Why is my candle tunneling? And how do I fix it?
Is your candle tunneling? We've put together a checklist to help you burn your candle in the most optimal way and have an even, clean burn.
1. Trim Trim Trim
Always trim your wick before burning your candle. The wick is a very important element in ensuring a candle burns well. It acts as a fuel delivery system, as it draws the melted wax upward to be vaporised and burnt. If your wick isn't trimmed the wax has little room to move upwards. It is important to keep your wick 6mm long to help create a more controlled and even flame, allowing the wax to melt all the way to the edge of your vessel.
2. Time Matters
When you burn your candle for the first time you are creating a burn memory. Yes, you heard it right, your candle will remember how it was first burnt, so it's important you do it right the first time. Start with making sure you will be home for at least 3-4 hours before burning your candle. Burn your candle for 3-4 hours or until it has reached a full melt pool. If a full melt pool is not reached in the suggested time then other factors might be impacting it's burn and you might need to consider other factors. Which brings me to my next point...
3. Is your room right for your candle?
This might sound a little strange, but the environment you burn your candle matters more than you think. Burning your candle in a well-ventilated room with a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from drafts and flammable objects is a good start. If the space you are burning your candle is drafty, or too cold your candle will struggle to create a full melt pool. Places to avoid burning your candle would be under an air conditioner, near an open window or in a very cold space.
4. Use a High Quality Candle
If you are looking for a high-quality candle, you need to start by forgetting whether they are designer or a name-brand. A high-quality candle comes down to its ingredients, the craftmanship, and the candle vessel.
Lets start with ingredients; soy wax, coconut wax and beeswax are the best wax for an even, clean burn. Make sure the wax is 100% pure and not a blend with paraffin.
Next, is the wick, a lead-free cotton wick will burn cleaner and provided a consistent flame. You should also consider whether the size of the candle has the right amount of wicks. The bigger the candle, the more wicks needed. Large candles need with more than one wick to help generate more heat and an even burn.
Finally, the fragrance oil. A high quality candle's scent should be complex, well-balanced, and consistent throughout the burn. This is achieved with high-grade essential oils or fragrance oils, rather than cheap, artificial alternatives.
5. Why you would love a DUX Candle
A DUX candle will tick all your boxes
- Hand-poured in Sydney
- 100% Soy Wax, no blends
- Lead-free Cotton Wicks
- Long lasting burn (40-60hrs)
- High quality fragrance oil and essential oils
-
