Cracks are seen in candles if the candles are cooled too quickly. Candles also crack if you pour the wax into the containers too fast. Candles also crack if they’re cooled down unevenly, or because of high humidity.
Cracks in the candles don’t impact the performance of the candles in any way. They’re just cosmetic imperfections on the candles.
Cracks on the top of the candle are quite common, especially when they’re made of Beeswax or Soy wax. It is hard to work with natural wax.
In this article, you’ll know the reasons for the cracks in candles. We shall also discuss how to prevent/fix cracks in candles.
Why are my Soy Candles cracking on top?
Soy candles crack on the top when they’re cooled down quickly. They also crack on the top if you pour the molten wax quickly. Soy candles crack when they cool down unevenly. Soy candles could crack if the pouring temperature is too low.
Soy candles are harder to work with, in general. You’ll see cracks on the top of Soy candles more often than not, especially if you’re an amateur.
There are various reasons why Soy candles crack on the top, let’s see what they are.
Cooled too fast
Candles crack on the top when they’re cooled too fast. Some people cool them by putting them in the freezer, don’t do this.
Ideally, you let the candles cool gradually. I know, you don’t want to wait but it’s worth the wait.
Stirring too much
Cracks appear in candles when you stir the molten wax vigorously. Stirring for too long or vigorously creates air bubbles in the wax mixture.
These air bubbles cause cracks in the finished candles. This happens because the air bubbles convert into small holes once the candle cools off. These holes cause cracks in the candle.
Candles did not cool down evenly
Candles also crack when they aren’t cooled evenly. This happens if you keep your candles too close to each other when they’re cooling down.
Avoid placing finished candles too close to each other to prevent such situations. Place the candles on a wire rack while they cool down.
Pouring the molten wax hastily
Don’t pour molten wax into the container hastily as this can cause cracks when the candle cools down.
Air bubbles get trapped in the candle if you pour the molten wax mixture into the container too quickly. These air bubbles create cracks in the candle.
Poured at low temperature
Candles crack if the molten wax is poured at low temperatures. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature when making candles.
You need to find a sweet spot, pouring wax at high/low temperatures could lead to cracks. If the wax is cooler than desired, a second pour is recommended.
Don’t pour the cool wax as is. Doing so will lead to cracks in the finished candles.
Humidity
Cracks appear in the candles if you live in a high humid area. The water in the air gets into the wax and disturbs the composition of the candle.
Water and wax don’t mix and this deteriorates the performance of the candle.
How to fix cracks in Soy candles?
Cracks in Soy candles are caused by the air bubbles in the candle. You need to fill these holes and the cracks to fix such a candle.
Below are some of the techniques candle-makers follow to fix their cracked Soy candles.
Heat the surface
You can heat the cracked surface and even it out using a heat gun/hairdryer. Set it on high temperature and low airflow.
This is a low-cost and quick way to fix cracked candles. Candle-makers use this method to fix other candle problems too.
Tapping the container
Air bubbles are the main reason why candles crack as we already know. You need to eliminate them to fix those cracks.
Tap the container gently to remove those air bubbles. You need to do this as soon as you pour the wax mixture into the container.
Save some wax for later
You might want to save some molten wax for later. You can use this to seal off the cracks in the candles.
You can also use this extra wax to fill the sinkholes in the middle. You can also fix uneven surfaces using this extra wax.
Coating the container
You need to apply coconut oil to the insides of the container before pouring the wax in. This helps prevent the wax from sticking to the sides.
Wax sticking to the sides can cause air bubbles in the wax which in turn could lead to cracks.
Why did my Beeswax candle crack?
Beeswax candles crack if they’re being cooled too quickly. This happens when the temperature difference between the wax and the surroundings is high.
Beeswax is generally hard to handle, it cracks easily upon cooling if you don’t follow the precautions.
How do you fix cracked beeswax candles?
Let your finished Beeswax candles cool down slowly. You can insulate the candles using bubble wrap or some other material.
Test the pour temperatures and journal the whole process. Jot down the pouring temperature and the surrounding temperatures.
Pour 5 candles at a time, and alter the pouring temperature. See which one gives the best results, and replicate the same conditions in the future.
Wait for 30-45 minutes after the first pour before pouring the wax the second time.
Tip: You can cool the finished candles in a hot water bath too. This helps slow down the candle cooling process.
How do you stop a candle from cracking?
Let your candles cool down slowly to prevent them from cracking. You need to prevent air bubble formation in the wax to prevent cracks in the candle.
It is better to prevent cracks in candles rather than treat them later. Let’s look at the ways to prevent cracks in candles.
Place the candles on a wire cooling rack
Place the finished candles on an elevated wire cooling rack to help them cool evenly and slowly. The increased airflow aids the slow setting process.
Always cool the candles at room temperature. Don’t put them in the freezer to cool the candles down quickly. It’ll only lead to cracked candles.
Pour at the right temperature
Pouring the molten wax at the right temperature is crucial. Use a thermometer if you want to know the temperature of the wax before pouring it.
Pouring the wax at lower temperatures causes the candle to crack. So, journal the wax temperatures and the surrounding temperatures for future purposes.
Use a Dehumidifier
Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in your working place. Candle-making should be done in places that are not so humid.
High humidity leads to water accumulation in the wax. This leads to cracks in the finished candles.
Don’t stir the wax vigorously
Air bubbles are formed in the wax if you stir it vigorously. Don’t stir the molten wax vigorously to prevent air bubble formation.
The air bubbles present in the wax could lead to cracks in the candles after they cool down.
Pouring hastily
Don’t pour the molten wax into the container too quickly as this can lead to air bubble formation in the wax.
Pour the molten wax slowly. You can use a pouring pot to achieve this. These pots are quite inexpensive in my opinion.
Let the candles cool evenly
Uneven cooling could also lead to cracks in the finished products. Let your candles cool down evenly.
Place the candles at least 2-3″ apart from one another for the best results. This helps them cool down evenly.
Is it safe to burn a cracked candle?
Yes, it is safe to burn a candle that has cracks on the top. Such cracks don’t affect the performance of the candle in any way. They make the candle look ugly.
Thin cracks form around the wick of the candle when it’s cooled down too quickly. These don’t impair the candle burning.
If you want to burn a candle that’s in a broken container, don’t! Burning a candle that’s in a broken glass container could prove hazardous.
Place such containers in the freezer for a while, the candle should pop out from the container. You can also remove the candle using a butter knife.
Why are my Wax Melts cracking?
Wax melts crack when the wax is stirred too quickly, or when they are cooled down quickly/unevenly. Wax melts can also crack if water somehow got into the wax mixture.
It is hard to make wax melts out of Soy wax or Beeswax. You need to be careful when molding with these natural waxes.
You can mix paraffin wax in these natural waxes to mold easily. The cracks won’t affect the performance of the wax melts but they look ugly.
Let’s see how you can stop wax melts from cracking.
How to prevent Wax Melts from cracking?
- Don’t pour the wax into the molds at lower temperatures. Pour the wax into the molds at optimal temperatures to prevent cracks. Journal different pouring temperatures to achieve perfection.
- Don’t cool the wax melts too quickly. Don’t place the wax melts in the freezer to cool them quickly, this is often the reason for cracks in wax melts.
- Don’t stir the wax too much as it could lead to air bubble formation in the wax. These air bubbles cause cracks in the wax melts.
Note: You can use a heat gun/hairdryer to fix cracks in wax melts.
Happy Molding 🙂
