How to prevent frosting: tips and tricks

As a candle maker, you know the importance of making beautiful, high-quality candles that your customers will love. However, a common problem that can occur is frosting. Frosting is small crystals that appear on the surface of candles and can be frustrating for both candle makers and customers. In this blog post, we share some tips and tricks for avoiding frosting on your candles so you can make flawless candles that will wow your customers.

Why does frosting happen?

Frosting is a natural process that occurs when tiny crystals form on the surface of the wax. It is more common with natural waxes such as soy wax, but can also occur with other types of waxes. The good news is that frosting is purely aesthetic and will not affect the way your candle burns or smells.

Frosting Prevention Tips

Choose the Right Wax : One of the most effective ways to prevent frosting is to choose a wax that is less prone to frosting. Canola wax, paraffin wax, palm wax, and some wax blends tend to produce less frosting than soy wax.

Preheating Containers : Preheating your containers can help reduce the amount of frosting that occurs. To do this, simply place your containers in a warm oven at the lowest setting for a few minutes. Be careful not to heat them above 37°C and be careful when handling warm containers.

Mix your wax gently : Over-stirring melted wax can intensify and speed up the crystallization process, leading to frosting. Mix your wax gently to avoid frost formation.

Pour at a Lower Temperature : Pour your wax at a lower temperature can also help reduce frosting. Start by adjusting your pouring temperature in 5°C increments to find the sweet spot for your wax and environment.

Let your candles cool down slowly : Let your candles cool down at room temperature (21-24°C is ideal) in a draft-free area. Placing your candles on a wire cooling rack also allows them to cool evenly and avoid additional heat transfer that can cause frosting.

Use additives : Adding certain additives to your wax can also help prevent frost formation. Stearic acid and microcrystalline wax are additives that may help reduce frosting.

Conclusion

Frosting can be a frustrating problem for candle makers, but with the right tips and tricks, you can prevent it. Choosing the right wax, preheating your containers, gently mixing your wax, pouring at a lower temperature, letting your candles cool slowly, and using additives are all effective ways to keep your candles from freezing. By taking the time to avoid frost build-up, you can make high-quality candles that your customers will love. However, keep in mind that frosting cannot always be avoided, as frost formation is in the nature of wax.