WickWise

Why is my candle sweating oil?

What you see: oily beads or a slick film on the candle's surface.

Why it happens: the fragrance load exceeded what that specific oil and wax combination can hold — the excess migrates out. Heavy, dense oils (vanilla, some woods) seep at lower percentages than light ones. Heat during storage accelerates it.

The fix: wipe the surface clean; the candle will still burn. Prevention: stay under the oil's real ceiling, not just the wax's generic max — check the supplier's IFRA data sheet for that specific oil. Drop a percentage point or two for heavy oils. Store finished candles cool.

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