Candles are meant to burn beautifully and evenly, filling your space with light and fragrance. But sometimes, things don’t go quite as planned — you light your candle only to find that it’s burning unevenly, tunnelling down the middle, or forming wax rings along the edge.
If that sounds familiar, don’t worry! Uneven burning is a common issue and, with the right adjustments, completely fixable.
What Causes Uneven Burning?
Uneven burning can be caused by a few different factors, ranging from wick size to candle care. Understanding the root cause is the first step in troubleshooting.
1. Incorrect Wick Size
One of the most common culprits is using the wrong wick for your candle’s diameter and wax type.
- Too small: The flame doesn’t reach the edges, causing tunnelling.
- Too large: The wick burns too hot, leading to uneven melt pools and soot.
Tip: Always test your wick! Each wax and fragrance combination behaves differently, so testing ensures you find the perfect burn.
2. Not Burning Long Enough on First Use
The first burn is crucial for setting the “memory” of your candle. If you extinguish it too soon, it may create a tunnel that worsens over time.
As a rule of thumb, burn your candle for 1 hour per inch of diameter on the first burn to allow the melt pool to reach the edges.
3. Drafts or Airflow
Candles placed near open windows, vents, or fans can burn unevenly because the flame leans to one side. This leads to uneven heat distribution and an unbalanced melt pool.
Try burning your candle in a still, draft-free environment.
4. Uneven Wick Trimming
If the wick isn’t trimmed evenly before lighting, one side of the flame may burn stronger, causing one side of the candle to melt faster.
Always trim your wick to around 5mm (¼ inch) before each burn to maintain an even flame.
5. Candle Composition
Sometimes, the issue lies in the wax or fragrance load. For example:
- Overly high fragrance percentages can cause uneven melting.
- Some waxes (like soy) are more prone to tunnelling if poured too cool or cured incorrectly.