✨ 5 Common Wick Mistakes and How to Fix Them

✨ 5 Common Wick Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Candle Sand has become one of South Africa’s favourite home-decor trends — clean burning, endlessly refillable, and beautiful in any bowl. But unlike wax candles, Candle Sand relies entirely on proper wick placement. If the wick isn’t positioned correctly, you’ll see weak flames, soot, tunneling, or fast burnout.

Here are the 5 most common Candle Sand wick mistakes people make - and exactly how to fix them for a brighter, cleaner, safer burn every time.

1. Inserting the Wick Too Shallow

The Problem

If your wick sits only 1–2 cm deep, it loses stability.
That means:

  • floppy, collapsing flames

  • weak burn performance

  • self-extinguishing wicks

The Fix

Place the wick 3–5 cm deep into the sand and ensure that the part of the wick that protrudes out of the sand is no more than 1cm. Use a skewer or chopstick to make a small hole for clean insertion (optional.)

Pro Tip:

In bowls under 15 cm, always centre the wick - this keeps heat balanced and prevents leaning flames.

Result

A strong, steady flame that lasts hours.

2. Overcrowding Wicks in One Bowl

The Problem

More wicks ≠ better burn.
Placing 5 or more wicks in one bowl creates excess heat, which can:

  • scorch the glass

  • crack ceramic containers

  • sink the surrounding sand

  • create one huge melt pool of wax that is difficult to reuse

The Fix

Use 1 wick per 7 cm diameter.

How to place them evenly:

  1. Measure the bowl diameter

  2. Mark placement spots using small sand indentations

  3. Insert wicks at equal distances

Why It Works

It prevents “hot spots” and keeps the sand structure stable.

3. Forgetting to Trim the Wick

The Problem

A wick longer than 8 mm leads to:

  • mushrooming

  • smoke trails

  • uneven flames

  • wasted sand

The Fix

Trim to 0.5 cm before every burn - no exceptions. Trim when the wick is cold, not hot.

Bonus Benefit

Trimming ensures each wick burns 4–6 hours like it’s supposed to.

4. Using the Wrong Wick Type or Size

The Problem

Metal-core or oversized wicks don’t work correctly in granulated sand. They create:

  • black smoke

  • aggressive flames

  • fast sand consumption

The Fix

Use our 100% cotton, pre-waxed wicks designed for Sand Candle, here.

Recommended sizes to trim your wicks to:

  • 4 cm → small bowls

  • 6 cm → medium bowls

  • 8 cm → deep bowls

Cotton wicks give the cleanest, paraffin-free burn.

5. Not Leveling the Sand After Burning

The Problem

After burning, your Candle Sand may slope or dip.
This causes:

  • wick drowning

  • uneven heat distribution

  • tunneling

The Fix

After your candle cools, always:

  1. Extinguish the flame

  2. Wait 10 minutes

  3. Stir the top layer

  4. Smoothen it so it becomes flat

  5. Reinsert the wick

Top up with a refill pack of Sand Candle if the level has dropped too low.

Result

Perfect, even burns for 50+ uses per bag.

🔧 Quick Wick Troubleshooting Table

Symptom Cause Fix
Weak flame Wick too shallow Insert deeper (3–5 cm)
Smoky burn Wick too long Trim to 0.5 cm
Tunneling Uneven sand Level surface
Cracked bowl Too many wicks Reduce wick count
Fast burnout Wrong wick Use cotton pre-waxed

🌟 Advanced Wick Tips

Create multi-wick shapes
Hearts, stars, triangles — ideal for dinner tables or outdoor braai nights.

Add our fragrance oils or heat-safe essential oils
Boost scent throw safely by adding fragrance after pouring the sand.

Travel with Candle Sand
Pack sand in zip bags and wicks in a tin for weekends away.

🔥 Safety Tips (Always)

  • Burn on heat-proof surfaces

  • Keep at least 7 cm from flammables and the edges of your vessel

  • Supervise kids & pets

  • Use a snuffer to extinguish

  • Never leave ANY candle, even a Sand Candle, unattended
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