Soot, Be Gone!

We’ve all been there. You’re burning a great-smelling candle for a few hours and then you look over to see all kinds of black buildup surrounding the rim of its jar. It can be a real turnoff because it impacts the cleanliness of your melt pool. No one want to look at a dirty melt pool, nor do they want to have a dirty candle jar. Also, some people get concerned whether any amount of soot is harmful to their health. In any case, what’s a candle lover to do when soot starts to appear?

According to merriam-webster.com, soot is “a black substance formed by combustion or separated from fuel during combustion, rising in fine particles, and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke.” When it comes to candles, the combustion causes those fine particles to adhere to the sides of the jar.

Though unsightly, a small amount isn’t harmful. The National Candle Association compares it to “the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils.” And there are a few ways to minimize its effects. 

First, you want to make sure you trim the wick to a ¼ inch every time you light the candle. This ensures that the candle flame doesn’t get too high, as a really high flame will surely increase incidences of soot buildup.

Next, be sure to place your candle in an area where there are no drafts. This can help keep the flame from flickering (i.e., dancing around in the jar). Also, do your best to make sure there is no debris in the wax pool.

And if all else fails and you end up with tons of soot, take a damp paper towel and clean the inside of your jar after your extinguished candle has cooled. Then, try cutting down your burn times. Instead of using the maximum recommended burning time, maybe burn your candle for 1-2 hours and then allow it to cool for at least two hours before relighting it.