Maddie James
There are few things more relaxing than lighting a scented candle, but what do you do when your candle won't stay lit? There are several reasons why this might be happening, and fortunately, there are also several solutions to fix it. Firstly, it's important to check the length of the wick. If the wick is too long, the wax can't flow up through it, and if it's too short, the candle won't stay lit. The ideal length for a wick is 1/4 or 6mm above the wax surface. Other issues could be related to candle tunnelling, where the wax melts too fast, causing the wick to drown in wax. This can be resolved by using a paper towel to soak up the excess wax, allowing the wick to breathe.
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What You'll Learn
Ensure the wick is the correct length
If your candle won't stay lit, it could be because the wick is too long or too short. The wick's length is crucial because it is the conduit through which the wax is drawn up to fuel the flame. If the wick is too long, the wax may not be able to flow up to the flame, causing the candle to go out. On the other hand, if the wick is too short, it may be challenging for the candle to stay lit as there is insufficient wick material to draw up the wax.
The ideal length for a candle wick is typically about 1/4" or 6mm above the surface of the wax. This length allows the wax to flow up the wick efficiently and supports a steady flame. However, different candle manufacturers may have specific recommendations for their products, so it is always good to check the instructions or contact the company for guidance.
To achieve the correct wick length, you may need to trim the wick. Trimming helps to remove any charred or burnt bits that could interfere with the wick's ability to draw up the wax. You can break off the top blackened parts of the wick with your fingers or use tools like nail clippers. After trimming, remember to turn the wick upside down to get rid of any loose, chopped bits that could fall into the melted wax.
If your wick is too short, you may need to melt the top of the candle slightly to give the wick more room to breathe. You can use a paper towel or napkin to soak up some of the excess wax, creating a small well around the wick. Conversely, if your wick is too long, you can gently blow it out, allow it to cool, and then trim it to the appropriate length.
By ensuring your wick is the correct length and keeping it well-maintained, you can help your candle burn more efficiently and avoid issues like flickering, tunnelling, or the wick "drowning" in its wax pool.
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Remove charred material from the wick
If your candle won't stay lit, it may be because there is charred material on the wick. This can prevent the candle from burning properly and cause excessive smoking. To fix this, you must remove the charred material from the wick before relighting the candle.
Firstly, ensure that the wax is cool before attempting to trim the wick. This will make the process much easier and prevent charred bits from falling into the wax pool. Once the wax has cooled, use a wick trimmer, scissors, nail clippers, or wire cutters to gently scrape off any charred bits from the top and sides of the wick. You can also use your fingers to pinch off the charred wood, but this method may be messy.
When trimming the wick, aim to keep it at a length of about 1/8" or 3mm. This may seem too short, but it is important to remember that it is the wax, not the wick, that fuels the burn. Keeping the wick trimmed allows the flame to stay low and draw the wax up through the wick effectively.
In addition to trimming the wick, it is crucial to ensure a proper first burn. Allow the candle to burn for 1-2 hours until it forms a full, edge-to-edge melt pool. This will help prevent "tunneling," which occurs when wax builds up along the edges, making it difficult for oxygen to reach the flame.
By removing charred material from the wick, keeping the wick trimmed, and ensuring a proper first burn, you can help your candle burn cleanly, evenly, and for a longer duration.
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Avoid tunnelling by allowing the first burn to reach the edges
A candle's flame is fuelled by wax, not the wick. The flame draws the wax upwards through the wick and burns it. If the wick is too long, the wax may not be able to reach the top, causing the candle to go off. On the other hand, if the wick is too short, the candle will not stay lit.
The first time you burn a candle, it is important to allow enough time for the wax to melt all the way to the edge of the container. This usually takes 2-4 hours. If this does not happen, tunnelling can occur. Tunnelling is when a tunnel forms around the wick, making it difficult for the wax around the wick to melt. This tunnel can become too deep for the wick to "breathe", and the candle will struggle to stay lit.
To avoid tunnelling, ensure that on the first burn, you let the candle burn until the wax melts to the edge of the jar. This will reset the memory of the wax and prevent tunnelling in the future. Depending on the size of the candle, this can take up to 3-4 hours.
If tunnelling has already occurred, there are a few things you can do to fix it. Firstly, try using a paper towel or napkin to soak up some of the excess wax around the wick. Then, wait for the wax to solidify a little, and relight the candle. If this does not work, you may need to repeat the process several times until the wick has enough room to breathe. Alternatively, you can try scraping out the top wax with a spoon until the wick is tall enough to stay lit. You can also wrap the candle with aluminium foil to help melt the hard wax at the edges.
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Melt the top wax if the wick is too short
If your candle wick is too short to stay lit, you can melt the top wax to make room for the wick. This can be done by lighting the candle and letting it burn until it evens out. The flame will get smaller as the wick starts to drown in wax, but it should progressively get better with each burn.
You can also use a paper towel, napkin, or spoon to remove some of the excess wax pooling around the wick. Blow out the candle and wait a minute before using one of these tools to soak up the wax. Then, relight the candle and repeat the process until the wick has room to breathe.
Another way to melt the top wax is by wrapping the candle with aluminum foil. This will help melt the hard wax at the edges, creating more space for the wick to burn.
If your candle has tunnelled, or burned downwards, it may be more difficult for the wax around the edges to melt. In this case, you may need to let the candle burn for a longer period of time, up to 2-4 hours, to allow the wax to melt all the way to the edge of the container. This will reset the "memory" of the wax and help prevent future tunnelling.
By addressing the issue of a too-short wick through these methods, you can help your candle stay lit and enjoy its cosy ambience once again.
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Soak up excess wax with a paper towel
If your candle is not staying lit, it could be because the wick is too short, causing it to "'drown'" in the wax. In this case, you can use a paper towel to soak up the excess wax and allow more room for the wick to breathe.
Firstly, blow out the candle before attempting to soak up the wax. Then, take a paper towel and gently press it into the wax pool, absorbing the excess liquid. Be careful not to burn yourself on the hot wax.
Once you have absorbed as much wax as possible, wait a few moments for the wax to solidify and for the wick to cool down. You can then relight the candle and observe whether the wick now has enough room to stay lit. If not, repeat the process until the wick has sufficient space to breathe and the candle can burn properly.
This method is a simple and effective way to save a candle that is struggling to stay lit due to excess wax. It is important to act quickly if your candle is drowning in wax, as the tunnel can become too deep for the wick to recover, and the candle will continue to have trouble staying lit.
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Frequently asked questions
If your candle wick is too short, melt the top of your candle a bit to make room for the wick. You can also use a Q-tip as a wick.
If your candle wick is too long, blow it out, wait for it to cool down, and then trim it to the right length. Aim to keep your wicks about 1/4" or 6mm above the surface of the wax.
Tunnelling occurs when a candle doesn't burn evenly, creating a tunnel that makes it difficult for the wax around the wick to melt. To fix this, burn the candle until the wax melts to the edges of the vessel. This should reset the memory of the wax and prevent future tunnelling.
Use a paper towel or napkin to soak up the excess wax around the wick. Wait for the wax to solidify, then relight the candle.
