What It Can Point To
- Incomplete burn from wick, wax, air, or fuel.
- Too much oil, herb, powder, glitter, or dressing.
- Resistance or heavy pressure only after the candle setup is clean.
- A safety warning if smoke is continuous or strong.
Details That Change the Meaning
Black smoke at startThe candle may be catching roughly.
Black smoke throughoutStop or fix the setup.
Black smoke with sootFuel and airflow problem first.
Black smoke clearsThe burn may have settled after a rough start.
Before You Decide
Read the ordinary cause first. Then read the pattern. If you skip the ordinary cause, you will scare yourself and call it intuition. I do not work that way.
If smoke is heavy, extinguish the candle, ventilate the room, and keep people and animals away from the smoke.
Better Questions
- Is the wick trimmed?
- What fuel did I add?
- Is the smoke getting worse?