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You light a beautiful candle, enjoy it for an hour, blow it out, and a few burns later there is a deep hole down the middle and a thick wall of wax left around the edge. That's candle tunneling, and it wastes the wax and the fragrance you paid for.

The good news: a tunneled candle is almost always fixable. My favorite fix takes about three minutes with a heat gun. Here is exactly how I do it, plus how to keep it from happening in the first place.

What Is Candle Tunneling?

Candle tunneling is when a candle burns straight down the center and leaves a ring of unmelted wax around the sides. Each burn digs the tunnel deeper, the wick sits lower, and eventually the flame struggles or drowns. You lose burn time, and the scent never fills the room the way it should.

Why Is My Candle Tunneling?

• The first burn was too short. This is the big one. Wax has a memory. If the first burn stops before the melt pool reaches the edge, every burn after that tends to stop at the same ring.
• Short burns every time. Lighting a candle for 20 minutes here and there keeps the pool small.
• A drafty spot. A vent or open door makes the flame lean and burn unevenly.
• An untrimmed wick. A long, mushroomed wick makes an unsteady flame and an uneven pool.

How to Fix Candle Tunneling with a Heat Gun

This is the method I use and the one I recommend most. A heat gun gives steady, even heat and melts the top layer flat.

1. Let the candle cool completely. Never use heat on a lit or still-warm candle.
2. Hold the heat gun about 6 inches above the wax. Use a low setting and keep it moving in slow circles, paying extra attention to the hard ring around the edge.
3. Heat for about 3 minutes, until the top layer melts flat and level with the edges.
4. Let it cool overnight before you relight it, so the wax sets completely.
5. Wait to trim the wick until your next burn. I don't cut the wick right after I melt the wax, because the melted wax will cover a cut wick. Once the wax has cooled and you are ready to light the candle again, trim the wick to 1/4 inch and give that burn enough time for the melt pool to reach the edge.

Be careful not to touch the vessel while you are heating the wax. The glass gets hot and can burn your hand. Let it cool before you pick it up, and keep the heat gun away from anything flammable.

No Heat Gun? Use a Blow Dryer

A good blow dryer works too, but unlike the heat gun, it needs to be on high heat. Hold it about 6 inches above the wax for about 3 minutes, moving it around until the surface melts flat. Then let it cool overnight, just like the heat gun method.

How to Prevent Candle Tunneling

• Make the first burn count. Give a new candle 2 to 3 hours on its first burn, until the melt pool reaches the edges of the jar. This sets the burn pattern for the life of the candle.
• Keep every burn long enough. Let the whole surface melt before you put it out, usually 3 to 4 hours.
• Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before every burn. Here is how to trim a candle wick the right way.
• Burn away from drafts. Keep candles away from vents, fans and open doors.
• Snuff, don't blow. A candle snuffer puts the flame out without splattering wax or smoke. Here's how to put out a candle the right way.

How Long to Burn a Candle the First Time

For our 12 oz signature candles, plan on 2 to 3 hours for the first burn, or until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar. Smaller candles, like our 8 oz and 2 oz gold tins, reach the edge sooner. The rule is the same for every size: don't put it out until the whole top layer has melted.

Candle Tunneling FAQs

Can you fix a tunneled candle?

Yes. Melt the top layer flat with a heat gun or a blow dryer held about 6 inches above the wax, let it cool overnight, then trim the wick right before your next burn and give that burn enough time to melt edge to edge.

Why does my candle keep tunneling?

Usually because the first burn was too short, or because each burn ends before the whole surface melts. Drafts and an untrimmed wick can make it worse.

How do you make a candle burn evenly?

Trim the wick to 1/4 inch, keep the candle away from drafts, and let every burn continue until the melt pool reaches the edges, usually 3 to 4 hours.

Is it safe to use a heat gun on a candle?

Yes, when the candle is not lit and has cooled. Use a low setting, keep it about 6 inches away and keep it moving. Don't touch the vessel while you're heating it, because the glass gets hot enough to burn your hand.

Should you trim the wick after fixing a tunneled candle?

Not right away. Melted wax will cover a cut wick. Wait until the wax has cooled and you are ready to burn the candle again, then trim the wick to 1/4 inch.

Can you fix candle tunneling with a hair dryer?

Yes. Use a good blow dryer on high heat, about 6 inches above the wax, for about 3 minutes, until the surface melts flat.

Shop My Candle Care Essentials

• Essential Candle Care Kit · $25, a matte black wick trimmer and snuffer
• Gold-Tipped Long Candle Matches · $10
• Signature Candles · from $18
• The heat gun I use

For the full care routine, read How to Trim a Candle Wick and our candle care guide.

Have you ever rescued a tunneled candle? Tell me how in the comments. I read every one.

Live with intention,
❤️ Jeannie