What’s on the sheet
At the top, the candle itself: its name, the wax, the fragrance oil and load, the wick series and size, the vessel and its inside diameter, the dye, the pour date and the cure time before the first burn.
Below that, twelve rows — one per burn — for the date, how many hours it burned, the melt pool, the flame, any soot or mushrooming on the wick, the jar temperature if you measure it, the hot throw, and room notes. At the bottom: your verdict (Approved, Needs adjustment or Abandoned) and notes.
How to use it
Fill in the candle’s details before the first burn. If you change the wax, fragrance, load, dye, wick or vessel, start a new sheet: it is a new candle.
Write one row per burn. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before lighting, and stay with every lit tester. One supplier’s basic test method puts the candle out after no more than four hours and lets it cool at least five hours before the next cycle.
Keep going to the end of the candle. Many problems only show up near the bottom of the jar, and a wick that looks right on the first burn can still overheat the jar later.
What it does not do
This sheet is a place to record what you see. It does not show that a candle meets a standard. For what to watch and how to set up a test, see the burn test guide and the ASTM F2417 fire safety guide. The Burn Time Calculator turns your before and after weights into a burn rate.
Common questions
What should I record in a candle burn test?
For each burn: the date, how long it burned, the melt pool, how the flame behaved, any soot or mushrooming, the jar temperature if you measure it, and how strong the scent was.
How long should each test burn be?
One supplier’s basic test method puts the candle out after no more than four hours, then lets it cool at least five hours before the next cycle.
When do I start a new log sheet?
Whenever you change the wax, fragrance, fragrance load, dye, wick or vessel. That is a new candle.
How many burns should I record?
Keep going to the end of the candle — the test continues until only about ¼ inch of wax is left. Many problems only show up near the bottom.
Does a filled-in log sheet prove my candle is safe?
No. It records what you saw. It does not show that a candle meets a standard.