Is Your Soy Candle Frosting or Sweating? Why It Happens & What It Means
You've just brought home a beautiful soy wax candle from Ritter House of Scent, maybe even burned it once or twice. But wait – what are those white, crystalline patches forming on the surface or sides? Or maybe it looks like there are wet spots, or even tiny oil droplets on top?
Don't worry! These are common, natural characteristics of soy wax called frosting, wet spots, and sweating. They might look a bit unusual if you're used to paraffin candles, but they are not defects and do not affect your candle's performance.
Let's break down what you're seeing:
Frosting (White Crystalline Patterns)
What it is: Frosting looks like small white crystals or snowflakes forming on the wax, usually on the surface or sides.
Why it happens: It's a completely natural characteristic of vegetable waxes like soy. The soy wax is trying to return to its natural crystalline state. Think of it like how real chocolate can sometimes get a white "bloom" – it's still perfectly good chocolate!
Common Triggers: Temperature fluctuations (especially cooling too quickly or unevenly), pouring the wax too hot during making, or even the type of fragrance or dye used can influence it.
Does it matter? No! Frosting is purely cosmetic. Your candle will still burn cleanly, smell wonderful, and last just as long. It's a sign that you have a candle made with natural soy wax!
Can you fix it? Sometimes gently warming the surface with a heat gun can temporarily smooth it, but frosting often reappears as the wax cools and settles again. It's best to embrace it as part of soy wax's natural charm.
Wet Spots (Wax Pulling Away from Glass)
What it looks like: These look like wet patches or air bubbles between the wax and the glass container.
Why it happens: It's not actually moisture! It occurs when the wax cools and contracts slightly, pulling away from the glass in some areas. This is often due to temperature changes during cooling or even minor imperfections on the inside of the glass.
Does it matter? Again, no! Wet spots are purely cosmetic and don't impact the burn or scent. They are very common in container candles, especially with natural waxes.
Prevention (during making): Cleaning jars thoroughly and preheating them slightly before pouring can help minimize wet spots by promoting slower, more even cooling.
Sweating (Tiny Oil Droplets)
What it looks like: Small beads or droplets of oil appearing on the candle's surface.
Why it happens: This is usually fragrance oil separating slightly from the wax. It can happen if the candle experiences significant temperature changes (like moving from a cool storage area to a warm room) or sometimes if the wax has a very high fragrance load.
Does it matter? Generally no. You can gently wipe the excess oil off with a paper towel. The candle should still burn and smell great. If it's excessive, it might indicate the wax couldn't fully bind with the amount of fragrance oil used.
The Takeaway:
Seeing frosting, wet spots, or a little sweating on your soy candle is normal. These are visual quirks inherent to using a natural, vegetable-based wax. At Ritter House of Scent, we embrace the natural beauty of soy wax and focus on what matters most: a clean burn, wonderful fragrance, and a safe, high-quality candle experience for you. Consider these unique characteristics as proof that you're enjoying a candle crafted with natural ingredients!