Soy Wax Candle Forum - Online resource for soy candle makers

Hello! Thanks for the great site on soy candle making. I am new to candle making, and am having a reacurring wick problem. The following tip listed on the home page of the site was relevant:

"The ball on the tip of the wick usually indicates incomplete combustion.  This could be that there are incombustibles in the soy wax, or the wick is too big and the wax is burning too quickly (therefore not burning completely)."

In my case, there are usually 2 or 3 "balls" on the tip of the burning wick, so that it resembles a clover. It seems to reduce the size of the flame as well. It seems like the edges of the wick tip become slightly frayed after cutting, and that's what forms the ball(s). I have experimented with different cutting tools, but that hasn't made a difference.

I'm using KY PureSoy, color chips, and fragrance all from KY Candle Wax Supply, and have tried 2 different sizes of their recommended wicks for soy container candles. (Both were cotton core. One was for a 3" diameter: 60-44-18, the other for a 3 1/2 " diameter: 62-52-18.)

After pouring at around 110 degrees F, the wax itself is very smooth, and I did not have any sink holes or mottling. (Except after test burning, when the wax cooled there was some mottling and a little rippling in the wax.)

I'm wondering if "incombustibles" could be in the color or fragrance? I did use a lot of color for my Valentine's Day red candles, but I've had the same wick problem when I used very little color with other candles. Also, I have been using less than recommended amounts of fragrance as a matter of preference.

I can try using a wick recommended for a 2 1/2 inch container, but I'm guessing this would reduce the melting pool, which is already not reaching the edge of the 3" container while using the larger wicks. Should I try coreless wicks?

I would appreciate any help or suggestions! Thank you very much!