Klamb

Actually I do have the AC running when testing! And the bathroom does have a vent in it. I will have to try burning the candle with the AC off. Never would have thought of that. Maybe that is why I could smell the candle outside but not in the house.

It is a 2 inch diameter candle. I did try burning it in a small half bath with the door closed with a 18 ply wick and can not smell it in the closed bathroom...even after burning it for 2 hours. But get this, I take it out on the deck and can smell it when I was next to it! I could not keep it out on the deck because there was just enough of a breeze to keep the flame fluttering. I am beginning to think maybe it is just me and paraffin wax. I am giving the candle to my brother-in-law to burn to see if he can smell it. I do appreciate everyone's inputs. At least I know I do have the correct wick sizes for the IGI 4625 (the 18ply for the 2 in candle and the 24 ply for the 3in candle).

I think maybe it is the wick. I am used to working with beeswax where there is no scent. I feel maybe the LX wicks work better in parafin as far as hot throw than the ply flatbraid do. The flatbraid has such a pretty, even burning flame. The LX wick gets a tall flame - a bit on the scary side - if I don't keep trimming the wick about every hour. I need to experiment with another size LX to see if I can get a better burn/flame...one I feel safe with.

I am having trouble getting a good hot throw in the IGI 4625 pillar blend wax in a 2 x 3.5 inch pillar. I add UV stabilizer at 1 tsp/lb, color (I use both the liquid and color block), and fragrance oil at 6%. Right now I am using 18 ply flatbraid wick. I have tried square braid, LX, CD, and zink core and I like how the 18 ply flatbraid is burning. The cold throw is good. This is happening in many fragrance oils so I do not believe it is that. I melt the wax at 195. Add the UVS, then the color, then add the fragrance oil at about 185 degrees. I stir for 3-4 minutes with the FO. I am thinking maybe my temperatures are the problem. I do plan on trying the LX wick again, maybe the LX 14 or 16 to see if that will help. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ahhhh...more testing. I have tested the LX to the squared braid and flat braid in a couple of fragrance. They were close but I think the square braid had the greater scent throw but not by much. I need more testing to be sure...some days my nose is better than other days. Guess I should also try the paper core and HTP wicks. So much testing. Does it ever end?

I do not like soot either! Does it produce the soot even if you do not blow the wick out? And is there a difference between the square braid and LX as far as producing a better hot scent throw? Is one better than the other in that regard.

OMGosh! What beautiful candles. Nicely done.

Thanks for everyone's replies. I have full melt pool at 72 hours. Never though of trying to get there quickly. Will have to play with that. I am having a bit of a problem with the flat braid and even the square braid (though not as much) burning more on one side than evenly down the middle. I guess it is because of the curl. I am waiting on my order of the LX 24 to come in to try that one. The LX seams to stay centered better. I keep centering it but I am assuming most people won't want to baby sit their candle like that. Another question - I am having to trim the wick about twice during the burn (3 hours). Is this normal. A big flame makes me uncomfortable.

Thank you so much for your help and information. When I tried the LX-22 it was also a tall flame. Very pretty but it actually scared me a bit. I think I will try the 60-44-18 to see how it burns for me. I do have one more question - On a 3 inch candle is it OK to take 4 hours (instead of 3) to reach a full burn pool?

OMGosh! You just made my day. I thought I was going crazy. I was burning it 2-3 times only and saw the tunneling and thought it wasn't burning correctly. I was trying to get it to burn more like a 2 inch pillar. I will try again with your suggestions. Thank you so much for your help...it makes sense to me now. Again thank you so much.

Ughhh! Can anyone please help me with wicking a 3 inch by 4.5 inch pillar? I am using the IGI 4625 pillar blend wax, UV Stabilizer at 1 tsp/ lb wax, FO at 1 oz/lb wax, and a color block dye (mid color range). I am having trouble with all the wicks I have tried so far tunneling. I have my 2 inch pillars where I am happy with them but this 3 inch is making me go crazy. I have tried the zinc core 51-32-18; LX-22; 24 and 30 and 36 ply flat braids; 1/0 and 2/0 square braids. I have not been able to be a burn pool larger than 2.25 inchs and then it tunnels. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for the help.