Tea lights and candles burn poorly
Tea lights and candles burn poorly: What is the cause?
If the flame is very small or becomes smaller over time, the cause must be investigated. We have delved into the cause. The results have been published in the technical book Bienenwachsreinigung und Wissenswertes für Kerzenherstellung und Imkereien (Only available in German: ISBN978-3-942093-06-4, Tapiko-Verlag, www.tapiko-verlag.de).
The burn test shown in the image was conducted with various purchased wax pellets (filtered according to specifications). Only the wax in the center burns completely, with the flame remaining the same height throughout the entire burn time. Whether one uses purchased wax or their own wax does not matter, as long as the candles and tea lights burn well. The cause of poor burning behavior is residues in the wax that clog the wick after a short or longer period of burning. Since one typically does not have access to a laboratory, a burn test (image) helps check the wax purity. Conducting a burn test with a large candle might take several days. With larger candles, the burning behavior can be improved by using larger wick sizes. Therefore, we always use tea lights, as these react more sensitively.
In tea lights, the wick and wax are ideally matched. This means that wax purity and diameter must be suitable for an ideal burn. It is not always immediately apparent when the flame begins to shrink after just a few minutes. Therefore, it is recommended to allow tea lights to burn completely.
Bee wax is now industrially cleaned in various ways. Its use in food and, when bleached, in cosmetics is the primary focus. It is imported in large quantities, analyzed, and cleaned. Only a small amount of bee wax is used for foundation sheets or candle production. Therefore, the requirements for the wax are different. Beekeepers need wax free of treatment residues and pathogens, while candle making focuses on color and burning behavior. Mistakes can also occur when purifying one's own wax for candle making. Cleaning processes that work with small quantities may fail with larger amounts.
