Chloe Adams
Beeswax candles are a natural, non-toxic alternative to commercial candles. However, they can be prone to tunnelling, which is when a candle burns straight down the middle, leaving a dry, hard ring of wax around the outside. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including the size of the initial wax pool, the length of the wick, and the heat of the flame. Luckily, there are several things you can do to prevent tunnelling and get the most out of your beeswax candles.
How to keep beeswax candles from tunneling
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wax Pool Rule | The wax pool is the melted wax near the flame. The longer you burn, the wider the wax pool extends. You'll want your wax pool to extend close to the edge of your candle before extinguishing. |
| Memory Ring Rule | All candles burn with a memory. They tend to burn with a memory (the same width/wax pool) of the previous burn session. That's why the first burn is very important. You don't want to start your candle and only have it lit for a short time. That will create tunneling. |
| Melt Pool Rule | Keep an eye on the melt pool to make sure the melted wax does not get too deep. |
| Candle Hugging | Hugging your beeswax candle can prevent tunneling. |
| Wick Trimming | Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4" or 1/2". |
| Burn Time | Burn the candle for one hour for every inch in width, depending on the wax and its quality, getting as close to the edge of the container as possible. |
| Container | Avoid using a hurricane container as this creates a convection effect, disturbing the airflow around the candle. |
| Draft | Keep the candle in a draft-free environment to avoid dripping or smoking. |
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What You'll Learn
Burn for 1 hour per inch in width
Beeswax candles are natural, non-toxic, and have a long burn time. However, they can be prone to tunnelling, which is when the flame drops below the wax's top layer, leaving a dry, hard ring. This can cause the candle to become harder to light or even go out.
To prevent tunnelling, it is recommended to burn your beeswax candle for one hour per inch in width. For example, if your candle is three inches wide, you should burn it for at least three hours during each session. This ensures that the wick burns evenly and helps to avoid tunnelling and relighting issues.
The first burn is critical as it sets the foundation for future melt pools. When burning a beeswax candle for the first time, ensure it burns long enough for the melt pool to extend close to the candle's edge. This is known as the "memory ring" because the candle wax will always burn to the same spot.
If you notice your candle is only burning down the middle, you can try resetting the wax memory by wrapping the edge of the container in aluminium foil with a small opening at the top for air. This will reflect more heat into the wax, melting the hard ring. However, this method can be dangerous, so it is important to be cautious and not exceed the maximum burn time specified by the manufacturer.
Additionally, always follow general candle safety practices. Keep candles away from flammable materials, drafts, children, and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and ensure the wick is trimmed before lighting.
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Trim the wick
Trimming the wick of a beeswax candle is important to prevent tunneling. The ideal length for a wick is 1/4" to 1/2".
When lighting a beeswax candle, it is important to light the base of the wick, where it comes out of the candle. This allows the beeswax to absorb into the wick. A lighter works best for this.
The first time you light a new candle is the most important, as this will lay the foundation for future melt pools. This is sometimes called the 'memory ring'. The wax has a memory and will always burn to the same spot each time. For this reason, it is important to let the candle burn long enough for the melt pool to extend close to the edge of the candle before extinguishing it. If you extinguish the candle too early, a tunnel will be created, and you will need to plan for the next few burns to be extra long to correct it.
If you notice the flame getting taller, pointy, and moving back and forth, this is a sign that the wick needs trimming.
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Avoid drafts
Beeswax candles are natural, non-toxic, and healthy alternatives to commercial candles. They are also easy to make and have a long burn time. However, beeswax has a high melting point and burns at a hotter temperature than other waxes. This makes it prone to tunneling, which is when the flame drops below the top level of wax, leaving a dry, hard ring that won't melt.
To avoid tunneling, it is important to burn your beeswax candle in a draft-free environment. Keep the candle away from fans, open windows, and air ducts. This will help prevent dripping, smoking, and uneven burning. Beeswax candles, especially the honeycomb variety, are susceptible to drafts, which can cause dripping and uneven burning.
Additionally, the first burn of a beeswax candle is critical. It is recommended to burn the candle for one hour per inch in width, ensuring that the wax pool extends close to the edge of the candle before extinguishing it. This initial burn sets the foundation for future burns and prevents tunneling.
If you notice that your candle is only burning down the middle, you can try resetting the wax memory by wrapping the edge of the container in aluminum foil, leaving a small opening at the top for air. This will reflect more heat onto the wax, helping to melt the hard ring. However, it is important to monitor this process carefully to avoid any safety hazards.
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Melt wax pools
The wax pool is the melted wax near the flame. The longer you burn a candle, the wider the wax pool extends. The Melt Pool Rule applies to votives and tealights. Votives should be burned in a snug-fitting votive holder and lit long enough for the wax to create a melt pool across the entire top of the votive holder. If the votive is extinguished before the melt pool reaches the entire edge of the votive holder, it will tunnel. Since tealights are shallow, the optimal way to burn them is to allow them to burn completely in one session.
When burning a pillar candle for day-long burns, keep an eye on the melt pool to make sure the melted wax does not get too deep. A pillar can be burned for a long time as long as the sides of the pillar remain intact. For extended burn times, extinguish the candle, allow it to cool, and then light it again.
The first burn is the most important as it lays the foundation for future melt pools each time you light the candle. This is called the "memory ring" rule. All candles burn with a memory, tending to burn with the same width/wax pool of the previous burn session. That's why you should burn your candle close to the edges before extinguishing it. If you extinguish your candle too early and a tunnel has been created, try to plan for the next few burns to be extra long to correct it.
To avoid tunneling, you can also hug your candles on occasion while burning. A tunneled beeswax candle has a beautiful glow to it, where the flame glows through the thin outer wall of beeswax while burning. If you want your candle to tunnel, simply avoid hugging your candles, though the pillar walls may become weak and hug on their own.
If your candle is only burning straight down the middle, you can fix this by resetting the wax memory. Wrap the edge of the container or the top in a dome tent of aluminum foil, with only a small opening at the top for air. Fold the foil over a few times to give it more structure and keep it in place. This will reflect more heat into the wax, but the sooner you step in to deal with the issue, the better, because too much liquid wax will drown the flame, and you will have to remove it.
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Use a pillar plate
Using a pillar plate is a great way to ensure your beeswax candles burn evenly and avoid the dreaded tunnelling effect. Tunnelling occurs when a candle burns down the middle, leaving a ring of unburned wax around the sides. This not only looks unsightly but also shortens the life of your candle as the unused wax goes to waste.
Beeswax candles are known for their long burn time, but they require some care to ensure they burn efficiently. One way to do this is by using a pillar plate. A pillar plate is a heat-resistant surface that you can place your candle on. This will catch any spilled wax and protect your surfaces from heat damage.
When using a pillar plate, it's important to follow these steps:
- Ensure your pillar plate is level and solid, providing a stable base for your candle.
- Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4" during or immediately after burning. Trimming the wick after it has cooled may cause it to break, making it difficult to relight.
- For the initial burn, let your candle burn for at least one hour per inch of its diameter. This will create a "memory ring" in the wax, ensuring that future melts reach the same spot.
- If your candle has multiple wicks, apply the "melt pool rule" to each wick individually.
- Occasionally, gently press the edges of the candle towards the centre to ensure even burning and prevent tunnelling.
By following these steps and using a pillar plate, you can help your beeswax candles burn evenly and avoid the tunnelling effect.
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Frequently asked questions
Candle tunneling is when the flame drops below the wax's top layer, leaving a hard ring that won't melt, and the wick can't get oxygen to stay lit.
To prevent tunneling, burn your candle for long enough so that the melt pool extends close to the edge of the candle before extinguishing it. This is called the wax pool rule. You can also add coconut oil to your beeswax to help it burn more consistently and avoid tunneling.
The Melt Pool Rule applies to votives and tealights. Votives should be burned in a snug-fitting holder and lit long enough for the wax to melt across the entire top. Tealights should be burned completely in one session.
If your candle has already tunneled, you can reset the wax memory by wrapping the edge of the container in aluminum foil with a small opening at the top for air. This will reflect more heat into the wax.
