How to Smooth Your Candle’s Surface to Fix Bumps and Cracks

Updated: Dec. 10, 2023

Rebecca Simpson Steele/Taste of Home

No one wants a bumpy candle—but we have a simple fix.

Candles really bring a home together, regardless of the season. They’re wonderful for keeping an area fresh long after spring cleaning and perfect for banishing bad smells around the house. But if your candle obsession has led you to start making candles from scratch, you know it’s not always smooth sailing. Here’s how to fix a candle when the surface develops unsightly lumps and bumps.

Psst: You can reuse old jars if you know how to get the candle wax out.

Why Is My Candle Bumpy?

There are two main reasons your candles aren’t coming out as smooth as you hoped: temperature fluctuations and improperly mixed fragrance oils.

Temperature

In most cases, the reason for unsightly bumps is due to having an incorrect pour temperature. The correct pour temperature should be on the candle wax packaging, and you should be using a thermometer. If you want consistent, beautiful candles, a good quality thermometer is a great investment.

Even if you’re using the correct pour temperature, outside elements can influence your wax. The seasonal changes to humidity and even a difference in room temperature (air conditioning vs. heat) can have an effect.

Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are an incredibly important part of candle-making, so mixing correctly is the key. Certain oils like lavender and geranium have been known to curdle candle wax. You can avoid this by making sure your oils are thoroughly combined and added at the correct “add fragrance” step of the candle-making process.

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How to Smooth Your Candle’s Surface

Use this handy “hack” in troubling times—a hairdryer! Melt the top of the candle until it’s smooth and let set. You can also use the “top pour” method, which means leaving a few millimeters of empty space on top of the jar, allowing the wax to set and then pouring more wax on top to smooth out the surface. Just be sure to use the same wax blend and you’re good to go.

Next: Learn how to make candles last longer.