm
• Recommended Melting Temperature: 70ºC
• Recommended Pouring Temperature: 65ºC
• Recommended FO Content: 3-5%
• Recommended EO Content: 3-5%
• Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3%
• Cure Time: 48-hours
cs blended pillar wax
• Recommended Melting Temperature: 70ºC
• Recommended Pouring Temperature: 65ºC
• Recommended FO ratio: 3-5%
• Recommended EO ratio: 3-5%
• Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3%
• Cure time: 48-hours
ecoysoya pillar blend
• Recommended Melting Temperature: 70ºC
• Recommended Pouring Temperature: 60ºC
• Recommended Wick Range: CL; VRL; V
• Recommended FO Content: 5-8%
• Recommended EO Content: 5-8%
• Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3-5%
• Cure Time: 48-hours
tealight candles
rcx melt blend
- Recommended Melting Temperature: 60ºC
- Recommended Pouring Temperature: 45-55ºC
- Wick Recommendation: Stabilo 2, TG8
- Recommended FO ratio: 7-8%
- Recommended EO ratio: 7%
- Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3-5%
- Cure time: 48 hours
sasol 5203
- Recommended Melting Temperature: 70ºC
- Recommended Pouring Temperature: 60ºC
- Wick Recommendation: TG8, TD15
- Recommended FO Content: 5-7%
- Recommended EO Content: 5-7%
- Recommended Concentrated Oil Ratio: 3-5%
- Cure Time: 48-hours
diffusers
Diffuser Base
Due to the viscosity of both the diffuser base and the oils, we would advise measuring these in grams to ensure that you are using the correct percentages.
Fragrance oil
We advise using 8-10% of concentrated fragrance oil with 92-90% of base. We typically use 15-20% of fragrance and then 85-80% base, however, this will very much depend on the fragrance. We can only recommend testing to ensure you are happy with the finished product.
This has been broken down below for our 100ML and 165ML bottles –
100ML - (80/20) 80G of base to 20G of fragrance or (85/15) – 85G of base to 15G of fragrance.
165ML – (80/20) 132G of base to 33G of fragrance or (85/15) – 140.25G of base to 24.75G of fragrance.
Essential Oil
We have found that less is more when using essential oils. We would advise testing with the ratios of 85/15 or 90/10. This has been broken down below for our 100ML and 165ML bottles –
100ML - (85/15) 85G of base to 15G of fragrance or (90/10) – 90G of base to 10G of essential oil.
165ML – (85/15) 140.25G of base to 24.75G of fragrance or (90/10) – 148.5G of base to 16.5G of essential oil.
Please ensure to check the IFRA certificate for each fragrance to ensure that it is suitable for use in a diffuser. This can be found on the product page of the website.
Once the base and the oil are in your diffuser bottle – tighten your cap with the stopper or EPE wad – and give it a really good shake.
Reeds
We have two types of reeds available in different lengths and colours. These are rattan reeds and fibre reeds.
Rattan reeds are made using natural rattan – due to the nature of the product, these reeds can vary in appearance.
Fibre reeds are made from synthetic materials and are uniform in appearance.
You may be able to use 6-8 of the longer reeds (3.5 x 250) or five or six of the shorter reeds (6mm x 175mm.
room sprays
cyclomethicone
This is a silicone-based room spray and linen mist base. For best results we would advise using a maximum fragrance content of 5%.
Please ensure that you have checked the IFRA conformity certificate of the fragrance you will be using to confirm the maximum level of fragrance that is permitted in a room spray. Room sprays are listed in IFRA Category 10B under the 50th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice (published June 2020).
Do not exceed the maximum level of use permitted for each fragrance oil.
IFRA conformity certificates can be viewed or downloaded from each fragrance page on our website. IFRA conformity certificates state the maximum level of each fragrance that is permitted in a range of consumer products.
Once you have added the room mist base and the fragrance that you require to your chosen spray bottle, shake the mixture thoroughly to ensure that the fragrance oil is fully dissolved in the room mist base.
When testing the spray, we would advise using a discreet area to ensure that you are satisfied with the outcome. The onus is on you to carry out your testing first before releasing it into the market for sale – fragrances can cause damage to surfaces so please make sure you fully test your finished product.
ecosystem mist base
This is a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free base. For best results we would advise using a maximum fragrance content of 5%.
Please ensure that you have checked the IFRA conformity certificate of the fragrance you will be using to confirm the maximum level of fragrance that is permitted in a room spray. Room sprays are listed in IFRA Category 10B under the 50th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice (published June 2020).
Do not exceed the maximum level of use permitted for each fragrance oil.
IFRA conformity certificates can be viewed or downloaded from each fragrance page on our website. IFRA conformity certificates state the maximum level of each fragrance that is permitted in a range of consumer products.
Once you have added the room mist base and the fragrance that you require to your chosen spray bottle, shake the mixture thoroughly to ensure that the fragrance oil is fully dissolved in the room mist base.
When testing the spray, we would advise using a discreet area to ensure that you are satisfied with the outcome. The onus is on you to carry out your testing first before releasing it into the market for sale – fragrances can cause damage to surfaces so please make sure you fully test your finished product.
Troubleshooting
frosting
What is frosting?
Frosting (also called blooming) is an informal term for polymorphism, which refers to when the wax is in different states at once. It manifests as a white crystalline trail.
When does frosting occur?
This phenomenon only impacts plant-based waxes. Soy and rapeseed waxes are particularly prone to frosting. That being said, frosting is highly unpredictable and can occur at any time during the candle-making process. It may even be the case that in the same batch, some candles frost while others do not.
How do I minimise frosting?
Get the right cooling profile
To minimise the risk of frosting, experiment with your cooling temperatures. The right temperature will depend on your fragranced wax mixture.
Blend with paraffin
Frosting only occurs with plant-based waxes. Therefore, using plant and mineral wax blends substantially mitigates the risk of frosting.
Pour at the right temperature
Our general recommendation would be to pour your wax as close to the congealing point as possible, which is the temperature at which your wax becomes cloudy. This varies from wax to wax and will help your candle to solidify faster.
mushrooming
Why is my wick mushrooming?
Clubbing, or “mushrooming” as it is referred to in extreme cases, is caused by incomplete combustion of the wax and fragrance oil. This can occur when too much fuel is being delivered to the wick compared to the amount of oxygen being supplied, leading to the formation of carbon deposits on the wick. It should be noted that for highly scented candles, clubbing cannot usually be completely avoided.
How do I prevent candles from mushrooming?
Minor clubbing is very common and is not normally a cause of concern. More pronounced mushrooming is often a sign that a candle is overwicked, so down-wicking will reduce fuel flow and should reduce the effect, although this will create a smaller melt pool.
Sometimes it will be necessary to change to a different wick family to reduce clubbing or mushrooming. Most wick families have differing chemical treatments, or constructions, which are suited to different candle systems. For example, LX wicks are best suited to paraffin candles with low to moderate scent loads, whereas V wicks are designed to deal with heavy fragrance loads, even containing brass powder to help vaporise any carbon deposits.
Occasionally, a particular fragrance oil will cause clubbing regardless of the wick used. In such cases, a different wax blend may improve the situation. Not all fragrances are optimised for candles, but as a home fragrance first business, that is our start point.
Which wick should I use with my wax?
The choice of wick will depend on which wax is being used. LX or TG wicks work well with mineral waxes. Stabilo, CL, V, TB, ECO or PGS wicks can be used with mineral or vegetable blends, while VRL wicks are suited to blends containing a high percentage of plant wax.
glass adhesion
Why does the wax pull away from my jar?
Candle wax shrinks as it cools from liquid to solid. After the initial pouring, the liquid wax will be in contact with the glass. As the wax cools, the solid wax will break away from the glass surface as its volume decreases.
Wax Selection
Wax Type
Candle wax pulls away from the candle glass because the wax contracts slightly as it cools. This is an inherent property of the wax and cannot really be avoided, so most waxes will pull away from the candle glass to some extent. Mineral wax in particular will have poor glass adhesion. Soy wax can have better glass adhesion but will still pull away to some extent over time.
Temperature
Pouring wax at the correct temperature can improve glass adhesion in some cases. However, wax shrinkage is an inherent property of the wax and cannot really be avoided completely, so most waxes will pull away from the candle glass to some extent.
How do I improve glass adhesion?
Clean Jars
Making sure the inside of the glass is clean and free from release agents can help promote adhesion.Most glass is coated in a wax-oil mixture, called cold-coating.This can cause problems for painting and adhesion.
Pre-heating Jars
Pre-heating candle glasses will improve glass adhesion, but this is normally only temporary, and the wax will usually pull away from the glass over a period of hours, days or weeks.
Pouring Temperature
Pouring wax at the correct temperature can improve glass adhesion in some cases. However, wax shrinkage is an inherent property of the wax and cannot really be avoided completely, so most waxes will pull away from the candle glass to some extent.
Room Conditions
The room temperature should be greater than 20° when pouring candles. If the ambient temperature is too low, the wax will cool and shrink more quickly, and pull away from the glass more readily.
Does my choice of glass impact glass adhesion?
Opaque Glasses
Glass adhesion is nothing to be concerned about if you are using an opaque candle glass. Even if the wax does pull away from the side of the glass, this will not normally be noticeable apart from perhaps a slight gap between the surface of the candle and the side of the glass.
sooting
Why is my candle giving off soot?
Soot is formed by incomplete combustion of candle wax and fragrance oils, leading to formation of carbon deposits. Sooting will almost always occur, but in varying degrees. It is usually emitted when the flame is disturbed, either by airflow, excess fuel delivery or poor wick posture. Excessive sooting can be avoided by experimenting with different wick families and sizes. Some wick families are more compatible with certain wax types.
How high is too high for candle flames?
A 30cl candle would typically have a flame height of around 30-35mm. For a 20cl candle, the optimum flame height would be around 25-30mm. A candle flame can be as high as 75mm, but a flame of this height would probably fail a sooting behaviour test and could also fail a fire safety test.
How much oil should I use?
Different Jar Sizes
The size of candle glass doesn’t impact the percentage of oil used. The same percentage of oil can be used in candles throughout a series of different sizes, although each differently sized candle will require a different wick.
Different Preferences
The amount of fragrance oil in a candle is decided by the chandler, and is typically based on the cold and hot throw of the candle. Candles containing larger percentages of oil can be more challenging to wick correctly.
Different Waxes
Plant waxes will generally be able to hold more fragrance oil than mineral waxes. Plant waxes can normally accommodate 10 - 12% fragrance oil without difficulty, but the content can be reduced if required. Mineral wax candles can give good cold and hot throw at 8 - 10% but a fragrance content of less than 8% is not uncommon. Candles with fragrance concentrations of more than 14% are very unusual as they can become very expensive.
Wick Selection
The choice of wick will depend on which wax is being used. LX or TG wicks work well with mineral waxes. Stabilo, CL, V, TB, ECO or PGS wicks can be used with mineral or vegetable blends, while VRL wicks are suited to blends containing a high percentage of plant wax. Overwicking can cause larger flames which can then form larger melt pools and generate more soot. Overwicking is the term used to describe the use of a larger wick than necessary for a particular candle.
sweating
What is sweating?
In candle making, sweating refers to beads of liquid oil appearing on the surface of a candle. The technical name for sweating is syneresis and it is caused by the expansion and contraction of wax crystals, which can squeeze oil out of the body of the wax, making it visible on surfaces.
Why does sweating occur?
There are five main reasons why a candle may have liquid on the surface. The first is that there may simply be too much fragrance or essential oil mixed into the wax. This means that there is insufficient space between the crystals to retain the amount of fragrance oil added.
Second, sweating may be a characteristic of the wax itself. Many plant waxes are a blend of fully and partially hydrogenated oils. If cooled incorrectly (too slowly), low melt point ‘alpha’ crystals can form and sit on the surface of the wax as a liquid or slurry. These fat oils can also displace fragrance oils, as there is insufficient space for additional liquids amongst the crystals.
Third, rapid changes in temperature can cause syneresis, especially when moving a candle from a cold location to a warm location.
This can also happen if the oil is added when the wax is too cool, or if the wax/oil is not properly mixed. In this instance, the wax and oil do not form a homogenous mixture and the distribution of fragrance will vary throughout the candle.
Finally, if the fragrance supplier has little experience in candles, their fragrance oils may contain components that are insoluble in your wax. This can be the case when fragrances were developed for other products (i.e. cosmetic products), as fragrances rarely work well in multiple products and should be fine-tuned for the end application.
How to avoid sweating?
- Fragrance load reduction
One of the first steps you can take is to check the wax manufacturer’s fragrance load recommendation. This will be unique to every wax type. As a rule of thumb, however, we would recommend keeping your fragrance load to 6-10%, although some fragrances can be added at up to a 12% load in waxes. Experimentation and testing are key.
-Buy quality fragrance oils, optimised for candles
All Candle Shack oils are developed primarily for use in candles and are subjected to rigorous stability and performance testing. Be cautious if buying fragrance oils that are provided by generalist craft supply businesses, claiming their oils work well in candles, soaps, bath bombs, carpet fresheners, face creams etc. It is extremely unlikely that they will have been properly tested, if at all; especially if they have hundreds of oils.
- Temperature control
Keep a moderate and constant temperature during storage and avoid prolonged storage at elevated temperatures. As a general rule, we would recommend storing your candles at a temperature of 18°C to 25°C. Likewise during production, allowing plant-based candles to cool at ambient temperature will minimise separation vs. attempting to slow the rate of cooling too much.
- Switch waxes
Fragrances react differently and have different solvability in different waxes. By switching waxes, you can try to find one that works well with your chosen fragrances.
jump lines
What are jump lines?
Jump lines (also known as chatter or stutters) are thin rings or horizontal lines that form along the outer edge of container candles and pillar candles.
Why do jump lines happen?
Jump lines predominantly occur with paraffin or hybrid waxes as they have higher melting points than 100% plant waxes. When wax is poured into cool or room temperature glasses, if the wax temperature isn’t high enough, wax can solidify very quickly when it comes into contact with the jar. In extreme cases, it can solidify in stages, even as the wax is being poured, causing ‘jump lines’.
How do I avoid jump lines?
Choose opaque candles
While not aesthetically pleasing, jump lines do not impede candle performance and only manifest where the wax meets the glass. Therefore, avoiding clear candle jars and choosing opaque ones will hide this defect.
Temperature Control
Jump lines occur when the wax solidifies on contact with the glass, so there are only two ways to prevent jump lines from forming…
- Pre-heat the candle jars
Warming your jars will make it less likely that wax will solidify on contact. The cooler you want to pour the wax, the warmer the glass will need to be to avoid jump lines. The golden rule is that 'the wax should be 10°C above the melt point after it's been poured', especially where it is in contact with the glass. Warming jars means they will subtract less heat from the poured wax. Pre-heating the jars to a known temperature is the best of the two options, as it is repeatable.
- Increase the pouring temperature
Alternatively, heat the fragranced wax in 5°C increments until you find a pour temperature that gives no jump lines. This is a good method if the place where you pour candles is at a consistent temperature, as the process will be repeatable. If using this method, you should still try to pour the candles as cool as possible.
Tunnelling
What is tunnelling?
Tunnelling, also known as sinkholes and cavities, refers to gaps or voids that are formed inside or at the surface of a candle as the wax contracts during the cooling and curing process. They are more common in mineral wax than in plant wax.
What causes tunnelling?
Tunnelling occurs when a candle is under-wicked. The wick produces a flame that isn’t strong enough to melt the wax all the way across the top of the candle, so the diameter of the melt pool is too small and remains so for the duration of the candle’s life.
How do I avoid tunnelling?
Double Pour:
The risk of tunnelling can be reduced by using the double-pouring technique. First, fill 70-90% of the candle. After cooling, when the wax has contracted, the second pour fills the candle to the desired level.
Pouring temperatures:
Tunnelling can be avoided by pouring candles at specific recommended pouring temperatures.
How do I fix candles with tunnelling?
Relief hole:
A relief hole can be created by puncturing the wax above a sinkhole after the first pour of the candle. The void can then be topped up with melted wax.
Heat gun:
For tunnelling near the surface of the candle, a heat gun can be used to melt the surface of the wax above the sinkhole. The melt pool formed by the heat gun will flow into the sinkhole and leave a level surface.
cracking
What is cracking?
Cracking is often experienced when using plant-based waxes. Cracks can appear on the surface or throughout the candle.
Cracks can appear in different forms. Sometimes cracks occur as shallow localised cracks that form a rough circular shape on the surface of the candle. These concentric cracks often appear above a cavity in the wax. Occasionally, radial cracks can form across the top of the candle, running from one edge to the other and normally passing through the wick area. This type of crack can be deep, often running from the top to the bottom of the candle.
Why does cracking occur?
As the wax cools, it goes through different stages of crystallisation. During those phases the wax can contract and crystallise in different ways, causing cracks to occur. Cracking is a common problem in plant wax candle making, with rapeseed wax being more prone to radical cracks and soy wax, while less likely to crack, tends to produce circular cracks. If candles are allowed to cure in cool environments, they are more likely to crack.
How to avoid cracking?
Temperature control
Keeping adequate and consistent pouring, cooling and storage temperatures is the best way to avoid cracking. Make sure you pour your wax mixture at the temperature recommended by the wax manufacturer. While your candles are cooling, ensure that they are not kept in a cold environment. As a rule of thumb, we would recommend cooling your candles at a steady temperature of 18°C to 25°C for 48 hours. After that, the candles can be kept at slightly cooler temperatures.
Paraffin blends
As cracking is predominantly a plant wax issue, you could choose to blend your plant wax with paraffin wax or switch to paraffin wax altogether.
How to fix cracking
Surface racks can often be removed by using a heat gun for a few seconds to smooth out the cracks. Deeper cracks can also be removed by using a heat gun but they may reappear as the candle cools again.
essential oils vs fragrance oils
what is the difference between essential and fragrance oils
Essential Oils are made from natural ingredients using processes such as steam distillation and solvent extraction. Fragrance oils are made from synthetic materials with added chemicals to enhance the aroma.
recommended ratios
Essential oils usually have different viscosity than fragrance oils as they are made from natural ingredients, while fragrance oils mainly contain synthetic components. As natural oils tend to be more viscous, we recommend using them at a lower ratio. If you are looking to make a candle using essential oils, we advise testing your candles with 6-8%, whilst 15% would be a good starting point for your diffusers. If you prefer fragrance oils, you can start testing your candles with 8-10%, and our recommended diffuser ratio is 15-20%. Please always check the oil product page, as some oils may be subject to limitations under IFRA/CLP guidelines.
We recently introduced new concentrated fragrance oils. You`re able to use a lower ratio with these products. Depending on your wax, our recommended ratio is 3-5% for candles, whilst with diffusers; we would advise you to start testing with 8-10%.
Which wicks are most suited for my oils?
The choice of wick will depend on which wax is being used. LX or TG wicks work well with mineral waxes. Stabilo, CL, V, TB, ECO or PGS wicks can be used with mineral or vegetable blends, while VRL wicks are suited to blends containing a high percentage of plant wax. Overwicking can cause larger flames which can then form larger melt pools and generate more soot. Overwicking is the term used to describe the use of a larger wick than necessary for a particular candle.
What does viscosity affect?
The viscosity will be different for each oil and it is affected by temperature. As temperature increases, viscosity decreases. Fragrance can be quite viscous at room temperature, so warming it up a little before adding it to your wax can help the two materials to mix better. You will achieve a better hot throw when adding fragrance to hotter wax as the hot wax lowers the viscosity of the fragrance - and the wax too - making it easier to get good fragrance distribution. This can be achieved at lower by simply mixing for longer.

wood wick size guide
Wood wicks are made to precise dimensions. Increasing the thickness or width of the wick will increase the capillary flow of the wax/fragrance mixture which in turn will increase the flame size. The below table should help you with your wick selection. The right wick will depend on the used wax, fragrance and jar size, therefore we can only recommend testing to ensure you are happy with the finished product.
wooden wicks
what are wooden wicks?
Perhaps not surprisingly, wooden wicks, also known as wood wicks, are wicks that are made from wood. They are natural products and are designed to give a soothing, crackling sound as your candle burns. They are sourced from FSC-certified mills to maintain strict environmental standards.
Wood wicks often give higher wax consumption rates and deeper melt pools than cotton wicks. They are available in a range of thicknesses and widths to help you to find the best wick for your favourite blend of wax and fragrance oil. The type of wood wick that you choose will depend on the type of candle that you want to make. Wood wicks can be used with both plant waxes and paraffin wax, and are suitable for single wick or multi-wick candles.
booster wicks
Booster wicks are a great choice for plant waxes. A booster wick is simply a wooden wick with a thin “booster” strip attached to it, making it a neat and simple alternative to “doubling-up” single wooden wicks. Plant waxes tend to be more viscous than paraffin waxes when melted, so booster wicks are required to give a suitable burn profile. A good starting point for a 20cl jar would be an LA2 or LB1 wick.For a 30cl jar, an LA2 or LB3 wick may be more suitable.As always, we recommend testing your booster wick candle to ensure you’re happy with the finished product.
single ply wood wicks
If you’re using paraffin wax, we recommend our single-ply wooden wicks. A paraffin wax candle with a wood wick gives a loud crackle!
The melt pools of paraffin waxes are much thinner than plant waxes’ so a single-ply wooden wick is normally sufficient to give a good flame. We would strongly advise that you do not use booster wicks in a paraffin wax, as you could end up with a flame that’s much bigger than you would expect. As always, we recommend testing your single-ply wooden wick candle to ensure you’re happy with the finished product.
tube wicks
Tube wicks are only available in one size. A tube wick can be expected to perform reasonably well in a 30cl glass with RCX wax, although the burn profile will be affected by the fragrance added. While tube wicks can in principle be used in smallersizes of candles, the burn rate might be higher than you would want in a small candle. This can cause sooting and give very deep and hot melt pools. We recommend testing your tube wick candle to ensure you’re happy with the finished product.