Have you ever been excited to light a new candle, only to find after a few burns its tunnelling? It’s disappointing to see all that extra candle going to waste isn’t it!
Fortunately there are a few tips to help stop this from happening in the first place, or to fix it once it’s already happened!
What is Candle Tunneling?
Candle tunnelling occurs when the wax on the outer edges of a candle does not melt, and the flame burns straight down through the centre, leaving a tunnel behind.
Thankfully there are a few things you can do to help prevent it from happening in the first place, but also to fix it if a tunnel does begin to appear!
What Causes Tunnelling?
Several factors contribute to tunneling, including the type of wax, environmental conditions, wick size, and burn time.
1. The Type of Wax the Candle is Made Of
Different wax types have different melting points. Harder waxes, like soy and beeswax, require more heat to melt evenly, while softer paraffin wax melts more easily.
If a wick isn’t suited to the wax type, it may not generate enough heat to melt the outer edges, leading to tunneling.
2. The Candle is Too Cold
If the room is cold, the candle wax starts off cold too, making it harder for the flame to generate enough heat to melt the outer edges.
If your candle starts off cold, it takes more time for the flame to generate enough heat to melt the wax evenly. A cold environment can prevent the outer wax from softening, leading to an uneven burn.
Ideally, keep your candle in a warm room before lighting it to ensure a more even melt.
3. The Candle is in a Draft
Draughts push the flame's heat to one side, leaving the opposite side too cool to melt. This uneven heating causes wax to be left behind, leading to tunneling.
If one side of the candle remains cool, tunneling can begin to form. To prevent this, keep candles away from open windows, fans, and air vents.
4. The Wick is Too Thin
The size of the wick is crucial for a candle’s performance. If the wick is too thin, it won’t generate enough heat to melt the entire surface evenly, causing tunneling.
5. The Wick is Off-Centre
An off centre wick can stem from two possible places; either it was off centre when it was made, or the wick has slowly drifted in the wax pools as the candle burns.
6. The Candle Wick Has Not Been Trimmed
Left untrimmed, a candle wick can sometimes become too long and will curl over slightly.
It’s the flame's natural tendency to centre itself over the highest possible point, so if the wick is arching over the flame may be dragged off centre and create an uneven spread of heat across the surface of your candle.
Our range of wick trimmers help to ensure a clean burn, allowing your slow-burning candles will now last even longer!
Check out our Why You Should Trim Your Wick blog, to see how to trim your wick, and why it’s extremely important.
How Long you Light it For
Now, this. This is the big one, and probably the biggest cause of tunnelling there is!
Candle memories are a strange concept, but one that is all too true! If you don’t get a nice, even burn the first time you light a candle, then chances are you never will!
If you were planning on only lighting it for an hour or so before heading out or going to bed, then we would recommend you don’t!
Save it for when you can have it lit for an extended period of time and really ensure that the candle has a chance to create a melt pool across the whole surface, especially if it’s the first burn!
Why is Candle Tunnelling Bad?
Candle tunneling wastes wax and shortens the lifespan of your candle, preventing you from getting the full burn time from your candle. It also reduces fragrance throw, as less wax is melted to release the scent.
Additionally, tunneling can lead to wick drowning, where the flame struggles to stay lit due to the uneven wax levels. Preventing tunnelling ensures a longer-lasting, better-performing candle.
How to Prevent Candles Tunnelling
The first burn of a candle really sets the tone for how well the candle will perform throughout its life. As mentioned before candles have a “memory”, and the best way to prevent tunnelling is to make sure the candle reaches its full potential the first time you light it.
Before lighting your candle make sure that the room is warm, there are no draughts, and that you intend to have it lit for a fair amount to let it settle in.
Generally speaking, the rule of thumb for how long to burn your candle the first time you light it is roughly 1 hour per inch diameter.
So if you were burning one of our smaller Corona Candles with a diameter of 1.5 inches, for example, then we would recommend an initial burn time of around 1.5 hours.
Conversely, this larger Hendricks Candle has a diameter of 4 inches so would need an initial burn time of around 4 hours.
Regardless of size, the main goal on the first burn is to make sure the melted wax pool reaches the edge of your candle and is approximately 1cm (3/8 inch) deep before extinguishing it.
Always allow the wax pool to reach the edges of the container before extinguishing the flame, especially during the first burn, to set an even melting pattern for future use.
How to Fix Candle Tunnelling?
Chances are the reason you’re reading this is because your candle has already tunneled, right? Well there are a couple of things you can do . . .
The Heat Method
The heat method is an effective way to prevent candle tunneling, ensuring an even burn and maximizing the candle's lifespan. This technique involves using external heat to soften the wax and even out the surface.
The Foil Method
The foil method is a simple and effective way to fix or prevent candle tunneling, which occurs when a candle burns down the center, leaving unused wax around the edges.
To use this method, wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the top rim of the candle, leaving an opening in the center for the flame.
The foil helps trap heat, allowing the wax near the edges to melt evenly and level out with the rest of the candle.
Leave the foil in place for about 30 minutes or until the wax pool reaches the edges.
This technique works best when combined with proper burning practices, such as allowing the candle to form a full melt pool during each burn.
Levelling Method
This method involves gently heating the top layer of wax until it melts and levels out, allowing future burns to reach the full diameter of the candle.
This can be done using a heat gun, a hairdryer on a low setting, or placing the candle in a warm oven for a short time.
By resetting the wax surface, the levelling method corrects tunnelling issues and promotes an even, consistent burn, preventing wasted wax and enhancing the candle’s performance.
With these tips, you’ll enjoy a longer-lasting, better-performing candle every time!
