We're sorry to hear that you're experiencing issues with your candle's flame. The flaky, long flame and sooting may be a result of improper candle care. To ensure you get the most out of your candle and enjoy a clean burn, we recommend: [BR] Before lighting your candle, always trim the wick to approximately 1/4 inch (about 0.6 cm). A long wick can lead to a larger flame, increased sooting, and uneven burning.Place your candle in a draft-free area to prevent the flame from flickering excessively. Drafts can cause the candle to burn unevenly and create soot.Regularly clean the candle's rim and container to remove any excess soot or debris, ensuring a cleaner burn in the future.[BR]For more candle care tips check out our blog post.