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BLACK SOOT FROM SOY CANDLES??!!

Mon, 10/30/2006 - 10:22 — soydeelites

I just received a phone call from a family member and they told me that they place their candle on a table below a wall clock and when they removed the clock there was soot on the wall and on the clock itself (I don't remember but it was either a discolored look or black). I use Cargil soy wax, HTP cotton wicks, fragrance used was from Candlechem.com and reddiglo color chips. Can ANY of this stuff cause this problem? I know that soy candles are NOT totally chemical free (so I thought). They were all common materials used in soy candle making that i am aware of and didn't think there would be a problem. I have never seen black smoke or soot from the candles I tested and I'm concerned (although I never had one by an object to see if any residue was laft behind).

Any assistance and sugestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

‹ chalky interior, temperature guidelines Scent Throw??!!?? ›

Mon, 11/27/2006 - 17:58 — Chaunte

BLACK SOOT FROM SOY CANDLES??!!

LOL

I love candles & the cheap ones I buy at walmart mushroom & smoke!

Tue, 11/14/2006 - 10:50 — bnweber

BLACK SOOT FROM SOY CANDLES??!!

EXACTLY! The warning label is VERY important, and while soy puts out LESS soot, anything burning will put off some, and soy is no exception. Keeping the wick trimmed is absolutely essential to maintaining a soot-free burn. Excessive burn times will cause mushrooming and/or long wicks, even with the best soy waxes, so making sure that people follow the directions is almost as important as making the candle. Other potential soot causers in soy that I have found/heard:

Wick size too big
Too much scent
Drafts

Now, if you have tested your candles, and found that they do not smoke or soot when burned properly, then it's fairly safe to assume that somebody isn't quite following the directions, which covers drafts, mushrooming, and trimming. Unfortunately, in their excitation and exuberance to be using soy wax, some people seem to think that soy candles are immune to mushrooming, I have definitely found that they are not. Virtually any wax or blend will smoke/soot if the wick has a mushroom head or if the wick is too long. Some of my votives start developing the mushroom head after a few hours, but then some of them never do, so I'm still guessing around to explain that - I suspect it has to do with either color or fragrance, which further re-inforces the need to test burn EVERYTHING!! (Darn - now I have to burn more candles - how terrible, right? ;) )

Anyways, hope this helps out!

(sorry guys - didn't mean to write a novel here...)

—

Brian
Sandstone Ranch Candles
www.sandstoneranch.com

Tue, 11/14/2006 - 02:25 — redmaple

BLACK SOOT FROM SOY CANDLES??!!

Black smoke was probably from too long of a wick (not kept trimmed at 1/8 to 1/4 inch)and maybe a large mushroom had formed. Candle may have burned for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. Candlemakers- Please tell your customers to read their warning labels. :!: