You go to light your favorite candle as you prepare for a cozy evening in with a good book.
As you take off the lid, you notice half the candle has burned down but the other half looks as fresh as the day you bought it. What the heck? How did that happen?
How do I fix the uneven candle burn?
Fear not! Your candle can be saved—and with this guide, you’ll not only learn how to fix uneven candle burn, but you’ll also learn how to prevent candle tunneling in the future.
Why Do Candles Burn Unevenly?
Candles burn unevenly due to something called ‘candle tunneling’. This is when only a small circle of wax melts around the wick while the candle is burning. Uneven burning can be caused by a poorly made candle, where the wick is too small for the size of the candle.
Or, if the first burn of a candle doesn’t last long enough, an uneven burn can occur. If a new candle isn’t left to burn until the wax is melted to the edge of the container, a barrier is created that will remain for future burnings—we call this a candle’s memory.
But what does the candle’s memory have to do with later burns?
Previously melted wax is softer and will take less time to reheat and re-melt than wax that hasn’t been melted yet. So every time you relight your candle, the wax is melting at different rates which causes the candle tunneling effect.
Why Should I Care About Candle Tunneling?
Candle tunneling isn’t aesthetically pleasing—and it also drastically reduces the burn time of your candle. Tunneling prevents all of the wax in a candle from melting, because it deprives the flames of oxygen to keep the flame lit.
This means that a candle with bad tunneling will not stay lit for nearly as long as an evenly burned candle and will have a ton of wasted wax—bummer!
How To Fix Uneven Candle Burn and Tunneling
Good news—even if your candle has started to show signs of tunneling, it’s not too late! Here are a few industry tricks to get your candle back in pristine shape.
Hair Dryer Method
This is our preferred method of fixing an uneven burn. First, extinguish the candle. Then, use a hairdryer on low speed to carefully melt the wax all the way to the edge of the container. Make sure you’re holding the hair dryer far enough away to prevent splattering wax.
The goal is to create a new candle memory so that the next time you light your candle the wax will pool to the edge of the jar. If your tunnel is too deep for this method, don’t worry! There are two other methods that will fix your candle woes.
Tin Foil Method
Using aluminum foil to reflect heat back down to the edge of the candle is another way to help create a new candle memory. This method is a bit trickier, so be careful—the tin foil really heats up and it may take a few tries to get the position of the foil correct.
Use one or two sheets of foil to wrap the candle so that the top of the foil extends inward over the unmelted wax. Think of it like a roof over the edge of your candle. Leave the center of the candle open for the flame.
Then, burn the candle for 1-2 hours, until you notice the candle surface is even and the pool of melted wax reaches the edge of the container.
Oven Method
This is the least recommended method but will work for extreme tunneling. You must make sure that the candle is in an oven-safe holder. If you are unsure if your candle jar is oven-safe, use the tin foil method or hair dryer method.
If you’ve ascertained that the candle holder is oven-safe, pop the candle on a cookie sheet and let it sit in a 175-degree oven for 5 minutes or until the wax has melted to the edge of the container.
Note: if an oven seems a bit dramatic, try boiling some water and placing your candle in the boiling water– this will melt all of the wax and allow the wax to redistribute evenly as it dries. Make sure to check that the candle container is safe for boiling!
How to Make a Candle Burn Evenly From the Get-Go
To prevent candle tunneling from occurring in your candle collection, here are a few best practices around candle burning.
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The First Burn
Make sure you allow your candles to burn long enough to melt the wax to the edge of the jar on the first burn. This will create a clean candle memory that will set your candle up for longer burn times and no future tunneling.
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Trim the Wick
Before lighting your candle every time, use a wick trimmer to cut the wick to about ¼ inch for the optimal flame size. This will prevent the candle from unevenly burning by maximizing the area the flame can melt.
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Keep Candles Away from Drafts
It’s important to make sure the candle’s flame is steady. If the flame is wavering in the wind, it will cause an uneven burn that could result in tunneling.
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Burn Candles on a Level Surface
Keep your candle on a level surface to ensure that the wax is melting in a flat, even layer as the candle burns.
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Don't Blow Out the Flame
Instead of blowing out the flame, which would cause the wax to move unevenly and even splatter, use a wick dipper to submerge the wick into the wax and extinguish the flame.
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Cool Before Reusing
Allow your candle to fully cool before relighting. This ensures that the wax is at the same temperature throughout the candle and will take the same amount of time to remelt, guaranteeing an even, anti-tunnel melt.
Single Wicks vs Double Wicks Best Burn
Let’s clear something up: double wicks vs. single wicks—which is best to prevent candle tunneling? Great question, with a bit of a tricky answer. The reality is, candle tunneling is directly influenced by the amount of wax to wick ratio.
In other words, a smaller candle—9 oz- 11 oz—will burn perfectly fine with a single wick. If the candle is 12oz+ it should have two wicks. This allows for all of the wax to be near a flame and makes sure that the candle will melt evenly.
Next time you’re shopping for a candle, check the oz and then check if it is one wick, two wicks, or more to determine if the candle will burn evenly.
Uneven Candle Burn FAQ
How do you fix a wonky candle?
You can use a blow dryer to melt down the top layer of wax, use tin foil to build a heat frame to help the wax melt to the edge of the jar, pop the candle in the oven for 5 minutes to even out the wax melt, or boil the candle to fix candle tunneling
How do you fix a bumpy candle?
To fix a bumpy candle surface, try using a heat gun or hair dryer to gently melt the top layer of wax. Hold the heat source a few inches away and move it in circles until the wax becomes smooth. Allow the candle to cool and solidify for a flawless finish.
Can you microwave a candle to fix tunneling?
No, microwaving a candle to fix tunneling is not recommended as it can be dangerous. Instead, try using a foil method: wrap aluminum foil around the top of the candle, leaving an open space in the center for the wick. Burn the candle for a few hours; the trapped heat will help melt the outer wax, allowing the surface to even out.
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