Candle Making Tips - Sweating

What Is Sweating? 

In candle making, sweating refers to beads of liquid oil appearing on the surface of a candle. It is caused by the expansion and contraction of wax crystals, which can squeeze oil out of the body of the wax, making it visible on surfaces.

Why Does It Happen?

There can be a few reasons for candle sweating, but the most common is the oil content of the candle. Some candles are scented with fragrance oils, and some natural waxes, such as soy or coconut wax candles, have a natural oil content that will occasionally sweat. In most cases, this is just something caused by temperature fluctuations and won’t affect the performance of the candle. Once the candle is out and cool, if preferred for aesthetics, you can use a paper towel to clean up any excess oil.

Exposure to heat or humidity is the most common cause for sweating; hotter, damper conditions increase the odds that a candle sweats, all else being equal. It can help to keep a sweating candle out of direct sunlight or away from heat sources like radiators if you would prefer to avoid it.

How To Avoid It

The good thing about sweating caused by temperature change is that it doesn’t affect the quality of the candle, the way it burns or the scent throw. You can simply wipe the excess oil off with paper towels or tissue. To avoid this keep your candles away from drafts, direct sunlight and room that vary in temperature.