Candle Basics

Burning a candle involves some basic principles of chemistry and physics. Here are the key points:

Combustion Process: When you light a candle, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick. This molten wax is drawn up into the wick through capillary action.

Fuel: The wax serves as the fuel for the candle. Paraffin wax, beeswax, and soy wax are common types used in candles.

Wick: The wick is usually made of braided cotton fibers. It absorbs the liquefied wax and carries it upward toward the flame by capillary action.

Heat and Light: The flame produces heat and light as byproducts of the combustion reaction. The heat melts more wax, which keeps the process going.

Incomplete Combustion: If the flame doesn’t get enough oxygen, it may produce soot. This is why proper ventilation is important when burning candles.

Melt Pool: An over wicked candle will not burn as long as one wicked correctly. A full melt pool means the wax has been heated long enough to reach the edge of the container. In a properly wicked candle, you should see the melt pool grow about one inch per hour. A full melt pool should be 1/4" to 1/2" deep which will allow the fragrance to disperse more completely into the room.

Safety: Always place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts, flammable materials, and out of reach of children and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Starting Out: The first burn of the candle should be at least an hour to establish the melt pool. Once the pool is establish you may safely distinguish the candle while maintaining its optimization. A candle should not be burned more than 4 hours as the candle could become too hot, begin to soot or mushroom and may require a wick cut to maintain the desired optimization.

These basics can help you appreciate both the simplicity and the science behind burning a candle.