There’s nothing worse than lighting your beautifully made candle, enjoying the aroma — and then seeing a puff of smoke after you blow it out. Don’t worry — you’re not alone! “Aftersmoke” is one of the most common (and fixable) candle-making issues.
What Is Aftersmoke?
Aftersmoke refers to the lingering smoke or burning smell that appears after you blow out a candle. While a little smoke is normal, excessive aftersmoke can make your candles look and smell unpleasant — not ideal for you or your customers!
Why Does Aftersmoke Happen?
Several factors can lead to smoke after extinguishing a candle:
1. Wick Is Too Long
If your wick is longer than 5mm, it can hold too much wax and produce excess smoke when it’s blown out.
Tip: Always trim your wick before each burn. This ensures a clean flame and minimal smoke.
2. Poor Wick Choice
Using the wrong wick for your wax type or jar size can cause uneven burning and excessive smoke.
Tip: Try testing different wick types — cotton, paper, or wood — and sizes to find the right match. (Check out our Wick Sample Pack for easy testing!)
3. Over-Fragrancing
Adding too much fragrance oil can cause incomplete combustion and smoky residue.
Tip: Follow your wax supplier’s recommended fragrance load. For most waxes, that’s around 6–10%.
4. Wax Type & Additives
Some waxes, especially when mixed with dyes or additives, can produce soot or smoke if overheated.
Tip: Always melt your wax slowly and keep temperatures within recommended ranges. Overheating can damage the wax and affect how cleanly it burns.
How to Prevent Aftersmoke
- Trim the wick to 5mm before every burn
- Use a snuffer instead of blowing out the flame (this reduces smoke dramatically!)
- Keep fragrance within safe limits
- Allow candles to cure properly before burning — ideally 1–2 weeks for soy or rapeseed wax
- Test burn every new recipe before selling or gifting
Presentation Matters
Even with perfect technique, a smoky finish can affect your product’s presentation. Include wick trimmers or snuffers in your product range or candle care kits — your customers will appreciate it, and your brand will look more professional.
Aftersmoke is a small detail that makes a big difference. With a few simple tweaks — trimming wicks, testing fragrance loads, and using proper extinguishing tools — you’ll enjoy cleaner burns, longer-lasting candles, and happier customers.