Everything seems perfect except HT . . .

[anna.k]

Hello and a massive thank you to this forum - I have been reading through the archives for months now and learned so much! 

Here's my question: everything about my candle seems perfect except that all-important HT. As in, it barely exists. I have tested:

• my own blends of all-natural waxes, predominately coconut wax
• fragrance loads ranging from 5-10%
• a glass jar with a 2.75 diameter
• cotton and cotton/paper wicks including RRD, CD, CSN, ECO, HTP, Cottonwood
• cure times ranging from 1-3 weeks

 

I've gotten things dialed in to where the burn is amazing: average ROC is .07/hr, the flame stays small and steady even after an 8-hour power burn, I get a great MP (almost FMP after 4 hours; FMP on second burn between 7-8 hours; great subsequent burns up to 24 hours of testing). So, I hate to mess all this up, but I'm getting little to no HT. As I mentioned, I've tested numerous sizes of six different wick series. 

 

Any thoughts? Is there any other information I can provide that would help?

[TallTayl]

What fragrances and where from? 

Not all “agree” with coconut wax.  Depending on what you are adding, the chemistry may need a different wick temp.

[TallTayl]

2 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

What fragrances and where from? 

Not all “agree” with coconut wax.  Depending on what you are adding, the chemistry may need a different wick temp.

For example, universal soy additive and microwax can both really mess with your throw. 

[anna.k]

@TallTayl - thanks for your messages. (Your posts are ones I take very seriously, because I know they are backed by research and experience!!!)

 

Some fragrances I've used include:

• FC: Havana, Gin & Tonic
• CS: Sea Salt and Orchid
• WSP: Black Amber & Lavender, White Oak & Cedar, Leather, Headache, Mayan Gold
• BA: Wood Shop 

 

I don't myself add any additives to the waxes. My blend is mostly Coconut 1 (100% coconut) with beeswax and palm as hardeners. The palm is from CW and the rep told me it does include natural additives. There's no soy in my blend.

 

[TallTayl]

Palm or palm kernel?

palm kernel kills scent throw in all of my experiences. Palm oil does the same. 

 

If palm wax then you need a wick that handles acids well, like csn and sometimes rrd. 

[anna.k]

@TallTayl I am using CW's Crystallizing Container Fill Palm Wax - Palm-1: https://www.candlewic.com/store/product.aspx?q=c19,p759&&title=Crystallizing-Container-Fill-Palm-Wax---Palm-1. I've tested blends from 10% up to 50% palm.

 

I have tried RRD and CSN wicks, but without luck so far.

[TallTayl]

25 minutes ago, anna.k said:

@TallTayl I am using CW's Crystallizing Container Fill Palm Wax - Palm-1: https://www.candlewic.com/store/product.aspx?q=c19,p759&&title=Crystallizing-Container-Fill-Palm-Wax---Palm-1. I've tested blends from 10% up to 50% palm.

 

I have tried RRD and CSN wicks, but without luck so far.

That will definitely make HT a challenge. You need a pretty hot wick for palm to throw. 

 

For instance, in a recent just for me Candle, I used 15% sparkle palm (old from peaks way back when) with midwest soy (a naked soy) to see if I could replicate c1. Normal wick, zero hot throw. Super hot wooden wick, faint, but noticeable throw. 

 

You may may want to grab a set of CSN wicks for those tests. Often CSN coaxes our scent with palm when others fail. 

 

“V” series wicks also may work if you can get some. 

[anna.k]

Thanks so much, @TallTayl! I will go back to CSN and wick up - maybe that will help.