Chloe Adams
Testing candles is an essential step in the candle-making process, especially if you plan to sell them. It ensures your candles are safe, burn properly, and meet performance and safety standards. The main tests involve checking the candle's stability, flame height, and whether it relights after being blown out. You should also test for secondary ignition, which is when there is a flame outside of the wick. Burn testing is also crucial to ensure your candle doesn't produce an abnormal amount of soot and burns at a normal rate. Before testing, it's important to cure your candle for the recommended time and prepare your testing environment. This includes gathering your candles, trimming the wicks, and ensuring the room is draft-free and at a stable temperature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Test environment | Room temperature at 20°C, no drafts, stable surface, away from flammable materials |
| Test duration | 2-4 hours per candle, or until candle is used up or fails |
| Test frequency | Bi-annually, or at the start of each season |
| Number of candles | 3-5 per batch |
| Candle specifications | Type and amount of wax, wick type and size, container choice, fragrance oil, fragrance load, dyes used, and amount used |
| Wick length | 5mm from the top of the candle, or 1/4 inch (6mm) |
| Flame size | 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall, or up to 2 inches (5 cm) |
| Flame movement | Still with slight movement, more movement as wax level gets lower |
| Melt pool | 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch deep within 1 hour for each inch of diameter |
| Safety | No secondary ignition, no excess smoke, soot, or mushrooming, no dripping, no spontaneous relighting |
| Performance | Burns at a normal rate, good fragrance throw, consistent performance |
| Record-keeping | Notes, photos, or videos of tests and results |
| Compliance | General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) in the UK and Europe, EN15493 fire safety standard |
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What You'll Learn
Testing for safety
Testing candles for safety is a crucial process that candle makers should not skip. While it may be tempting to rush through or skip testing altogether, doing so could result in unsafe candles. Candle makers should always conduct tests in a safe, controlled environment, ensuring that candles are not left unattended while lit.
One of the most important tests for safety is the basic burn test, which evaluates a candle's performance from the first to the last burn. This test helps ensure that a candle burns at a normal rate, does not produce an abnormal amount of soot, and is safe for the end user. Before conducting a burn test, it is essential to wait for the candle to cure properly. The curing process can take time, especially for natural waxes like soy or palm, which can take up to two weeks to harden completely.
To conduct a basic burn test, follow these steps:
- Set up your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from any flammable materials.
- Light the candle and start a timer.
- Observe the candle flame, wick, and melted wax for the specified duration, typically 2 to 4 hours.
- Make note of any irregularities, such as excessive dripping or smoking.
- After the specified time, extinguish the candle flame and observe the remaining wax.
- A candle passes the burn test if it burns evenly across the entire width of the wick and leaves less than 1 cm of wax remaining.
In addition to the basic burn test, there are other safety tests that candle makers can perform:
- Stability test: Place the candle on a surface with a 10-degree angle to ensure it does not fall over unexpectedly.
- Secondary ignition test: Burn the candle all the way down in 4-hour cycles. If no secondary ignition occurs or if it lasts for less than 10 seconds, the candle is safe.
- Wick test: Ensure the wick does not smoke or glow for more than 30 seconds after extinguishing.
- Container test: For container candles, light the candle and monitor it for 4 hours. If the container cracks or breaks, the candle is unsafe.
By conducting these tests and keeping detailed records, candle makers can ensure their products are safe for their customers.
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Evaluating performance
Evaluating the performance of a candle involves conducting a burn test to ensure it meets safety standards and burns effectively. Here are the key steps to follow for evaluating the performance of a candle:
Preparation:
Before testing, it is crucial to prepare your candles and testing environment. Trim the wicks of your candles to a specific length, typically between 5mm and 1/4 inch (6 mm). Clearly label your candles, noting details such as the type of wax, fragrance oil used, fragrance load, dyes, wick choice, and container choice. Ensure your testing area is free of drafts and distractions, and set up your candles on a clean, flat, heat-resistant surface.
Burning:
Light your candle using a lighter or matches and start a timer. Observe the candle's flame, wick, and melted wax for a specified duration, typically around 2 to 4 hours. During this time, evaluate the flame size and movement. Most flames should be approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall, with a normal range of up to 2 inches (5 cm). The flame should be relatively still, with slight movement, and should not flicker excessively or produce excess smoke, soot, or "mushrooming."
Post-Burning Analysis:
After the burning duration, extinguish the candle flame and analyse the results. Note any irregularities such as dripping or excessive smoking. Evaluate the amount of wax remaining, with less than 1 cm of wax indicating a successful burn test. Additionally, assess the evenness of the burn across the width of the wick. If the candle has burned unevenly or left excessive wax, it has failed the test.
Safety Tests:
Conduct safety tests to ensure your candle meets regulatory standards. Place the candle on a surface with a 10-degree angle to test its stability. Burn the candle in 4-hour cycles to check for secondary ignition, ensuring it does not relight spontaneously or burn for longer than 10 seconds after extinguishing. Measure the flame height, ensuring it does not exceed the maximum limit for the type of candle. For container candles, monitor the vessel during burning to ensure it does not crack or break.
Consistency and Optimisation:
Test multiple candles from each batch to ensure consistency in performance, including the wick, fragrance, and overall burning characteristics. Regularly test your candles, especially when introducing new fragrances or using different suppliers' wicks. Optimise your candle design based on test results, adjusting factors such as wick size, wax weight, and fragrance combinations to improve performance and safety.
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Wick testing
To perform wick testing, candle-makers can pour 3 to 5 candles that are identical except for wick size. Choose the wick size you think is appropriate and then select the next sizes up and down. Once the candles have cured, burn them simultaneously to determine which wick size performs best.
Another method is to test burn different wick types in separate rooms of comparable size and ventilation. This helps determine if one wick type provides a better scent throw than the others.
Regardless of the method chosen, it is recommended to perform at least three test burns before finalizing the wick size or type. Each test burn should be around 2 to 3 hours, allowing time for a full melt pool to form.
By conducting wick testing, candle-makers can ensure their candles burn safely, efficiently, and provide a satisfying and long-lasting experience for customers.
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Testing for excess smoke and soot
To test for excess smoke and soot, observe the flame size and movement. A typical flame is about an inch tall, with flames up to two inches considered normal. During most of the burn, the flame should be relatively still, with occasional slight movement. If the flame begins to move excessively, it may indicate a draft in the room, which can cause the candle to produce more soot.
The type of wax used also affects soot levels. Paraffin wax produces visible dark soot, while natural waxes like soy and coconut produce white soot that is harder to see. Regardless of the wax type, excessive soot or black smoke indicates an issue, such as an oversized wick, excessive fragrance load, or a draft.
To mitigate excessive soot, ensure your candle is in a draft-free environment, away from air vents, fans, or open windows. Additionally, trimming the wick to around 5mm or 1/4 inch before burning can help stabilize the flame and reduce soot output.
When conducting a burn test, evaluate the candle at regular intervals, typically every three to four hours. Record the flame height, and note any signs of excessive smoke or soot. If the candle produces excessive soot, adjust the recipe, wick size, or environment and repeat the test until optimal performance is achieved.
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Testing multiple candles
Firstly, ensure that your testing environment is appropriately set up. Gather your candles and trim the wicks to 5mm or 1/4 inch from the top of the candle. Having 3 candles per batch is a good idea to understand the average performance. Place the candles 3 to 6 inches apart if testing more than one at a time. The room temperature should be maintained at around 20°C, and windows and doors should be closed to avoid any breeze or drafts that could skew the results.
Secondly, clearly label your candles with batch numbers. Note down the specifications of each candle, including the type of wax, fragrance oil, fragrance load, dyes used and amount, wick type and size, candle diameter, and container type and size. These factors will influence how your candle burns, so it is important to keep track of them.
Thirdly, set up your candles on a stable, clean, flat, heat-resistant surface, away from any flammable materials. Light the candles with a lighter or matches and start a timer. Observe the candles for the next 2 to 4 hours, paying attention to the flame size and movement, the wick, and the melted wax. Make note of any irregularities, such as dripping or excessive smoke.
Finally, after the specified time has passed, extinguish the candle flames and observe the candle wax. A candle is considered to have passed the burn test if it has burned evenly, and there is less than 1 cm of wax remaining. If there are inconsistencies in the burn or more than 1 cm of wax left, the candle has failed the test.
By following these steps and conducting multiple candle tests, you can ensure the safety and performance of your candles, providing your customers with a high-quality product.
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Frequently asked questions
Testing a candle ensures that it meets safety and performance standards. This includes checking that the candle is safe for the end user, and that it performs well in terms of factors like scent and burning time.
Ensure your testing environment is appropriately set up. Gather your candles and trim the wicks to 5mm from the top of the candle. It is recommended to have 3 candles per batch to test, and to ensure the room temperature is stable at around 20°C. Close windows and doors to avoid a breeze, and keep a record of your tests and results.
Place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant, flat surface, away from any flammable materials. Light the candle and start a timer. Observe the candle flame, wick and melted wax for 4 hours. Make note of any irregularities, such as dripping or smoking. Extinguish the candle and observe the wax.
