The short answer
Give every test candle its own number, then write down the exact formula (wax, oil and load, dye, wick, jar), the temperatures you used, how long it cured, and what you saw at each burn: flame, melt pool, soot, jar heat and scent. End with one decision and the one thing you will change next. Without those notes, a good candle cannot be repeated.
Why keep a log at all
A candle is a recipe plus a burn. If a candle comes out wonderful, you want to pour it again. If it fails, you want to know why. Both depend on notes written while you still remember what you did.
Memory fills in gaps with guesses. Timings and amounts drift. A written record stops that. It also lets you change one thing at a time and see which change mattered.
Before you light it: the formula and the pour
Suppliers who teach burn testing all ask for the same basics before a candle is lit. Label the candle with a number you can find on your sheet, then record:
| Field | Write this down |
|---|---|
| Test number and date | A unique name such as “Test 14” and the pour date |
| Container | Jar model, supplier and inside width at the wax line |
| Wax | Product name, lot if you can, and weight |
| Fragrance | Oil name(s), weight, and the load as a percent of the wax weight. Record each oil in a blend |
| Dye | Product and amount |
| Wick | Series and size, and its supplier |
| Temperatures | Melt, fragrance-add and pour temperatures you actually reached |
| Cure | How long it cured before you burned it |
| Looks before the burn | Frosting, wet spots, jump lines, sweating, a rough top, sinkholes, bubbles |
Use the same units every time and weigh instead of measuring by volume. If you change any single ingredient, start a new test number instead of editing the old one. The old result belongs to the old recipe.
Cure before you judge
Wax needs time before a fair test. One supplier says to wait at least 3 to 5 days for paraffin and 1 to 2 weeks for soy and other natural waxes before judging scent. Suppliers give different times, so check your wax maker’s directions and write the cure time in the log.
During the burn: log every cycle
A single photo of the first pool does not tell you how the candle behaves later. Early on, wax may cling to the walls and clear as the jar burns lower, while later cycles can run hotter. That is why burn-test guides tell you to repeat cycles until about ¼ inch of wax remains, with no more than four hours at a time and several hours of cooling between.
| Cycle entry | What to note |
|---|---|
| Start and stop | Date, times and total minutes; wick trimmed to what length |
| Room | Roughly how big, drafts or vents, ceiling height, and any change since last time |
| Flame | Steady, tall, weak, flickering, smoking or going out |
| Melt pool | Width and depth, wax stuck to walls, how long to reach the edge |
| Jar | Heat, cracks or any change |
| Soot or mushrooming | Little, some or a lot |
| Scent | Cold and hot, and when you checked |
| Decision | Continue, stop, try another wick, or reject, with the reason |
Check the candle each hour while it burns and write what you see. Photograph it if you like, but label each photo with the test number and cycle.
Scent needs its own care. Hot throw is best judged after the candle has been burning for at least two hours but no more than four, in more than one room and by more than one nose. Write down which room and who.
The flame comes before the form
Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it away from drafts, children and pets. If the jar cracks or the flame acts dangerously, put it out and write down why. Do not keep burning just to fill in a row.
A sample entry (made-up numbers)
This is only to show the shape of a note. The wax, load and wick are placeholders, not recommendations.
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Test | Test 14, poured on a Saturday |
| Recipe | Wax A, 300 g; Oil B, 18 g (6% of wax); no dye; wick X size 8; Jar C, 3 in wide |
| Temps | Fragrance added at the temperature on the wax’s sheet; pour as directed |
| Cure | 10 days |
| Cycle 1 | 4 h. Flame steady, pool reached the wall at about 3 h, little soot, jar warm. Scent medium in a small room |
| Cycle 2 | 4 h. Pool deeper, flame slightly taller, jar hotter |
| Decision | Pool depth is fine, jar too hot. Next test: one wick size smaller, same recipe |
Turn notes into the next test
End every test with a short decision: what worked, what failed, and the one change you will try next. If you change the wax, wick, oil, load, dye or jar, the old result no longer proves the new candle. Link each new test to the one it came from.
- Copy the fields above into a notebook, spreadsheet or a printed sheet.
- Give every test candle a number and write it on the jar or label.
- Complete the burn test and log each cycle.
- Write the decision and the next change.
- Keep the final record with the approved recipe, and test again when a supplier or batch changes.
The format matters less than the habit. A sheet you can fill in at the bench will be used more than a perfect form you cannot. Inside CandleEasy, the Testing Lab keeps each tester and its burn rounds together.
Common questions
What should a candle testing log include?
The exact materials and amounts, jar and wick, temperatures, cure time, each burn cycle, room conditions, flame, melt pool, soot, jar heat, scent and a final decision.
Do I need a new record for each wick size?
Yes. Give each test its own number and link them as a set, so you can tell which wick caused which result.
How long should I cure a candle before testing?
It depends on the wax. One supplier says at least 3 to 5 days for paraffin and 1 to 2 weeks for soy and natural waxes. Check your wax maker’s advice and record the cure time.
How often should I write things down during a burn?
Check and write notes about once an hour, and again when you put the candle out. Run cycles of up to four hours.
Can I judge wick and scent on the same burn?
You can note both, but finish judging the wick first. Judge scent after the candle has burned at least two hours, in more than one room.
Sources
- How To Conduct a Basic Burn Test — CandleScience
- Candle Making 101: Hot Throw — CandleScience
- How to take test burn notes — Supplies For Candles
- Free Printable Candle Testing Sheet — NorthWood Candle & Craft
Updated October 5, 2026. These guides are starting points — always burn test your own candles.