What are 3-4 mistakes to watch for when making soy candles?

When making soy candles, watch out for sinkholes, small melt pools, wet spots, and tunneling. These common issues can be avoided by carefully controlling temperature, wick size, and the cooling process.  

Here’s a more detailed look at these mistakes: 

Sinkholes: A depression or hole that forms on the top of the candle after cooling. Soy wax shrinks as it cools, and this shrinkage can create sinkholes. How to avoid: Pour the wax at a lower temperature, use a wide wick, and let the candle cool slowly.  

Small Melt Pools: The candle doesn’t melt to the edges of the container when burning, creating a small pool in the center. The wick might be too small for the container size, or the candle isn’t burning long enough.

How to avoid: Use a wick that’s appropriate for the container size, and burn the candle for a sufficient amount of time to create a complete melt pool.

Use a wick that’s appropriate for the container size, and burn the candle for a sufficient amount of time to create a complete melt pool.    

Wet Spots:  Moist, translucent spots that appear on the surface of the candle, especially in clear containers. The candle might be cooling too quickly, or there might be reduced adhesion between the candle and the container. 

How to avoid: 

Allow the candle to cool slowly and evenly, and ensure the container is clean and dry before pouring the wax. 

Tunneling: The candle continues to burn, creating a tunnel or a hole in the wax, leaving a ring of unburned wax around the wick. 

The wick might be too small for the container size, or the candle might not be burning for long enough to melt the wax completely. 

How to avoid: 

Use a wick that’s appropriate for the container size, and ensure the candle burns long enough to create a complete melt pool.