12 Ways to Burn Candles Evenly (2024)

FAQs

How do you burn a candle properly? ›

To prevent tunneling, all you need to do is burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of wax is melted. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle! How long that takes depends mostly on the size of the candle.

Not Burning Your Candle Long Enough the First Time

If you want your candle to burn evenly and last as long as possible, you have to light it for about 3 to 4 hours the first time you burn it. “We say that wax has a muscle memory, and it's going to burn in the same pattern every time,” says Heyen.

If the remaining wax is liquid, we suggest to carefully pour the wax into a lined waste container. Never pour hot wax into your drain as it can cause clogging problems and/or damage your garbage disposal.

Keep Candles Away From Drafts

Wind from windows and air blowing from vents can cause your candle flame to flicker or bend, resulting in an uneven burn. That's because air flow pushes heat from the candle flame towards one side, causing the wax there to melt faster.

Candles become unstable if they're left to burn too long.

The experts at Good Light Candles explain that burning a candle for more than four hours allows carbon to collect on the wick, and that can make the candle unstable. "This can lead to a dangerously large flame, smoke and soot," they note.

Sometimes, candle tunneling is caused by a wick that isn't large enough for the size of the candle, but more often it's caused by the timing of the first burn. You want to avoid candle tunneling because it reduces the overall burn time for the candle (since all the wax isn't being used up).

As a candle burns and melts, it releases wax onto the sides of its container to create a pool of liquid wax. If this happens at a rate faster than the wax can evaporate and escape through the wick, you'll end up with an unburned pool of wax on the side of your candle—which can cause it to sink in the middle.

The trick here is to make sure the foil reaches over the tunneled wax. You'll also want to keep an open center so the flame can continue to burn as usual. The aluminum foil allows the flame to stay even and continuously radiate heat, and the foil also helps to retain heat to help melt the leftover wax.

#1- The most important thing you need to know for any candle made with 2, 3 or more wicks is that each wick needs to be lit, every single burn. Igniting one wick at a time will not prolong the life of the candle but rather can lead to wick drowning or uneven melt pools.

How do you make a candle set evenly? ›

Melt the top of the candle until it's smooth and let set. You can also use the “top pour” method, which means leaving a few millimeters of empty space on top of the jar, allowing the wax to set and then pouring more wax on top to smooth out the surface. Just be sure to use the same wax blend and you're good to go.

Final thoughts. Most candle makers would prefer a shorter cure time, but this is a symptom of impatience. In reality, most candles created for others will not be burned in the first 24 hours, regardless of cure time.

The candle's first burn is an important step to avoid tunneling. Your goal on a first burn is to fully melt the top layer of wax, evenly. If you do not, a “tunnel” will form in the center of the candle, creating a memory ring. Tunneling happens when the first-burn is not a long enough period of time.

Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. Avoid this by always following the manufacturer's instructions.

On the one hand: we strongly advise against opening a window when burning a candle because of the risk of draft which dramatically increases the fire risk. Below are two links for advice on the safe use of candles.

Melting wax in the microwave is fairly simple. Place the correct amount of soy wax in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on regular or high for 5 minutes. If your microwave does not have a spin feature, stop your wax half way stir it, turn it, and place it back in the microwave for the remainder of the time.

How To Fix Candle Tunneling Without Foil? There are so many alternatives to fixing tunneling with foil. You can use the hair dryer, trim the wax surface, and heat the wax in the microwave to retrieve your candle.

"The first burn is the most important—the candle wax must pool to the edge on the initial burn. We always like to remind people that wax has memory, meaning that if your candle doesn't burn to the edges, it will begin to tunnel and won't burn evenly the next time.

As the wax starts to melt and puddle around the candle's cotton wick, it actually travels upward. The wick soaks it up, and it eventually evaporates into the air as either carbon dioxide or water vapor after it burns.

If you burn a candle for too long, carbon can collect on the wick and make it unstable. This can lead to a dangerously large flame, smoke and soot. So, always follow the candlemaker's instructions. As a rule of thumb, candles should not be allowed to burn for longer than four hours.

What happens if a candle burns all night? ›

After a candle burns for around four hours, carbon build-up begins, creating an unstable flame. This can lead to wax tunneling, soot damage, and damaging the candle container. Beyond that, leaving a candle burning overnight raises the risk of other incidents, such as the candle being knocked over.

You can fix a tunneled candle by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil around the edges and simply letting it burn. Make sure the foil hangs over the built-up wax areas, but leave an opening in the center so the wick can still burn properly. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface.

If your fragrance load is too high, the flame can burn off the excess oil that was not able to bind with the wax, creating heavier-than-usual, dark smoke.

Pouring Candles - Make sure that the container is at room temperature or slightly warmer. The wax should be poured into the container while it is 120 - 165 F to reduce cracking and speed up the cure time of the wax.

All it says is aluminum foil can be used as an alternative to tape to cover doorknobs and hardware while painting. It has nothing to do with safety and the inclusion of the phrase "when you're home alone" was only used as clickbait to make the ad seem more important. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc.

Turns out aluminium foil is the key to fixing a tunnelled candle quickly. Simply wrap foil around the edge of the candle, leaving a hole in the middle so that the wick can burn through properly. After a couple of hours, your wax would have melted to an evened-out level.

You should get into the habit of trimming your candle wick before each use. In general, you should trim candle wicks to about 1/4 inch before lighting them. Doing this before each use helps ensure that your candles burn safely and brightly.

Trim Before You Light

If you don't trim your wick, you run the risk of tunneling, "which happens when your wick is too long and the flame gets too hot, causing excess wax to burn," she adds.

Leaving a wick long means that you'll have a larger flame, which will melt more wax and give the candle more fuel. This larger amount of fuel can lead to incomplete combustion, which in turn creates more soot, making your candle container black and dirty.

Is sleeping with a candle on OK? ›

Of course, falling asleep with lit candles is extremely dangerous. Some guides recommend lighting traditional candles in a metal holder so that the risk of fire is reduced. We would not recommend using traditional candles in the bedroom at all, as you should never leave open flames unattended.

Candles don't have a hard expiration date like foods do, but they certainly degrade over time. Eventually, they might become difficult to light or not burn properly. There are two main factors that determine the lifetime of a candle: what kind of wax is used and how the candle is stored.

When there is approximately 1/2” of wax left in the bottom of your candle it's time to stop burning. It's okay for there to be some wax left over, candles are created with this little buffer of wax.

A burning candle means that the wick is on fire and the wax is melting. For that fire to exist, there needs to be three things: oxygen, fuel, and heat.

So, back to WICKS...the first thing you should do when you buy our candles or any other, is trim the wick before first burn. Trim it about 1/8" above the surface of the wax. Then burn your candle. We burn our candles 2-4 hours each time.

A lit candle was often placed in the window when a family member was away or who had died to remember them, letting them know they are missed. It was also seen as a silent prayer for the safe return of the absent person and a sign that someone remained at home tending the fire and waiting.

The Tradition Continued Through Colonial Times

Following the Irish tradition, it was a beacon of safety, letting visitors know that their home would offer them refuge. It also was a beacon to neighbors, as homes used to be very far apart.

The tradition of burning a candle in the window continues in many homes today. It can be seen as a way of combating darkness, of the night, of the winter, and of the world. It is also a sign of welcome and sharing your light with neighbours.

When you notice the top surface of wax is melted from edge to edge of its container, you may extinguish the flame (preferably with a candle snuffer). A good rule of thumb is to let your candle burn at least one hour per inch of container diameter.

The first thing to do is just to wait before lighting the candle. Most people recommend at least 24 to 48 hours for a paraffin-based candle, and up to a week for a soy-based candle.

How long should you burn a candle before putting it out? ›

In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.

#1- The most important thing you need to know for any candle made with 2, 3 or more wicks is that each wick needs to be lit, every single burn. Igniting one wick at a time will not prolong the life of the candle but rather can lead to wick drowning or uneven melt pools.

The National Candle Association (www.candles.org) states that the reason to not burn the wax (in a container or just a candle itself) all the way down is SAFETY. A glass jar or container can become too hot, causing it to break or shatter and possibly causing a fire as well as other damage.

Tip #5: Cooling Your Candle

*Let your candle cool at room temperature for at least 24 hours. *Do not put your candle in the refrigerator to cool faster. This can cause the glass to crack or shatter, the wax to shrink, creating wet spots or sink holes, and weaken your candle's fragrance throw.