Can candles sweat?

Whether you're a candle enthusiast or a professional candle maker, you've probably noticed that your candles sometimes form beads of moisture on the surface. This phenomenon, known as “candle sweating”, may seem confusing at first glance. Why would a candle, a seemingly dry and solid object, start to sweat?

The reason lies in the expansion and contraction of the wax crystals, which can push the oil out of the wax body, making it visible on the surface. In this blog post, we'll look at the reasons for candle sweating, examine how it affects your candles and discuss how to prevent it.

Why do candles sweat?

There are many reasons why a candle may have moisture or liquid droplets on the surface. For one, there may simply be too much fragrance or essential oil mixed into the wax. The amount of fragrance or essential oil that a wax can absorb varies.

Secondly, perspiration may be a property of the wax itself. Many vegetable waxes, especially soy wax and coconut wax, are known to sweat.

Thirdly, this can also happen if the oil is added when the wax is too cold or if the wax/oil is not mixed properly. In this case, the wax and oil do not form a homogeneous mixture and the fragrance is distributed differently in the candle.

Finally, if you use fragrances/essential oils that are not suitable for candles, it is very likely that the oils will not mix properly with the wax components and insoluble particles will form.

NOTE: Sweating often does not affect the performance or quality of the candle.

How can sweating be avoided?

Reduce the amount of fragrance

For most of our waxes, we recommend limiting the amount of fragrance to 6-10%. Experimentation and testing are the key.

Use high-quality fragrance oils optimized for candles

For a first-class candle experience, it is important to use high-quality fragrance oils. The candle fragrances we offer have been specially developed and tested for use in candle making.

Try different waxes

Some natural waxes are prone to sweating, which is why you should try adding some kerosene wax.

Storing candles correctly

In general, we recommend storing your candles at a temperature of 18°C to 25°C in a dry place out of direct sunlight.

What to do if candles sweat?

Have you poured candles and noticed that they start to sweat as soon as they have cooled? You can use a heat gun to melt the wax again so that it cools with a smooth, oil-free surface. You can also mix your wax a little better and pour a thin layer on top.

If your candle continues to sweat, you can gently dab the surface of the candle with a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

We hope these tips are helpful! Do you have any further questions? Send us an email at support@distrebution.com or send us a DM on Instagram!