Top 10 Mistakes New Candle Makers Make & How to Avoid Them

🤯 Why This Blog Matters

If you’re just starting out, candle making can feel like chemistry class meets Pinterest DIY—and one wrong move can ruin your entire batch. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

This guide breaks down the 10 most common mistakes new candle makers in India make—and exactly how to fix or avoid them. Whether you're making candles for fun or building your brand, this blog will save you money, time, and stress.

🧭 What You'll Learn

• Common errors beginners make
• Science-backed fixes that actually work
• Why most issues come from wrong supplies
• How to avoid wasting your materials

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🚫 Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Wick Size

What happens: Your candle tunnels, smokes, or drowns in wax.
Why: The wick is too small, too big, or not compatible with your jar size/wax type.

Fix:

• Use our free Wick Size Chart
• Always test burn with 2–3 sizes

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🚫 Mistake 2: Adding Fragrance at the Wrong Temperature

What happens: Your scent disappears, or the wax gets sweaty. Why: Adding oil when the wax is too hot or too cold.

Fix:

• Add fragrance oils between 80–70°C for soy wax
• Stir for at least 120 seconds for full binding

🎯 Use a digital pen thermometer. Shop from here!

🚫 Mistake 3: Overloading Fragrance Oils

What happens: Oil pools at the top or leaks out after curing. Why: Too much oil = unstable candle

Fix:

• Use 8–10% fragrance load (by wax weight)
• Use a fragrance load calculator (free download here)

🧪 Shop 100+ tested fragrance oils here

🚫 Mistake 4: Not Preheating Jars

What happens: Wax pulls away from the jar wall (wet spots) Why: Cold jar + hot wax = shock cooling

Fix:

• Warm jars with a heat gun or hairdryer before pouring
• Ideal jar temp: 40–45°C

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🚫 Mistake 5: Using Non-Candle Fragrance Oils

What happens: Poor scent throw, smoking, or strange burn Why: Perfume oils and essential oils not made for candles

Fix:

• Only use candle-grade fragrance oils, Do not try using Ittar perfumes in candles
• Always test new oils in a small batch

🌸 Explore our India-tested fragrance library here

🚫 Mistake 6: Not Letting Candles Cure Properly

What happens: Weak scent throw or inconsistent burn Why: Soy wax especially needs cure time to stabilize

Fix:

• Cure soy candles for at least 48–72 hours
• Store in a cool, dark place during curing

🚫 Mistake 7: Pouring at the Wrong Temperature

What happens: Sinkholes, rough tops, cracks Why: Pouring wax too hot or too cold

Fix:

• Ideal pour temp: 80°C-90°C for luxury soy
• Pour slowly to avoid air pockets

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🚫 Mistake 8: Not Testing Before Selling

What happens: Bad customer experience, poor reviews Why: Selling untested batches = unpredictable results

Fix:

• Test 2–3 jars per batch
• Track burn time, melt pool, scent throw

🚫 Mistake 9: Ignoring Safety & Compliance

What happens: Risk of product recalls or legal trouble Why: No labels, warning text, or ingredient info

Fix:

• Include a basic warning label with: burn time, wick trim, supervision
• Mention fragrance allergens if known

🚫 Mistake 10: Buying Supplies from Multiple Unreliable Sources

What happens: Inconsistency in wax, bad wicks, delayed shipping Why: Sourcing from random marketplaces, not trusted suppliers

Fix:

• Use one trusted supplier (us!) with lab-tested quality
• Stick to consistent wax–wick–fragrance combinations

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💡 Final Thoughts

Making candles is a craft. But scaling it? That’s a system. Avoiding these 10 beginner mistakes will save you money, increase product quality, and build customer trust.

✨ Let this be your cheat sheet as you grow. And remember—you don’t need to make all the mistakes to learn from them.

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