How To Fix Candle Tunneling
So your favorite candle starts to tunnel... now what? This means that the candle is not burning evenly, only burning in the area around the wick, and not melting the way completely inside the candle jar. It’s frustrating, and definitely not elegant, but it can also mean that your candle won’t burn for its full burn time. If you love candles, then there is a way you can completely exterminate candle tunneling forever! Here is what you need to know about candle tunneling, how to fix it, and how to prevent it from happening altogether!
Why Does Candle Tunneling Happen?
It’s no secret that candle tunneling is extremely frustrating, but the reasoning behind it can be somewhat of a mystery if you’re not familiar with the process of candle making. While candle tunneling can happen in any type or size of candle, regardless of quality, it's more often found in cheaper, lower quality candles. It may also happen if the wick of the candle is not the right size for the candle. If a wick is too small for the candle size and the vessel, tunneling can occur. The most common culprit for candle tunneling is the timing of the first time you burn the candle. You should be strategic about how long you burn the candle when you first light it. Our recommendation is to burn your candle for at least 2 hours on the first burn, ensuring you can check in on the burn every 30 minutes or so. So, make sure you load up on high quality candles made with proper wicks, and ensure that you have ample time to monitor your first burn.
How to Fix Candle Tunneling
Even though you can’t go back in time to buy a different candle or have a different experience when you first burn the candle, you can still fix the tunneling. If the tunneling hasn’t gotten that severe, you may be able to use a hairdryer to melt the wax into an even layer. If things have progressed, you can try using the tin foil method. Create a small aluminum foil tent to place over the candle, then poke a hole in the top for smoke to escape. The foil will reflect heat back into the candle, ensuring that wax all the way to the edge is melted.
How to Prevent Candle Tunneling
In order to make sure you never have to deal with candle tunneling again, you can prevent it!
- The first way to prevent it is of course by buying excellent handmade soy candles with the best quality wicks, like Mudita Candle Co natural soy candles.
- You can also be strategic with the first burn of your candle, checking it to make sure it burns evenly and not blowing it out until the first layer has been melted completely. Remember that wax will melt the same way each time , so that first burn is integral!
Now that you know how to prevent tunneling and how to fix it, its time to rule your candle burning abilities! Go get em!