29/08/2026
I've seen a few posts recently about the Halloween candles from Aldi catching fire and exploding. Went and had a look at them today. IMO vessel is poor quality, the wicks are too close together and they have wax pumpkin decorations on top. Any additional wax decorations in a candle should be removed before lighting. Treat them as toppers or packaging only.
As the candle burns and the wax pool grows, decorative wax pieces can slide or melt into the liquid pool. If pieces of wax, dye, or extra ingredients clog the wick, it can cause the flame to spike, flare up unpredictably, or create a secondary flame. They also overload the melt pool. Adding extra wax chunks increases the total fuel load in the container. This can overwhelm the original wick, causing uneven burning, excessive heat, or cracking of the glass container.
Small independent makers do rigorous testing before selling any candles. Large organisations will probably do spot tests on 1 candle out of 1000.
Be cautious and never leave any candle unattended.