The Waxverse Score
How we score a candle recipe.
Every recipe in the Builder, the Library, and the verdicts is run through the same engine. Twenty-six rules check the recipe against the wax, wick, vessel, fragrance, and additive data we hold. Each rule that fires deducts from a starting score of 100. The remainder is the Waxverse Compatibility Score.
The five bands
- Excellent90 to 100Clears every rule, or trips at most one Note. Safe to sell.
- Good70 to 89Trips Notes or one Warning. Worth addressing, not a blocker.
- CautionBelow 70Multiple Warnings. Likely to underperform on burn or scent.
- BlockedAny recipe with a DangerAt least one Danger rule fires. The numeric score is hidden because a single Danger collapses the band on its own. Resolve the Danger before pouring or selling.
- IncompleteNo valueRecipe is missing wax, wick, or vessel. Engine cannot score yet.
Penalty weights
Every rule has a severity. Severity determines how much the score drops when the rule fires. Any Danger collapses the band to Blocked regardless of the numeric score.
| Severity | Penalty | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Note | −5 | Cosmetic or advisory. Example: a sprayed external coating may craze over many burns. |
| Warning | −15 | Performance or compliance risk. Example: wick is not rated for this wax kind. |
| Danger | Forces Blocked | Unsafe to burn or unsafe to sell. Example: pour temperature above the fragrance flash point. The numeric weight is bookkeeping only. A single Danger collapses the band regardless of any other points. |
Every rule we test
Every rule has its own source page. Open one to see the primary references that back it.
- Wick must be rated for this wax kind
- Wick size must match vessel diameter
- Vessel not rated for candle use
- Wax weight exceeds vessel capacity
- Fragrance load exceeds wax maximum
- Individual fragrance exceeds its own maximum load
- Pour temperature exceeds fragrance flash point
- Fragrance not IFRA-12 approved for candles
- Additive not formulated for this wax
- Additive dose exceeds manufacturer range
- Fragrance contains CLP allergens, disclosure required (UK/EU)
- Essential oil toxic to household pets
- Non-combustible additive must not enter the burn pool
- Zinc-cored wicks discouraged in modern recipes
- Wax not formulated for this vessel type
- Canning glass not annealed for sustained flame
- Remove rubber seals, bands and clips before burning
- Metal vessel surface gets hot
- Combustible or conductive body needs a liner
- Concrete vessels need a low pour temp
- Concrete is porous and must be sealed
- Inspect ceramic for crazing
- Weck rubber ring and clips are not heat-rated
- Hex / faceted glass concentrates thermal stress at edges
- Sprayed coating may craze under repeated burns
- Pillar moulds are not container vessels
Frequently asked
- Why is my recipe Blocked?
- A Blocked recipe trips at least one Danger rule. Danger rules cover situations where the candle is unsafe to burn or unsafe to sell, like a vessel that is not rated for candle use or a pour temperature above the fragrance flash point. Fix the Danger rule and the band lifts.
- Can I override the score?
- No. The score is deterministic. The same recipe always produces the same score because the same rules fire. If you disagree with a rule, the right answer is to read its source page, not to mute the rule.
- Why is my score Incomplete?
- A recipe needs at minimum a wax, a wick, and a vessel before the engine can score it. Until those three are set, the badge shows Incomplete and the value is hidden.
- Does a higher score mean a better candle?
- It means a candle with fewer compatibility issues against the rules we test. Subjective qualities like scent throw or aesthetic finish are not in the score. The score is a safety and compatibility floor, not a quality ceiling.
The score is a compatibility and safety floor, not editorial endorsement, and not legal advice. Verify every regulatory claim against the current text of the law before commercial sale.