Your candle’s wick is the straw that draws the melted wax vapor to the flame via capillary action. When first lit, the heat of the flame melts the wax at the top of the candle, after a melt pool is formed the molten wax is then drawn up to the flame via the capillary action of the wick. When the wax reaches the wick A chemical reaction happens between the vaporized hydrocarbons and oxygen in the air, when the wax reaches the candle wick.

Looking at the candle’s flame you can see that the flame is nearly invisible close to the wick and a yellow illuminated area surrounds it. Closer to the wick the wax vapors are breaking down and release hydrogen as a result, producing long unsaturated carbon chains. The carbon chains are in actuality small particles of soot. These tiny soot particles, burn and release the yellow light of the candles’ flames. If the candle has enough oxygen and not too much wax vapor at the wick, the soot particles are completely burned up in the flame and the candle releases only heat, light, water and carbon dioxide. If there is not enough oxygen and too much vapor the flame is going to release soot and not fully burn causing the wick to mushroom.

In order to produce a good burning candle, one has to choose the proper wick. Which type of wax, additives, dyes and fragrace can affect the quality of your wicks performance. Alwayes be sure to test your candles and your wicks performance. To produce a quality candle you must assure that your candle has a consistent flame, burns with very little smoke, little if any mushrooming and has a uniform wax pool. Also be sure to check the containers external temperature so that it does not get too hot.