How to Fix a Tunnelled Candle (and Stop It Happening Again)

Tunnelling is when a candle burns a narrow well down its centre and leaves thick walls of wax clinging to the sides. The scent weakens, the wick drowns, and you end up throwing away half a candle you paid for. The good news: it is usually fixable in under an hour.

Why candles tunnel

Almost always it starts with short burns — especially the first one. Soy wax "remembers" the edge of its melt pool, and if that pool never reaches the walls, each burn digs a little deeper in the middle. Draughts, a wick trimmed too short and very wide candles with a single wick make it worse.

Method 1: the foil collar (our favourite)

1. Light the candle.
2. Wrap aluminium foil around the rim, folding it inward so it covers the outer edge of wax but leaves a 3–4 cm opening around the flame.
3. Let it burn for one to two hours. The foil traps heat and melts the walls down to level.
4. Remove the foil carefully (it will be hot) and let the candle burn a little longer with a full melt pool.

Method 2: a hairdryer

For a shallow tunnel, aim a hairdryer on its warm setting at the top of the wax until the surface melts evenly, then light the candle. This is quick but works best on small jars and tins.

Method 3: gentle oven reset

For glass jars only (never tins with plastic lids or decorated vessels), place the candle on a baking tray in an oven at its lowest setting for a few minutes until the top centimetre melts level. Let it cool fully before lighting.

When the wick is drowning

If wax has flooded the wick, blot the liquid with a paper towel while warm, or dig out a little hardened wax around the wick so it can stand up again.

How to prevent tunnelling

• Burn until the melt pool reaches the edges — about one hour per 2.5 cm of width each time.
• Trim the wick to 5 mm, not shorter.
• Keep candles away from fans and AC vents.
• For wide vessels, choose a multi-wick candle like our Black Oud Three-Wick.

Start every new candle right with our guide to the first burn.