Why is my candle producing black smoke?
At Coton Corail, this problem was among the first observations we made in our Montreal workshop during our combustion tests on various waxes and wick configurations.
Understanding black smoke from a candle
Black smoke from a candle is a clear sign of incomplete combustion. It appears when the wax or wick does not burn properly, producing soot.
Main causes
1. A wick that is too long
This is the most common cause. An untrimmed wick produces an overly large flame that generates smoke.
2. Poor quality wax
Some industrial waxes contain additives that burn poorly and produce residue.
3. Excess fragrance
A candle with too much fragrance can create unstable combustion.
4. Drafts
A disturbed flame burns irregularly and generates smoke.
If your Coton Corail candle produces black smoke: what to do?
In most cases, there are only two possible situations:
1. The wick is too long
Extinguish the candle immediately, let it cool, then trim the wick to about 5 mm before relighting it.
2. The candle has burned for too long
Prolonged burning can unbalance the flame and generate smoke. Extinguish the candle, let it cool, then relight it later to restore stable combustion.
These two simple actions correct almost all cases of black smoke observed in real use.