How to Make a Candle Burn Evenly

One of the most frustrating things about having a fragrant new candle is realizing it’s burning unevenly. This not only detracts from the aesthetics, but can also dramatically shorten how long it lasts. At 1502 Candle Co., we take care to provide simple tips on burning candles evenly that help you get the most out of our products. Understanding what to do – and what not to do – can allow you to enjoy any one of our apothecary jars or travel tins for hours of burn time.

How to Avoid Tunneling

You might think burning your candle for shorter periods of time can help it last longer, but this is only partly true. You’ve likely been frustrated by tunneling, or the creation of a deep pit which leaves the edges of your candle untouched. Eventually, you might lose your wick entirely.

Let the Wax Melt to the Edge

The first time you light your candle, called the memory burn, sets the boundaries and can have a significant impact on how the wax melts in the future. Allow the wax to melt all the way to the edge of the container. And every time you can in the future, allow the wax to melt to the edge – or as close as it will get – again.

Despite all of these helpful tips, remember: not all candles are created equally. Tunneling and other issues may be due to production methods or poor-quality waxes.

We use multiple wicks in our glass jars to make this goal easier to achieve. More wicks means more heat so you won’t need to burn for nearly as long as products with a single wick.

Choose Your Container Wisely

With this important tip in mind, consider how you like to use your candles. Do you use candles to simply freshen a space? Are you on the busier side and tend to be in and out of your home? If you don’t often burn your candle for an hour or two, then a small votive, such as a travel tin, might be more economical than a larger candle.

Trim the Wick

Lighting your candle should simply consist of, well, lighting it – right? Not so fast. One of the most important steps you can take to care for your candle is regularly trimming the wick.

If the wick is too long, it can draw wax to the top and the wick itself might start burning. It can also create black soot that could build up on the glass, tin, or even nearby objects in the room.

We’ve found that keeping the wick around ¼ of an inch works best. Make a habit of checking the wick’s length before relighting.

Purchase High-Quality Products

Despite all of these helpful tips, remember: not all candles are created equally. Tunneling and other issues may be due to production methods or poor-quality waxes. At 1502 Candle Co., we carefully create each candle by hand and choose only the finest materials, such as soy wax, to incorporate into our products. To learn more tips or ask a question about caring for your candle, contact us online.