You have begun to make candles at home as it seemed like a great idea and trust me, it is, but when you are first starting out there are many things that can go wrong and will dampen your spirits. I have found a few tips that you can apply to make your candle-making journey that much smoother.
How to stop your homemade candles from sucking, sinking, or tunneling in the middle? Well, there are a number of things you can do to prevent this:
1. Checking your ingredients properly:
Make sure your ingredients are suitable for use with the others. Having a wax with a high melt point with a fragrance with a low-temperature requirement could result in the fragrance evaporating or burning.
2. Using the correct containers:
If you use a container that is too wide or narrow for your candle may result in a bad burn rate. Make sure you have the right container to match your wick too
3. Choose the right wick:
As with the container, having a wick too large or small will cause problems. Too large and the candle will burn too fast, too small and the candle may ‘tunnel’ only burning in the middle and not right to the edge.
4. Sinking in the middle:
This happens when your candle cools too fast after pouring, the wax dries on the surface but is still wet underneath. When the wax underneath dries it contracts, pulling the top down as it does so.
5. Air bubbles on the sides:
Again this is all down to the temperature of the candle. When you expose the candle too hot and cold temperatures the wax expands then contracts. When it expands, it pushes outwards and upwards. When it contracts it pulls away from the container, leaving what looks like a small air bubble.
6. Use a thermometer:
It’s easy enough to think you can cut corners but if you are really serious and you really don’t want your candles to suck then invest in a good thermometer. It will pay for itself in a few batches as you will get markedly better results every time using one.
7. Correct fragrances:
It’s easy to just add a few drops of your favorite scents but do they really go together? Before jumping in and adding any old things in like a mad scientist, stop and think about the groups the fragrances come in. If you try something like lemon, chocolate and lavender for example it will be awful. If you are not sure get an oil burner and add a few drops of each fragrance so you can give your idea a ‘test run’ before making a batch of ‘cat pee’ candles. (Yes, I went there!)
8. Uneven candle tops:
This is also down to not using a good thermometer and can ruin all your hard work. That said the recommended temperatures may need to be tweaked a little to account for your environment. You may be working in a space that could be hotter or cooler than a standard working temperature for candle making, usually around 20-22°C. The good news is that you can cheat and pour some leftover wax onto the top or use a hairdryer with a diffuser to heat the top to re-melt it flat.
Preparation Is key For Good Candles
As well as having the right ingredients you should be working in a suitable space too. Ideally, you will have all your equipment ready and clean. At a minimum you should have:
- Wax
- Fragrance and color (if needed)
- Wicks
- Containers
- Thermometer
- Pouring/Melting jug
- Double boiler pan for the jug
If you are working with heat/hot items then I would recommend you also invest in suitable personal protection equipment such as safety goggles, gloves, and something to protect your clothing in case of wax splashes. Also, I recommend the area you are using is well lit and ventilated but not drafty as this will affect the making process.
Follow the recommended guidelines from the wax manufacturers taking into account variables such as the temperature of your working space and any additives you may be putting into your candles such as fragrances or colors.
Armed with this knowledge you can be rest assured you are doing all you can to give yourself the best chance to make the perfect candles for you, your friends, and your family. Happy making!
