What is tunnelling and how to avoid it.

Ever wondered what goes into making your favourite candles? It’s a labour of love! This week, I’ve been busy testing out some new eco-friendly wicks to ensure the best first burn for your candles. Many people do not realise the importance of the first burn. How often have you tried to burn a candle that ends up looking like this?

This is called tunnelling which means that:

• the candle burns straight down the centre;
• it leaves a ring of unmelted wax on the sides and
• wastes wax and reduces burning time.

To avoid this, you should always burn the candle for long enough so that the melt pool reaches the edge of the container. This helps to prevent memory rings, which can lead to tunnelling in subsequent burns.

In a container of this size (which is one of our 30cl candles), a full melt pool will take 3-4 hours. This time could be shorter or longer, depending on the size of your chosen candle (usually determined by the diameter of the container). However, other factors such as placing the candle in a draft, will also affect the burn time needed to reach a full melt pool.

To prevent tunnelling, you can:

• allow the initial burn to create a full "melt pool" (liquid wax from edge to edge), which usually takes 2–4 hours.
• avoid drafty areas (near fans, open windows, air conditioning), which cause uneven, rapid burning.
• regularly trim wicks to 1/4 inch ( approx 1/2cm) to prevent high, smoking flames that cause tunneling.
• do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time to prevent the wick from forming a "mushroom" shape.
• rotate the candle to ensure even heating 

To fix tunnelling when it happens:

Wrap aluminum foil around the top edge of the jar, creating a "tent" that traps heat, allowing the wax to melt evenly. Leave a hole in the center for the flame.

Use a hairdryer to melt the top layer of wax, allowing you to pour out excess wax or smooth it down.

Place the jar on a candle warmer to melt the unmelted wax on the sides. 

REMEMBER:

To keep your candle burning perfectly: trim your wicks, burn for 3-4 hours, and keep away from drafts. For more tips on mastering your home fragrance experience, sign up to subscribe to our e-mails for insider news, product launches, and more !