WickWise

Why did the top of my candle crack?

What you see: the surface cracks as it sets, sometimes in a star pattern around the wick.

Why it happens: cooled too fast — cold room, draft, or moved while setting. The surface set while the interior was still contracting underneath, and something had to give.

The fix: a thin repour levels it. Prevention: room-temperature cooling, no drafts, don't touch it until fully set. Paraffin is more crack-prone than soy; pouring paraffin a little cooler helps.

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