How to Fix Common Candle Problems: Tunneling, Weak Scent Throw, and More

Even the most beautifully crafted candles can sometimes have issues that affect their performance. Whether it's tunneling, a weak scent, or an uneven burn, these common problems can take away from your candle experience. The good news? Most of them are easy to fix with a few adjustments. Here’s how to troubleshoot and get the most out of your luxury candles.

1. Tunneling

Problem: Your candle burns straight down the center, leaving unmelted wax around the edges.

Cause: Tunneling often happens when the candle isn’t allowed to burn long enough during the first use. The wax remembers where it has melted before—this is called the "wax memory."

Fix:

  • On the first burn, let your candle melt all the way to the edges of the container. This can take 2–4 hours depending on the size.

  • If tunneling has already occurred, try the foil trick: wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the top rim of the candle, leaving an opening in the center. Burn the candle for an hour—this helps melt the outer wax.

2. Weak Scent Throw

Problem: Your candle isn’t filling the room with fragrance.

Cause: Several factors can affect scent throw—wax quality, wick size, fragrance load, and even room size and airflow.

Fix:

  • Make sure you’re burning the candle in an appropriate room size; smaller candles won’t fill large, open spaces.

  • Burn your candle for at least an hour at a time to allow the scent to develop.

  • Trim your wick to 1/4 inch—too long or too short can affect how the wax melts and releases fragrance.

  • Ensure the candle is stored properly—extreme temperatures and long periods of disuse can affect scent potency.

3. Uneven Burn or Wax Pool

Problem: The wax melts unevenly, favoring one side of the candle.

Cause: Drafts, a tilted wick, or an uneven surface can cause this.

Fix:

  • Always burn your candle on a level, heat-resistant surface.

  • Keep it away from fans, vents, and open windows.

  • If your wick is leaning, extinguish the flame and gently center it while the wax is still warm.

4. Excessive Soot or Smoke

Problem: Black soot is collecting on the jar or smoke is visible when burning.

Cause: Usually from a wick that’s too long or a candle burning near a draft.

Fix:

  • Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before each burn.

  • Make sure the candle isn’t in a drafty area.

  • Avoid burning for more than 4 hours at a time.

5. Wick Won’t Stay Lit

Problem: You light your candle, but the flame keeps going out.

Cause: This often happens if the wick is too short or drowning in melted wax.

Fix:

  • Gently remove some of the melted wax or tilt the container to pour a bit out.

  • Let the wax cool, then relight.

  • If using wooden wicks, make sure they’re trimmed and not too long—sometimes relighting multiple times is necessary.

Final Thoughts

A luxury candle should elevate your space—not cause frustration. With a few simple care tips, you can avoid or fix most common candle problems and get the best performance from your favorite scents. At SRPH, we design our candles with high-performance ingredients and thoughtful construction to minimize these issues—but even the best candles need a little care now and then.

Want to learn more? Check out our Candle Care 101 post for a complete guide to making your candles last longer and burn better.

 

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