Emily Johnson
A mushroom wick occurs when the wax does not burn fast enough, causing the wick to absorb the wax and creating a buildup of carbon particles on the wick. This results in a black cap or mushroom shape at the top of the wick. This phenomenon is called mushrooming and is usually caused by an improperly sized wick or the wrong type of wick. While it is quite common, it can be fixed by trimming the wick and bending it slightly.
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What You'll Learn
Use a wick trimmer to trim the wick
Trimming your candle wicks is essential for extending candle life, preventing smoke and soot, and ensuring an even burn without tunnelling. A wick that is not regularly trimmed can lead to a flame that is too tall, which increases the risk of fire and causes the candle to burn improperly.
A mushroom wick occurs when the wax does not burn fast enough to keep up with the wick, resulting in the wick absorbing the wax and creating a buildup of carbon particles. This buildup of carbon particles on the wick, caused by the flame consuming more wax than it can burn, is known as mushrooming. It is important to address this issue as it can cause the candle to burn at a higher temperature, which can affect the fragrance and cause sooting.
To fix a mushroom wick, use a wick trimmer to trim the black "cap" off and bend or "curl" the tip of the wick. Wick trimmers are long scissor-like devices designed specifically for trimming candle wicks. They are typically long to accommodate the depth of a candle jar. As your candle wax gets lower, you will need to reach deeper to trim the wick. Wick trimmers have special tray-shaped blades designed to catch the wick debris after cutting, making them the easiest and cleanest way to trim your wick.
To use a wick trimmer, first, extinguish the flame and let the candle cool down to room temperature. Then, place the wick trimmer handle inside the rim of the jar and bring the blades towards the wick as parallel to the wax as possible. Trim the wick to a height of 1/4 inches above the wax, allowing the blades to catch the wick debris to prevent it from falling into the wax.
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Bend the wick slightly after trimming
Fixing a Mushroom Wick by Bending the Wick Slightly
A "mushroom" wick occurs when the wax does not burn at the same rate as the wick, resulting in the wick absorbing the wax and creating a buildup of carbon particles. This buildup, known as a "black cap" or "mushroom," can lead to an uneven and troublesome burn. To fix this issue, it is recommended to trim the wick when the candle is not lit and then slightly bend the wick before lighting it again.
When trimming the wick, it is important to cut off the black "cap" or carbon buildup, leaving behind a clean wick. This step ensures that the excess carbon, which can interfere with the proper combustion of the wick, is removed. After trimming, gently bend the tip of the wick to one side. This slight bend ensures that the wick is angled towards the hottest part of the flame, which is the side rather than the center. By directing the wick towards the hottest zone, the carbon buildup is prevented, as the tip of the wick is now in the optimal position to combust properly.
It is worth noting that the type of wick used also plays a role in mushrooming. Wicks with a zinc core tend to stand straight up, making them more prone to mushrooming. In contrast, coreless wicks provide a natural curl as they burn, reducing the likelihood of mushrooming. Flat braided cotton wicks are another excellent option as they are considered self-trimming and inherently reduce the occurrence of mushrooming.
While trimming and slightly bending the wick can address the immediate issue, it is important to consider the underlying causes of mushrooming. In most cases, mushrooming occurs when the wick is not appropriately sized for the candle, typically when the wick is too big. An oversized wick provides more wax to the flame than it can efficiently burn, leading to the buildup of carbon particles. Therefore, to prevent future occurrences of mushrooming, it is recommended to use the correct wick size and type for your candle, ensuring a harmonious balance between the wick and the wax, fragrance, and dye.
By following these steps of trimming the wick, gently bending the tip to the side, and selecting the appropriate wick, you can effectively fix and prevent mushrooming. These simple techniques will help you achieve a clean, even burn and allow you to fully enjoy your candle's relaxing and soothing effects.
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Use a smaller wick for a deeper melt pool
A wick that is too big for a candle will cause more wax to be sent to the flame than it can handle, resulting in a carbon buildup and a "mushroom" wick. To fix this, you can try using a smaller wick to reduce the amount of fuel sent to the flame.
When choosing a wick, it is important to consider the width or diameter of the candle. A proper wick will provide an appropriately-sized burn pool for the width or diameter of the candle, as well as an appropriate flame height. If your wick is too big, it can cause the flame to be too large for the candle, leading to excessive heat and poor fragrance dispersion.
To determine if your wick is too big, pay attention to the melt pool. If a full melt pool forms too quickly, it is an indication that your wick is too large and may eventually mushroom. As a general rule, a full melt pool should form within the same number of hours as the diameter or width of the candle in inches. For example, a 3-inch wide candle should take 3 hours to develop a full melt pool. If the full melt pool forms in only 1 or 2 hours, your wick is likely too big and should be replaced with a smaller one.
It is important to note that a small melt pool can also be caused by a wick that is too small or trimmed too short, as it may not generate enough heat to create a proper melting pool. In this case, you should try using a larger wick from the same series to ensure compatibility.
Additionally, keeping your wick centred during the pouring process can help ensure an even melt pool. Tools such as wick sustainers, wick stickums, and wick centering tools can help achieve this.
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Reduce fragrance oil and dye to prevent carbon buildup
A ""mushroom" wick is caused by a buildup of carbon particles on the wick, resulting from the wax being unable to burn fast enough to keep up with the wick. This causes the wick to absorb the wax, creating a black "cap" of incompletely combusted material on the wick.
One way to prevent carbon buildup is to reduce the amount of fragrance oil and dye in your candle. If your fragrance amount is too high, the flame can burn off excess scent that wasn't able to bind to the wax, creating a heavier, darker smoke than usual. The maximum recommended fragrance amount is rarely necessary, and most scents are strong enough at 6-8-10%. Do not exceed 10%, even if your wax indicates it can hold more. By using less fragrance and dye, you ensure that the flame properly consumes all of the wick material.
Additionally, choosing the right type of wick is crucial. Flat braided cotton wicks are considered "self-trimming" and can help reduce mushrooming. Coreless wicks provide a controlled curling of the wick as it burns, which also helps prevent carbon buildup.
Finally, it is important to trim your wick to the appropriate length before lighting your candle. If the wick is too long, it may not burn properly and can lead to carbon buildup.
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Use coreless or flat braided cotton wicks to prevent mushrooming
To prevent mushrooming, you can use coreless or flat braided cotton wicks. These wicks are designed to bend at the tip when burning, forcing the tip of the wick into the outermost part of the flame, where it burns the hottest. This results in a more complete combustion, reducing carbon buildup and smoking.
Coreless wicks provide a controlled curling of the wick over time as it burns, which helps prevent mushrooming. Flat braided cotton wicks are considered "self-trimming" and will also help reduce mushrooming. The braiding process enhances capillary action, enabling efficient fuelling of the flame. Braided wicks also produce less smoke and soot, resulting in a cleaner burn.
Flat braided wicks are typically made of three bundles of cotton fibres. Their flat shape provides a consistent and steady flame, making them an excellent choice for taper and pillar candles. These wicks are known for their stability and reliability, producing a uniform burn throughout the life of the candle.
The ECO wick series, for example, is known for its controlled curl during combustion and consistent burn profile. These self-trimming coreless wicks are appropriate for container candles and wax formulations with high scent throw. The design of this wick produces minimal afterglow and carbon deposit formation.
It's important to note that the wick size and type should be appropriate for the candle to prevent mushrooming. An oversized wick will provide more wax to the flame than it can handle, leading to carbon buildup and mushrooming.
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Frequently asked questions
Wick mushrooming occurs when the wax does not burn fast enough to keep up with the wick, resulting in the wick absorbing the wax and creating a buildup of carbon particles, which forms a "mushroom" shape.
There are several reasons why your candle wick may be mushrooming. One of the most common reasons is that the wick is not the correct size for the candle, usually because it is too big. Other reasons include using the wrong type of wick, burning the candle for too long, and not trimming the wick properly.
To fix a mushrooming wick, trim the carbon buildup off the wick when it is no longer burning. You can use a wick trimmer or scissors to trim the wick. Then, bend the wick slightly before lighting the candle again.
