4 Reasons Your Candle Isn’t Burning the Way It Should

Little Mistakes That Could Be Ruining Your Candle

Jan 10, 2025

Have you ever wondered why your candle isn’t burning right? The answer may lie in how you burn the candle, or it could be something else. We’ll explore the reasons and correct the problem so your candles burn correctly and you get the maximum use out of them. Plus, save you from wasting money on them.

Candle Burning Fails

Dealing with the frustration of burning a candle that doesn’t perform as expected is common.

Many of us are familiar with candle-burning failures. However, the mysterious factors that disrupt the burning process might leave us puzzled.

We’re here to clarify these issues and provide guidance on ensuring a smooth, clean burning candle experience.

I am a former candlemaker, so I know a bit about this topic.

Understanding how to burn a candle evenly involves recognizing the factors affecting candle burn time.

A standard guideline recommends that achieving a full wax pool (which means it burns all the way to all edges) requires about one hour of burning time per inch of the candle’s diameter.

In other words, a 3-inch diameter candle should take about 3 hours to burn to a full melt pool, where it is liquified to the edges.

If that doesn’t occur, there are problems that we will address below.

#1 The Candle Tunnels Straight Down

It's a problem when a candle forms a narrow tunnel and burns straight down rather than a wide wax pool.

To prevent candle tunneling and promote how to get candles to burn evenly, you must allow the candle to reach a full melt pool during each use. This is especially critical the first time you burn a candle.

Recalling the earlier example, a three-inch diameter candle must be allowed to burn for at least three hours: this initial burn sets the stage for subsequent burns, as candles tend to ‘remember’ and follow the first burn pattern.

If you don’t have time to burn your candle for 3 hours, don’t light it. Wait until you do have that time.

Another reason candle tunneling can happen is because air pockets formed near the wick when the candle was made. If this is the reason, you have a poor-quality candle. Consider tossing it out.

Learning how to burn a candle evenly involves careful attention to these details.

#2 The Wick Drowns Out

This problem occurs when a candle burns briefly, yet usually low-level, then dies out.

While a wick trimmed too short can be the problem, wick drowning is often due to a manufacturer’s choice of an incorrectly sized wick.

If you’re struggling with a flame you can’t get going because a wick has drowned, try carefully melting the surrounding hot wax with a lighter.

Gently pour out the melted wax (somewhere else safely) to create more space for the wick. Sometimes, this will help it to burn better.

This technique may only work for some candles but can be effective when the wick is trimmed too short. It’s worth a try.

#3 The Flame Gets Too High and Too Hot

When a candle burns too hot and the flame is too high, it’s often due to a wick that’s either too large when it was made or not being trimmed consistently.

Keep the wick trimmed short to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch to control the candle flame and maintain an even burn.

If you’ve allowed the flame height to grow by not trimming the wick or by letting the candle burn for too long, these issues can arise.

When you are burning a candle for several hours (like you should for the diameter of the size), you will need to extinguish the candle at about 2 hours and trim the wick, making sure to throw that burnt wick portion away (not allowing it to be in the wax pool).

Now, relight the candle to continue the three or 4-hour burn time.

All candles should have the wick trimmed about every 2 hours of burning.

#4 Candle is Smoking

There can be several reasons why a candle is smoking.

Make sure the candle is not in a drafty air. This will cause excessive smoke.

It is important to trim your wicks every 2 hours. Excessively long wicks from long burning times can cause candles to smoke.

If the candle was created using excessive dye and fragrance oils for the wax type, it can also cause smoking. With high-quality scents and reputable candlemakers, this is less likely to occur.

What is the Proper Way to Burn a Candle?

Candle safety is paramount. Keep the melt pool clear of debris and flammable materials. Be aware of nearby curtains or papers.

Trim the candle wick to about ¼ inch before every use, using scissors or toenail clippers. Keep the trimmed wick out of the wax pool.

Sometimes, even with big, name-brand candles, despite your best efforts to burn them properly, you may have a poorly made candle.

If you can’t get it to burn correctly, consider using a candle warmer (like the one below) or place it in a pan of water on a low simmer to release the fragrance as a wax melt.

These methods don’t evaporate the wax; once the scent is gone, it’s time to discard the candle.

***Product Recommendation: Large Candle Warmer Plate Safely Releases Scents Without a Flame

It’s good to know that by following the proper steps for burning candles correctly, you can enjoy them as they were meant to be.

Sometimes, you may encounter a candle that is simply inferior. While that’s frustrating, at least you know it’s not you burning it incorrectly.

Book Recommendation: How to Make A Great Soy Jar Candle: Revealing My Favorite Candle Suppliers. Why not learn to make your own?

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