07/08/2026
Behind the Flame: How We Test Our Candles
What looks like a simple candle is actually the result of careful formulation, hands-on craftsmanship, and a surprising amount of science.
Every candle begins as a series of decisions and experiments — how wax, fragrance, wick, and vessel will work together to create a clean, consistent burn and a beautiful scent experience in your home.
There is no single “right” combination that works across the board. Each candle is its own system, and every element influences the next. That’s why testing isn’t just part of what we do — it is what we do.
Choosing a wick isn’t simply a matter of matching it to the size of a jar. The wax, fragrance, fragrance load, vessel and wick all interact, which means every combination needs to be considered and tested.
It starts with the wax
Different candle waxes behave differently.
The type of wax affects how the candle melts, how fragrance is released, how the wick performs and even how the finished candle looks.
We work with soy-based wax, which is particularly interesting because soy wax is derived from a natural agricultural product.
Unlike a completely synthetic material manufactured to behave identically every time, natural wax can have subtle variations from batch to batch.
Temperature, storage, climate and even changes in the raw agricultural material can influence the way wax behaves.
That means candle making involves both science and a little understanding of nature.
Then comes the fragrance
Adding fragrance changes more than simply how a candle smells.
Different fragrance oils have different compositions and densities, and they can interact with wax and wicks differently.
A wick that performs beautifully with one fragrance may behave quite differently with another.
This is why candle makers don’t necessarily test one wick and then use it for every fragrance in their range.
Finding the right wick
Wick testing is one of the most important parts of candle making.
We may begin with several wick sizes that are suitable for the diameter of our candle vessel. Test candles are then made using the actual wax and fragrance combination we intend to sell.
Once the candle has properly set and cured, the burn testing begins.
During a test burn, we’re looking at things such as:
The flame — Is it stable and appropriately sized?
The melt pool — How is the wax melting across the candle?
The wick — Is it curling or self-trimming as expected? Is there excessive carbon build-up?
The vessel — Is the candle burning safely without excessive heat?
The fragrance — How well is the scent being released while the candle burns?
Smoke and soot — Is the candle maintaining a clean burn?
And we don’t just light a candle once.
Testing continues throughout the candle
A candle can behave differently as it burns further down the vessel.
As the candle gets lower, heat can build differently inside the jar. A wick that appears perfect during the first burn therefore needs to continue performing well through subsequent burns.
That’s why proper wick testing involves repeatedly burning the candle under controlled conditions and observing how it performs throughout its life.
Sometimes that means going back and trying another wick size, making another candle, allowing it to cure and starting the process again.
It’s time consuming — but it’s an important part of making a quality candle.
And then there’s Mother Nature
Even after all that testing, there is something important to remember:
Natural wax is still a natural product.
Soy wax doesn’t always behave with absolute perfection.
You may occasionally notice slight changes in the surface of your candle, small variations after burning, frosting, tiny imperfections or differences in appearance as the wax cools and resets.
These don’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your candle.
They can simply be part of the character of working with natural wax.
Even carefully tested candles can behave slightly differently depending on the temperature of your home, drafts, how long the candle is burned and how the wick has been maintained.
That’s part of what makes a hand-poured candle different from a mass-produced product.
A lot happens before you light the match
When you light a Kiama Candle Co candle, you’re seeing the end result of a process involving formulation, pouring, curing, wick testing, burn testing and plenty of observation.
We test to ensure a beautiful fragrance experience and a clean, consistent burn.
But we also embrace the fact that when you choose a candle made with natural wax, a little natural variation is perfectly normal.
It’s not necessarily an imperfection.
Sometimes, it’s simply the wax being wax.
And that’s also what makes each candle uniquely yours — crafted with care, tested with intention, and designed to bring a moment of calm into your space.
If you’d like to experience the difference that thoughtful testing and hand-poured quality can make, we invite you to explore the Kiama Candle Co collection and find a scent that feels like home.
Kiama Candle Co
Hand poured in Kiama.
