Not the Tunnel of Love

Andante Home-makers, have you ever noticed a frustrating phenomenon where your candle burns straight down the middle, leaving a thick ring of un-melted wax clinging to the vessel's sides?

This is called tunneling, and it's a common issue that can significantly reduce your candle's burn time and overall performance.

Tunneling typically occurs when a candle isn't burned long enough during its first few uses. When you first light a candle, it's crucial to allow the entire top layer of wax to melt completely to the vessel's edges. This creates a "memory ring" that helps the candle burn evenly in subsequent uses.

Short burn times can prevent this full-surface melting, resulting in a candle that only burns down its center.

How to Avoid/Fix Tunneling:

1. First Burn is Critical: During the first use, burn the candle long enough for the entire top layer to become liquid, typically 2-4 hours depending on the candle's size. If you don’t have the allotted time to spare, don’t light it till you do.
2. Aluminum Foil Method: If tunneling has already started, wrap aluminum foil around the top of the candle vessel, leaving a hole in the center for the flame. This reflects heat and helps melt the unburned wax along the sides.
3. Hair Dryer Technique: Carefully use a hair dryer on low heat to soften the outer rim of wax, helping it melt and even out.
4. Scooping: If your wick is too short, the aluminum foil method and hair dryer technique will flood the wick. If this is the case, scoop out the wax until it is a nice even surface and your wick is ¼ an inch. Don’t throw away the wax you removed. You can place the extra wax in another container, and then use that wax for your wax melter.

Natural Wax Leveling

Don't panic if you notice some wax sticking along the jar's rim, especially with thicker candle vessels. This is not tunneling. This is what happens when the surrounding area of the candle is cooler than the inside diameter of the vessel. This is common in thick glassed vessels and ceramic jars.

This adhesion is a 1 to 2cm ring of wax adhering to the side of the candle vessel and it is totally normal. As the wick continues to burn down, the heat will gradually melt the wax along the jar's sides, naturally evening out the surface over time.

💡Andante Home Tips

• Always trim your wick to 1/4 inch before each use
• Burn candles for 2-4 hours at a time or until a full melt pool.
• Keep candles away from drafts.
• Don’t place candles in direct sunlight.

By understanding and preventing tunneling, you'll maximize your candle's burn time and enjoy a more consistent, beautiful flame.