3 Reasons Why Candle Imperfections Are a Sign of Quality
Expect Natural Variations in Eco-Friendly Candles
If you're burning one of our Coconut Soy Candles, you might notice something different compared to store-bought candles. That's a good thing. Natural waxes like coconut and soy aren't loaded with the chemical stabilizers that give paraffin candles that artificially “perfect” look.
Why We Don’t Use Additives or Fillers
We don’t believe in cutting corners. At Willis Candle Shop, our ingredient list stays clean and short. No hardeners. No stabilizers. No gloss agents. Our candles feature a high-performance coconut soy wax blend sourced from American Soy Organics, combined with premium fragrance oils from Wholesale Supplies Plus. These non-toxic candles are safe for indoor spaces, including homes with pets and kids. Each batch may have subtle cosmetic differences—but it also means cleaner air in your space.
Yes, It’s Still a Premium Candle
A little frosting or minor wax pull-away from the jar doesn’t mean your candle is low-quality. Quite the opposite. These natural variations happen because of temperature shifts or how quickly the wax cools. They won’t affect how your candle performs. With a proper first burn (usually 2–3 hours), the wax will level out evenly. And yes—we test every single wick and vessel. Most of our vessels feature Premier 700 series wicks from Black Tie Barn, the most reliable cotton wicks in the industry.
We Choose Underwicking Over Overwicking
We’d rather go under than over. Why? Because an oversized flame can cause excess soot, container overheating, and a shorter burn time. Instead, we lean slightly conservative with wick sizing. For example, in our 14.5oz Black Frosted Candle and our Wood Wick Candle Barrel Collection, you might notice wax clinging to the edges during the first few burns. As the flame descends, that wax gets melted and fed back into the wax pool—efficient, safe, and part of what makes our candles long-burning.
Cold Throw vs. Hot Throw: Why Candle Scent Evolves
Another question we get: “Why does my candle smell stronger after it's been lit?” That’s the difference between cold throw and hot throw. Cold throw is the scent before you light the wick. Hot throw is what fills your room. Because we use high quality candles with luxury fragrance oils—not essential oils—you’re getting a more potent result when the wax is warm. The scent continues evolving as the candle burns down.
No Two Candles Are Alike—And That’s the Point
Each candle is hand-poured in small batches. We label using Wizard Labels for a clean and professional finish, and color only when necessary with eco-safe dyes from Makesy. Default finish: white wax—clean, simple, elegant. You may find slight frosting, a cold spot near the jar wall, or a little sinking around the wick after burning. These are natural outcomes of wax cooling at different rates and often disappear entirely with proper candle burning technique.
Why We Avoid Essential Oils
Let’s be honest: Essential oils aren’t built for candles. They’re expensive, volatile, and don’t provide consistent scent throw. We use fragrance oils that are non-toxic, paraffin-free, and optimized for wax performance. Every oil is selected for scent longevity and clean burn quality.
Want to Learn More?
We’ve covered this topic in detail in our companion article, Crafting Quality Candles. You can also explore our Wood Wick Candle Barrel Collection for hand-poured options with character in every candle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are small wax imperfections normal in coconut soy candles?
Absolutely. Surface frosting, tiny air bubbles, or subtle dips in the wax mean your candle uses cleaner, eco-friendly ingredients without chemical stabilizers. These visual quirks do not affect performance or scent throw.
Does a rough wax surface mean my candle will burn poorly?
No. With a proper first burn, most wax unevenness disappears and the candle will level out evenly. The wick and vessel are always tested for safe, consistent burning.
Why don’t you use essential oils in your candles?
Essential oils are too volatile and can burn off before releasing their scent. Our fragrance oils are non-toxic, paraffin-free, and tested to deliver superior hot throw and scent longevity in every batch.
This blog post is a work of nonfiction, based on actual production and ingredient sourcing at Willis Candle Shop as of May 2025. All claims and details reflect real-world practices and are fully transparent.
