That gorgeous $75 Diptyque candle you splurged on? Now it’s a sunken mess, burning straight down the middle while thick walls of wasted wax cling to the edges. Annoying, right? Let’s cut through the smoke and fix this issue for good. Read on to learn all about candle tunneling and how to avoid wasting money on pricey candles.
What Is Candle Tunneling?
Candle tunneling happens when a candle burns straight down the center. This occurs when you see a thick, unused ring of wax around the edges of your candle jar or vessel. Instead of melting evenly across the top, the flame creates a deep hole or “tunnel,” which wastes a significant portion of the wax.
This problem isn’t just about aesthetics. Unfortunately, it shortens your candle’s lifespan, reduces scent throw, and can make relighting difficult as the wick gets buried in melted wax.
Why Is Your Candle Tunneling?
It’s not just cheap candles. Even the fanciest ones will tunnel if burned incorrectly. The real culprit? Poor burning habits.
These are some of the most common reasons that candle tunneling occurs:
The First Burn Is Everything
Wax has a “memory.” If your first burn doesn’t melt the wax all the way to the edges, your candle will keep following that narrow melt path, no matter how many times you relight it.
Wick Size Matters
A tiny wick in a big candle won’t generate enough heat to melt the wax evenly. That’s why larger candles often have multiple wicks... without them, tunneling is inevitable.
Tunneling = Wasted Money
Let’s do the math. If your candle tunnels:
- Up to 40% of the wax never melts
- You lose hours of burn time
- That $75 candle is now a $45 candle
- Fragrance gets trapped in the unmelted wax, meaning weaker scent throw
How to Save a Tunneling Candle
Your first burn should last long enough to melt the entire surface evenly. Follow this rule: one hour of burn time per inch of candle diameter.
- A 3-inch-wide candle? Burn it for 3 hours.
- A 4-inch candle? Give it 4 hours.
Quick Fixes
The Foil Trick: Wrap aluminum foil around the top, leaving an open center. The heat gets trapped, melting the wax evenly.
The Hair Dryer Hack: On medium heat, melt the stubborn wax walls. Once liquefied, relight and let it burn until even.
The Warming Method: Set the candle on a mug warmer until the wax levels out, then relight.
The Bottom Line
A tunneling candle isn’t just an eyesore—it’s literally burning your money! But with the right burn habits and these rescue tricks, you can fix existing tunnels and prevent new ones.
Before you light that next candle, set a timer and commit to that first burn. Your wallet will thank you!
