If you love candles, then you know that they don't all burn perfectly. In fact, there are a range of problems that can occur, particularly if you use cheap and badly-made candles. One of these is wick mushrooming.
This phenomenon occurs when the wax of the candle does not burn fast enough to keep up with the wick. The wax starts to melt into the wick itself, causing a build-up of carbon on the top. This can cause the candle to burn inconsistently. You can tell if your wick is mushrooming because the end of the wick will be shaped like a mushroom — hence the name.
This isn't ideal for any candle lover, but there are a few ways you can prevent wick mushrooming from affecting your favorite scents. Here's how you can prevent candlewicks from mushrooming.
The Causes of Wick Mushrooming
To learn how to prevent candlewick mushrooming, it's important that you first know why it occurs. Pay attention to the following factors:
- Long Burn Time: A long burn time can increase the risk of wick mushrooming. To prevent the issue you should never leave your candle burning for more than four hours.
- Wick Too Long: This can make a candle more susceptible to mushrooming. Make sure that you regularly trim your candlewick to prevent this.
- Wrong Material: The material of your candlewick affects how likely it is to mushroom. For example, cord wicks are often considered ‘self-trimming,' so they are less likely to cause this issue.
How To Fix Candle Wick Mushrooming
No matter how much effort you put into preventing this dilemma, it's inevitable that it will occur once in a while. If that is the case, there are some ways you can fix mushrooming. These include:
- Trimming: One of the easiest ways to fix this issue in the short term is to trim the part that has mushroomed. Make sure the wick and candle are fully cool before you touch it.
- Curling: A wick is much more likely to mushroom if it's straight up. Curl the wick to increase the length that a flame will last. Once again, make sure the candlewick is cool before you make these changes.
However, the best way to prevent this issue is to buy high-quality candles. It's easy and convenient to purchase candles in drug stores, but keep in mind that mushrooming is more likely to occur when you buy less expensive candles that aren't designed to last long.
Shop Our Candles
Trimming and curling will help you to decrease wick mushrooming as much as possible. But the best way to guarantee that your wicks remain in perfect condition is to invest in well-made, high-quality candles.
Shop our collection of candles designed to burn with consistency and last without mushrooming. We never want our customers to have to deal with mushrooming, which is why all of our products are made with care. Take a look at our range to find your favorite scents!