We have all experienced the bitter taste of tunnelling syndrome when we lit a candle. We left the room for a while and returned to find a tunnel in our beautiful candle. Then many of us wonder how this can happen? And even more, how can we solve it?
First things first, candles have a protocol and if you want to immerse yourself in the magical world of candles you have to know more than light and extinguish a candle, which by the way, I am sure that many are doing it wrong.
Prevent tunnelling in glass or cylindrical candles.
- When you light a glass candle for the first time, melt the top layer of wax completely. After lighting a new candle, let it burn until the top surface of the wax melts completely. Keep an eye on the progress and don't put it out until you have a 1/4-inch ring of melted wax that spans the entire diameter of the glass.
- When you first burn a cylindrical candle, blow it out until a wide puddle of melted wax forms. Unlike a glass candle, a cylindrical candle does not have a container in which melted wax can collect. But you can use the same technique so that a tunnel doesn't form. Make sure a wide puddle of wax forms the first time you burn it. Put out the flame as soon as you notice that the wax puddle stops widening and begins to sink.
Enjoy your candles
First things first, candles have a protocol and if you want to immerse yourself in the magical world of candles you have to know more than light and extinguish a candle, which by the way, I am sure that many are doing it wrong.
Prevent tunnelling in glass or cylindrical candles.
- When you light a glass candle for the first time, melt the top layer of wax completely. After lighting a new candle, let it burn until the top surface of the wax melts completely. Keep an eye on the progress and don't put it out until you have a 1/4-inch ring of melted wax that spans the entire diameter of the glass.
- When you first burn a cylindrical candle, blow it out until a wide puddle of melted wax forms. Unlike a glass candle, a cylindrical candle does not have a container in which melted wax can collect. But you can use the same technique so that a tunnel doesn't form. Make sure a wide puddle of wax forms the first time you burn it. Put out the flame as soon as you notice that the wax puddle stops widening and begins to sink.
- Every time you light the candle in the future, melt the top layer of wax. The first time you light cylindrical and glass candles is crucial to getting it right, but that's not all you need to do. Use the same technique every time you lit the candle. The wax should always melt in an even layer, down to the edges of the glass. It will solidify into a flat, even layer and will not tunnel.
- To achieve an even layer of melted wax in glass and cylindrical candles, especially large ones, they should burn for several hours. Don't light the candle if you don't plan to keep it like that on and watch it for a short period of time.
- While the wax is smooth, fold the top edges of the cylindrical candle. When you turn off the flame, smooth the top edges of the cylinder with your hands. Fold them in towards the centre so that the sharp edges become smooth curves that slope inward. When you light it again the next time, these edges will melt and there won't be excess wax to create a tunnel effect.
- While the wax is smooth, fold the top edges of the cylindrical candle. When you turn off the flame, smooth the top edges of the cylinder with your hands. Fold them in towards the centre so that the sharp edges become smooth curves that slope inward. When you light it again the next time, these edges will melt and there won't be excess wax to create a tunnel effect.
- Heat the candle in the oven to soften the tunnel. Preheat the oven to 80ºC (175ºC) and place the candle on a baking sheet. Put the candle in the oven for about 5 minutes to soften the wax and loosen the walls of the glass. When warm, flatten it with a table knife or small metal spoon to form an even layer, removing excess wax if the wick is covered. To burn properly, at least 1/8 inch (3 mm) of the wick must be exposed. Before using this method, make sure the candle glass is oven safe.
You can also use a blow dryer on high heat to heat up the wax. The wax will start to soften after about 10 minutes.
- Wrap the top of a candle glass in aluminium foil to melt the tunnel. First, light the candle. Next, carefully wrap a double-ply aluminium foil cylinder about 6 inches (15 cm) high by 12 inches (30 cm) wide around the top of the candle glass. Leave about 3 inches (7 cm) spreading over the glass, and fold the top edges of the foil to form a rounded cover with an opening in the centre. Remove the foil wrap after 2 hours and the wax tunnel should have melted.
Don't forget to watch the candle as it burns. Just because you can't see the flame doesn't mean it isn't potentially dangerous.
- Burn a cylindrical candle in a hurricane vase. Choose a glass hurricane vase with a wide top that you can put the cylindrical candle in. The vase should be a few inches taller than the candle. Light the candle in the vase to trap more heat and make the wax soften and melt more quickly so it burns more evenly.
Use a table knife to cut off the excess wax in the tunnel. When the wax is warm and smooth, cut the pieces of wax with a metal table knife. Cut small sections and peel them off the sides of the glass. Wipe off all the excess until the top wax layer is relatively smooth and flat and is 1/8 inch (3 mm) below the top of the wick.
You can do this after heating the candle in the oven or after extinguishing it, before the wax has completely cooled.
You can save the pieces of wax to warm them in a candle warmer. This way, you can enjoy the fragrance without wasting any part of the candle.
You can also use a blow dryer on high heat to heat up the wax. The wax will start to soften after about 10 minutes.
- Wrap the top of a candle glass in aluminium foil to melt the tunnel. First, light the candle. Next, carefully wrap a double-ply aluminium foil cylinder about 6 inches (15 cm) high by 12 inches (30 cm) wide around the top of the candle glass. Leave about 3 inches (7 cm) spreading over the glass, and fold the top edges of the foil to form a rounded cover with an opening in the centre. Remove the foil wrap after 2 hours and the wax tunnel should have melted.
Don't forget to watch the candle as it burns. Just because you can't see the flame doesn't mean it isn't potentially dangerous.
- Burn a cylindrical candle in a hurricane vase. Choose a glass hurricane vase with a wide top that you can put the cylindrical candle in. The vase should be a few inches taller than the candle. Light the candle in the vase to trap more heat and make the wax soften and melt more quickly so it burns more evenly.
Use a table knife to cut off the excess wax in the tunnel. When the wax is warm and smooth, cut the pieces of wax with a metal table knife. Cut small sections and peel them off the sides of the glass. Wipe off all the excess until the top wax layer is relatively smooth and flat and is 1/8 inch (3 mm) below the top of the wick.
You can do this after heating the candle in the oven or after extinguishing it, before the wax has completely cooled.
You can save the pieces of wax to warm them in a candle warmer. This way, you can enjoy the fragrance without wasting any part of the candle.
Enjoy your candles
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