Expert: Neecie - 2/17/2007

Question
After my wife burns a candle I save the wax and mix them together.I'm new to this and use the old wax to experiment.On some of the jar candles the flame burns small and not very bright  and then goes out.Is this from using old wax or am I doing something else wrong? Thank you for any help.

Answer
Hi Randy,
It sounds like the wick you are using isn't the correct size or type for what you are doing. There are many different types of wicks as there are waxes. There are wicks that can burn hotter or cooler as well as wicks that are made for pillar candles. It's hard to say what type of wick you need, when you are mixing scrap waxes together. A jar candle would need something fairly different than a free standing pillar or votive candle. Another thought is, you are mixing all types of waxes together from various makers. Whose to say that one candlemaker uses a lot of fragrance in their formula and another uses that much more. Your wicking may not be able to hand such concentrations of fragrance oils and color saturation.  It all comes down to proper wicking.  I'm not sure what your hobby store will have as far as wick selections, you may want to try using a different type of wick.  Whether you are a rookie or a seasoned professional, candlemaking is tricky.  Finding the correct wick is always a challenge. Good luck!