When it comes to candle making, the process has to be done precisely and with attention to details. Using good quality materials, adding the right amount of ingredients at the right temperature are all crucial in order to end up with a good quality candle. But with all this information in mind, you can still end up with certain issues or problems. Most often, it concerns the aesthetic of your candle, such as uneven candle tops or sweating. In this article we are covering everything you need to know about sweating and why soy wax candles are sweating sometimes. Lets get into it and work out why candles sweat.

What is sweating?

First things first, you need to know what the term sweating means when it comes to candles. Well, you might have already noticed that sometimes there are tiny puddles of oil on top of your candle. This thin layer of oil is what we call sweating. As you might have realized, this issue is usually more common when the weather gets warmer. Also, it is worth knowing that the problem is most common with soy wax.

Why are my soy candles sweating?

So let’s get to the point! Why are my soy candles sweating? The main reason is the change in temperature, more precisely when it gets hotter or in case of higher humidity. This can be explained with the higher oil content of soy wax itself. Although, soy wax is the most popular base nowadays due to its natural ingredients, its higher natural oil content makes it more suitable for cool environment. Lastly, the lower melting point of soy wax also makes it more prone to sweating.

Apart from that, there are also some aspects in connection with the candle making process as well which will most likely result in sweating. All these aspects are related to added oils as they can cause similar problems as the oil naturally found in soy wax.

Firstly, if you choose fragrance oils which are not suitable for soy wax, it can cause more issues. Also, you should definitely avoid adding too much fragrance oil as the excessive amount will only make the problem worse. Thirdly, if you add it too late and don’t stir and mix it in your melted wax properly, this can also result sweaty candles.

Avoiding and handling sweaty candles

If you already end up with a sweaty candle, the easiest wax to fix it is to simply use a tissue paper to wipe off the excessive oil. After that, it is best to store your candles in a cool and dark place, away from direct sunlight. If your flat gets hot or humid during sunlight, you should store them close to the AC to keep them from hot temperatures.

I believe it is safe to say that sweating is one of the most simple issue when it comes to candle making. As the only factor is the amount of oil used, it is easy to prevent. Furthermore, handling it is basically about the right storage of your candles. All in all, by paying attention to the added oil and temperature, you can easily fix the issue.

If you're having other common candle issues such as: why is my candle wick popping or why does my candle have a sink hole, check out the blog.