5 Things to Test When Making Candles

You might have heard it before but candle making is a science! There are so many things a customer (ideally) does not see but that's why testing is one of the most important things in the process.

How do you test a candle?

Simply said there are a few elements generally being used while making and test-burning a candle. I like to think of it in 3 stages:

1) Composition: Deciding which components and their amounts will go into the candle

2) Pre-Performance: Reviewing the outer appearance before using the candle (usually the looks don't impact the performance though but they do impact a buyer decision)

3) Performance: How does the candle do when being used?

In each of the stages it's best to work with checklists like the ones in my soon to be released book (stay tuned!).

Wick Size & Tunneling

While most of the testing is being done when a candle is fully cured (read more here if you need a quick catch-up what curing in candle making is) testing for the correct wick size can be done quicker as it's affect could affect the rest.

All you do is choose the wick size which should match based on your wax and vessel size, pour and let it cool entirely. If the candle gets lit and there is no tunneling after 3-4h it's perfect, however if the wax melts too fast or not all the way to the sites, try to size up or down on your wick and repeat the same test.

While fragrance/ essential oils and dye do change the composition of the candle, the most important part is the size of your vessel meaning the results should not impact it as drastically.

Cold Throw

You probably smell it before you light up a candle - be it in a store before buying or at home to see if this one is one you are in the mood for. I like to go with a 1-10 scale (1- no scent, 10- ideal scent). Anything above 8 is a good result!

Hot Throw

Now it's time to test how the candle performance when it's being used (and has been fully cured). How is the smell when you light it up? I use the same 1-10 scale but this time the results are measured a little differently: 1 still means no scent, 5 is the sweet spot and 10 means the scent is too overpowering for example for the room or because the fragrance/ essential oil ratio is too high. An average ration of 6-10% is usually the best but every oil is a little different and it's good to compare the results to find the best performing one.

Flame Size

Knowing that a candle can be a fire hazard is important. While they are a beautiful piece for your home or as a gift, the worst that can happen is that an unattended candle starts an unwanted fire. While it's important to always have an eye on it anyways the rule is that the flame should never be higher than 5cm or blows smoke into the air. While testing continuously review if this is the case. Reasons for that could be the wrong wick size, too much fragrance/ essential oil or low-quality components.

Will the candle last?

Lastly the most important test is if the candle will actually burn. If the candle tips over, the glass breaks or it distinguishes on it's own, the test is automatically a fail. Who wants to have a candle you can't use? Exactly! It's a simple yes or no question when testing but it's probably the most important one.