Beeswax/Coconut oil Soot Problem

[HayleeB]

Hi Everyone!

I've been making candles for several months now and I can't seem to get rid of my soot problem. For reference, I'm using a blend of coconut oil and beeswax and wooden wicks. I don't think it's all a fragrance oil issue, because I keep my fragrance load at around 6 to 7%, and I can go up to 10% according to the bottle.

The photos I'm including are of my most recent test candles. The one that's a little bit less dirty had no fragrance oil, but it still had the black residue. I'm at a loss for what to do next because regardless of my blend or wick choice it does this starting about halfway through the candles. Also, I think they're fairly well wicked because the flame stays controlled and I get just about all the wax melted.

Is this something normal that just happens with candles and I'll have to accept? Any help or advice is very much appreciated!

Haylee

 

[lyschelw]

Hi there, you are on the right track. Combustion prduct is Co2 +H20 + soot. Soot is any unburned product. SO, there could be too much oil still since wax is oily and scents are oils. But from looking at it I would say that it is overwicked. The flame is stuggling to "eat" the wax which causes an inbalance especially as the flame gets lower. (less oxygen lower in the container) Question, was it sooting a lot the whole time or really just at the very bottom?