Why Is My Candle Tunneling? (And How to Fix It for Good)
It's one of the most frustrating things for candle lovers: you light your beautiful new candle, enjoy its glow and scent, only to find it burning straight down the middle, leaving a thick wall of unused wax around the edges. This is called tunneling, and it doesn't just look disappointing – it means you're wasting wax and missing out on the full fragrance and burn time you paid for. Eventually, the wick can even drown in its own wax pool.
But don't despair! Tunneling is often preventable and usually fixable. Here's what causes it and how you can rescue your candle:
Why Does Tunneling Happen?
The main culprit is usually the "memory ring." Wax has memory, especially on the very first burn. If you don't let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the container the first time you light it, the candle "remembers" this smaller boundary and will likely only burn to that point on future lightings.
Other causes include:
Burning for Too Short a Time: Extinguishing the candle before the melt pool reaches the edges, especially on subsequent burns.
Drafts: Air currents from fans, vents, or open windows can cause the flame to flicker and burn unevenly.
Incorrect Wick Size: Sometimes (though less common with quality candles), the wick might be too small for the candle's diameter, not generating enough heat to melt the wax fully.
How to Fix Candle Tunneling: Your Rescue Guide
Caught the tunneling early? Or dealing with a stubborn ring of wax? Try these methods:
The Aluminum Foil Method (The Most Popular Fix):
What to do: Carefully wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the top edge of the candle jar, creating a sort of dome or lid that covers the unmelted wax but leaves an opening in the center for the wick to burn safely.
How it works: The foil traps heat, reflecting it down onto the hard wax around the edges, encouraging it to melt and catch up with the center pool.
Burn time: Let the candle burn like this for 1-2 hours, keeping a close eye on it. The surface should even out.
Caution: The foil will get hot! Let it cool before removing.
The Hair Dryer Method (For Minor Tunneling or Resetting):
What to do: Use a hairdryer on a low or medium heat setting. Hold it a few inches away from the candle surface.
How it works: Gently melt the entire top layer of wax, including the hard edges, until the surface is level and liquid. This helps reset the wax's "memory."
Caution: Avoid high heat, which could splatter hot wax.
What if the Tunnel is Really Deep?
If the wick is buried deep in a canyon of wax, the foil method might just drown the wick. In this case:
Carefully Scrape: You might need to carefully scrape out some of the excess wax from the sides with a spoon or butter knife before trying the foil method.
Candle Warmer: If you have a candle warmer (a device that heats the candle from below without a flame), this can melt all the remaining wax, allowing you to enjoy the fragrance even if the wick is unusable.
Preventing Tunneling in the Future:
The First Burn is Key: Always let a new candle burn long enough for the melted wax pool to reach the edges of the container. A good rule of thumb is one hour per inch of the candle's diameter.
By understanding why tunneling happens and knowing how to fix it, you can ensure you get the most enjoyment, fragrance, and value out of every Ritter House of Scent candle.