There’s nothing more frustrating or disheartening than when your new candle starts to tunnel. Just imagine how excited you are to light it for the first time. Your home slowly starts to fill with that fresh new scent whether that be sweet, herby, woody, or floral.
We feel your PAIN!
Now, it’s not the end of the world if your candle tunnels. We have 3 solutions to fix it and also some handy tips on how to prevent it from happening in the future.
What is Candle Tunnelling?
So, what do we mean by this? You might be one of the lucky few people to have never experienced your candle suddenly making a big hole in the centre and leaving a thick wall of wax on the outside. If you’re one of those people… You’re doing great sweetie!😘🥂
Not every tunnel will look the same as this all depends on the type of wick used. If your candle has a cotton wick then the candle maker needs to test what thickness is required for a smooth burn that melts the wax from edge-to-edge. If the wick is too thin then it won’t be able to melt the first layer and will leave a wall of wax around the circumference of the vessel which looks like a tunnel, thus the term: Candle Tunnelling.
Why Do Candles Tunnel When Burning
There are various reasons as to why this occurs, but don’t worry this issue is very common and happens to the best of us. If your candle is unable to melt the wax all the way to the edge this won’t affect the quality of your candle. You will still be able to enjoy it like you normally would, but you just may find that it runs out quicker and you need to melt the remaining wax in a wax melter.
The three biggest factors are:
- Bad burning habits
- Wick thickness
- Type of wax
We spoke about wick thickness above, and a good candle maker should be testing their candles with different wick sizes to ensure their candles burn efficiently before being sold to a consumer. If you’re new to candle making then make sure you test at least 3 different sizes at first. You want to burn your candle all the way as if you were a customer enjoying it, and if your candle is large then make sure you’re not burning for more than 4 hours at a time and allow the wax to fully harden before relighting.
Now, you could have the right wick for the size of your candle but it might be the way you’re burning it that could be causing more harm than good. Your first burn is very important. The wax has a burn memory so if you extinguish the flame before it has a chance to melt the first layer of wax fully you could be making your candle tunnel on purpose.
If you have the right wick and you’re burning the wax correctly then it could be the wax blend that’s causing it to create a crater. Every wax burns differently and they’ll have higher or lower melting points. So, if you’re using soy wax you’ll notice that it takes longer to burn than other waxes, just like how pillar candles burn differently to container candles and wax melts.
How To Fix Candle Tunnelling
So, we know what tunnelling means and why it occurs but how do we fix it? We’ve got 3 different methods; some require more attention than others and others require materials. Have a try and let us know how you get on!
Method 1: Aluminium Foil
One way you can melt the outer wall of wax is to use tin foil! By using this method you are able to shield the heat in the candle and make it hot enough for the wax around the edge to melt. It sounds easy and in our opinion doesn’t require much effort. Here’s our step-by-step guide:
- Cut a piece of aluminium foil so it’s able to go around the size of your container.
- Wrap the piece of foil around the candle and bend the edges inwards so that you create a dome on top.
- Make sure to leave a gap in the middle as you don’t want to completely cover it!
- Allow to burn for a few hours, no longer than 4, and you shouldn’t be able to see any wax around the edges.
A safety precaution: please do not touch the foil as this will be very hot to touch from the open flame.
Method 2: Hair Dryer
Another method you can do if you don’t have any tin foil spare in your home is to use a hair dryer. For those who love to craft, you may have a heat gun lying round which applies the same way a hair dryer would.
So for this method it’s really simple:
- Place the candle on a heat-resistant surface or heat mat.
- Plug your hair dryer or heat gun in. Make sure there is nothing flammable nearby and you have a clear workspace to work from - normal safety precautions apply when using electronics.
- On a low heat gently melt away the wax on the side of the container. This is going to be very hot so do not touch the vessel.
- Once you melted all the wax and the first layer, allow the candle to cool before handling.
A safety precaution: both your hairdryer, heat gun, and candle will become very hot so do not touch and keep a safe distance. Do not use it on high heat, only gently melt the wax on a low heat with at least 30 cm between candle and hair dryer.
If using a heat gun, please follow their instructions and safety measures to use the tool correctly and in a safe manner.
Method 3: Bain Marie [For Soy Candles Only]
Lastly, this method only works if it’s a soy wax as other waxes have a lower melting point and you could potentially burn off the scent leaving your candle unscented. Everyone's had a go at melting chocolate down using the bain marie method. To recap the step-by-step process:
- Add water to a saucepan and bring the water up to a boil.
- Turn the heat down so it’s on a simmer.
- Gently place your vessel into the saucepan, please make sure the water doesn’t go above the top of the container as you don’t want water to go into your wax.
- You will start to see the wax around the edges melt and it’s disappeared, turn the heat off and allow your candle to cool.
Safety precaution: please do not handle the candle as both the wax and vessel will be too hot to touch. Watch out for the water and make sure once you’ve added the candle to the saucepan you turn the heat down.
How To Prevent Your Candle From Tunnelling In Future
As we mentioned previously, one of the main causes candle tunnelling occurs is because of bad burning habits. The first burn is the most important as the wax has a burn memory so the steps below will help you reduce the risk of tunnelling in future.
- Ensure a layer of wax is melted for the first burn.
- Placement is everything, avoid window sills and make sure there’s no drafts of wind nearby as this could be making the environment too cold.
- Trim the wick between each burn if it's a cotton wick. If you have a wooden wick then in most cases it is self trimming just like our candles!
If you’re making candles these steps are essential:
- Test different wick thickness so you get the best burn.
- Test different wax types and ensure you’re using the correct blend for the type of candle you’re making.
- Follow your wax manufacturer instructions with your fragrance and essential oils as each wax has a different fragrance load.
Key Takeaways
Through this guide we’ve equipped you with the knowledge and methods to go away and test these DIY solutions to help fix your candles but also prevent the issue occurring as much as possible in the future.
To recap:
- It’s essential for the first burn that a layer of wax on top has completely melted from edge-to-edge.
- Avoid areas of your home where you can feel a draft.
- Trim your cotton wicks between each burn.
- Wick thickness matters make sure yours isn’t too little or too big to cause spillages.
- Wax blends matter, make sure you’re using the correct blend for the type of candle you’re making.
- If using any of the DIY methods above, make sure you’re accessing the workspace and use tools safely to avoid harm.
At Mourvier, our candles have been tested and continue to be for quality to ensure the wax burns evenly and smoothly in each batch. Have a look at our collection and take one home!
