Why Does My Candle Jar Turn Black: How to Prevent It?

In this article, we tried to outline the answer to your question about why a candle jar usually turns black, what you may need to know about usual candle jars, and whether you should be worried or not.

While it is to be said that a candle jar may turn black due to an accumulation of soot, we tried to jot down how and why exactly it happens and what might be the best thing to do in such situations.

What Do You Need to Know About Candle Jars?

While we’re analyzing candle jars, it is crucial to talk about a few things you should consider about candles before purchasing one or making one. You may want to look at the size of your candles when picking the dimensions of your candle jar.

Before that, please note that you don’t want to load the jar with candle wax all the way to the top since this will make storing the wax difficult.

In addition to that, the jar’s shape is also important to consider; hence, you should consider the functionality of a distinctively designed candle jar in addition to its overall aesthetic appeal.

Because sometimes candle vessels can be out of the shape that the candle wax requires, illuminating the candles in the jar’s bottom can be difficult.

While there’s nothing wrong with putting a candle in a jar, we suggest using one with a larger hole, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally putting your hand in when you need to light a candle that’s already in the bottom.

Lastly, it is essential to consider the material of the candle jar. The quality of the candle jars is one of the most significant aspects to consider, as it goes without saying that the jars must be made of a heat-resistant material because they will be holding a candle that will be ignited.

While tin cans are excellent at trapping heat, they are not as long-lasting as glass cans. Tin cans made of metal are also more likely to leak, which is not good.

Why Does the Candle Jars Usually Turn Black?

While in the section above, we tried to brief you on what you should consider before purchasing a candle jar, in this section we tried to answer your question about why exactly a candle jar usually turns black. 

The answer is simple: soot, a powdered black substance made up of small carbon particles emitted from the burning flame, is the main reason your candle jar keeps on turning black.

And this usually happens during incomplete burning, hence causing candle jars to turn black.

Should you be worried?

Although soot is sometimes considered a harmful material for certain health hazards when inhaled in bulk, soot in a smaller amount might not be an issue.

Even if soot itself isn’t a big issue, preserving your candle jar from looking relatively less beautiful due to soot isn’t what you may want.

And if you keep on seeing a significant amount of soot on your candle jar, you can definitely carry out the following steps to have a soot-free candle jar:

The black residue (soot) has a reasonable cause and is simple to prevent and clean. Continue reading to learn what causes candle glassware to turn black and how to avoid it and remove the buildup.

You may take various measures to prevent soot from collecting in the first place.

The most common method would be to trim your wick regularly with your candle to 1/8th to 1/4th inch before lighting the candle (ensure that the candle is completely cooled before initiating the step).

To begin with, you can use scissors, but you may want to invest in a dedicated wick trimmer to still trim the candle wick while it burns.

This is much safer than scissors, and cutting the wick helps keep the flame small and evenly formed, which helps to prevent incomplete combustion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What causes my walls to become black when I light candles?

The smoke is made up of small carbon particles in the wax that haven’t entirely burned and a little steam.

When the carbon is discharged into the air, it forms a black smoky material from the flame (carbon), which causes your walls, fixtures, and other items to become black.

Q. How to prevent the blackening of candle jars?

There are two primary things you can do to ensure your favorite candles burn wonderfully and your candle jars don’t turn black from soot:

• Choose candles of superior quality.

• Candles should be properly extinguished.

Q. Is soot from a candle dangerous?

The small amount of soot created by a candle is a natural result of incomplete combustion, according to candles.org, and is not recognized as a health hazard.

Q. What caused the blackening of my white candle wax?

Candle jars can turn black caused of the accumulation of ash, a powdery black substance made up of small carbon particles produced from the lit candle during incomplete combustion.

Q. Is candle black soot harmful?

Black soot can be hazardous and even lethal to some people, according to advantaclean.com. Soot enters the human body mostly through food, inhalation, and skin and ocular contact.

Soot substances can cause cardiovascular disease, breathing problems like allergies, and even cancer when they get into the body.

Q. What does it mean to have a clean-burning candle?

There are various things to look for before buying a candle, including the type of wick and scent utilized, but the wax used to produce the candle is by far the most significant. 

Soy wax flames clean, which means it doesn’t cause soot. It’s also made with vegetable oil, so you won’t release any dangerous chemicals or pollutants into your home as you burn it.

On the other hand, paraffin wax is a result of petroleum oil, so burning it releases poisons. As a result, using soy wax for clean burning is a must!

Q. Is your candle wax turning black?

Candle jars can turn black accumulation of smoke, a powdery black substance made up of small carbon particles produced from the burning candle during incomplete combustion.

Q. Is it true that candle jars get warmer?

The jars can get very hot. When the jar is lighted, never touch it. Extinguish the candle instantly and let it cool completely before touching it if the melt pool is becoming too deep, the candle jar becomes too hot, or you notice smoke rising from the wick.

Q. What kind of candles doesn’t produce soot?

Healthline states Soy candles emit less soot and hazardous chemicals than paraffin candles. Despite the fact that the smoke is clean, it’s still a good idea to limit your exposure to any sort of smoking.