Mistakes Candle Makers Need to Avoid

It’s easy to get distracted by the “lights, cameras,” of possibly running a candle company if you’re just starting in candle-making.

You might be surprised at how complex candles can be after a few pours. This is especially true if you are using vegetable waxes or soy wax. To ensure your success, we have compiled six common pitfalls that new candle-makers should avoid.

1. The wrong fragrance oil amount

What amount of fragrance oil should I use?

This rule of thumb is for those who have never made candles before:

1 ounce for 1 pound wax OR

28 grams for 454 grams of wax

It is even easier to calculate how much wax to use by multiplying the wax WEIGHT (in ounces or grams), by.0625.

Measure fragrance oil and wax using weight. Learn more about how we measure our supplies by WEIGHT.

This will result in candles with approximately 6% fragrance loads if you are more skilled. Commercial candle wax can hold up to 10% or even 12%. Some candles have as little as 3%.

Remember that adding fragrance oil to a candle doesn’t always make it more fragrant. It can also backfire and cause it to burn poorly.

2. Use the same wick size to create each scent

It is often the hardest part of making a candle that smells amazing and burns safely.

It can be difficult to find the right wick size or series. Avoid falling for the trap of using any wick for your candle, even though it may be tedious.

Many candle communities do not stress the importance of discovery during the design process. Many beginners just want a “candle recipe” that doesn’t require testing.

3. Before curing is complete, you need to burn the candle.

Before a candle can be burned, it must cure.

Candle curing refers to the process by which the wax is solidified at a molecular level to resist thermal energy and disperse scent molecules evenly throughout the hardened mixture.

You need to wait until the candle is lit to see how it works.

Wax expands and contracts as a liquid. Although wax can appear solid after pouring it, it doesn’t harden completely until quite a while later.

The amount of heat required to melt wax is higher for longer cure times. This means that your wick might appear too hot right after the candle cools, but will be “just right” once initial curing has been completed.

4. Use of the wrong materials

There are many tutorials on the internet for candles, some of which include difficult supplies.

Poor supply selection can result in fire hazards and poor performance, which is the opposite of what you want from a candle. What are the things to watch out for?

Crayons are not suitable for coloring or melting. They are better than crayons for coloring books, as they can clog candles wicks (even wooden ones). They will eventually fade, although they may be able to burn for a while.

No food coloring will color your wax. Wax is an OIL-based product. This means that the color must dissolve in OIL. Food coloring that is water soluble can dissolve in water but not mix well with oil will be most common.

Plastic containers can melt. Keep in mind that candles can be very hot so a lot of heat will transfer into the containers’ walls.

Glass jars with thin walls can explode if exposed to too much heat. These jars are not recommended for beginners. You can’t use a container that is thinner than a wineglass if it’s not thick enough for candle-making.

Unsealed metal Tins can leak when the wax melts.

5. You don’t need to start with too many supplies

If you are making candles for fun, skip this. But, if your goal is to create repeatable designs or start a candle company, continue reading.

Candle making offers endless possibilities for creativity with the unlimited number of colors, fragrances, wicks, and containers available.

Many beginners get too caught up in the creation process and forget how difficult it is to make ONE candle work.

By simplifying your initial approach to the craft, you can learn critical skills such as adjusting wick sizes, testing, and judging success. You will not succeed if you add too many variables or change things too often.

Candle-making can be difficult. If you don’t believe me, get ready! While anyone can put wax in a jar and add a candle wick, mature candle makers know that this is only the beginning.

The final step is to ensure that the candle meets both the safety standards of the industry and your standards.