There’s nothing quite like lighting a candle to set the mood—until it starts tunneling down the center and leaves wasted wax around the edges. If your candle doesn't burn evenly, you're not alone. It’s one of the most common candle complaints, and thankfully, it's easy to avoid once you know what to do.
Here’s how to burn a candle evenly, so you can enjoy every last bit of your wax (especially if it’s one of our zero waste candle refills).
1. Let the wax melt to the edges—every time
The first burn sets the stage. Wax has a “memory,” and if you blow your candle out too early, it will keep burning in that smaller circle moving forward. To prevent this, let the wax pool reach all the way to the edges of your ceramic candle vessel on the first light. This usually takes about 2–3 hours, depending on the size of the candle.
Not letting it burn long enough? That’s what causes candle tunneling—the dreaded uneven dip in the center of your candle.
2. Trim your wick (yes, it actually matters)
Before every burn, trim your cotton wick to about ¼ inch. A wick that’s too long can create a large flame, which leads to smoke, uneven burning, and leftover wax on the sides of the jar.
Our refillable candles use cotton wicks for a clean, controlled burn—but even the best wick needs a quick trim to do its job right.
3. Burn in 2–4 hour sessions
Burning your candle too long can be just as bad as not long enough. If a candle is left burning for 5+ hours, the wick can shift or mushroom, leading to an uneven burn or extra soot. Aim for 3–4 hour sessions to get the best, most even glow.
4. Keep it still and upright
Candles love calm vibes too. If your candle is tilted or on an uneven surface, the wax will naturally melt more on one side than the other. Always place your candle on a flat, level surface away from strong breezes, ceiling fans, or open windows.
Bonus: A sturdy ceramic vessel (like ours) helps hold the heat evenly and keeps things stable while it burns.
5. What about burning a candle with no wick?
Let’s talk about that—because “how to burn a candle with no wick” is a question that pops up surprisingly often. Short answer? You can’t burn a candle without a wick the traditional way. The wick is essential for drawing melted wax up to the flame. However, if your wick has disappeared into the wax or broken off, you might be able to melt the rest down and repurpose it in a wax warmer.
But for safety (and scent strength), we recommend sticking with wick-based burning or replacing the wax refill entirely when the wick is no longer usable.
6. Use high-quality wax
Cheap candles often use wax blends that burn unevenly or leave behind excess residue. Our soy wax refills are made from clean-burning, 100% soy wax that’s designed to melt consistently from start to finish. That means you’ll see less tunneling and more glow—and when you’re done, just pop in a new refill. No mess, no waste.
Quick Recap: How to Burn Candles Evenly
- Let the wax pool reach the edges on every burn
- Trim your wick to ¼ inch before lighting
- Burn for 2–4 hours at a time
- Keep your candle on a flat, draft-free surface
- Use clean, even-burning wax (like our soy wax refills)
With these simple tips, you’ll extend the life of your candle, get more out of every wax refill, and enjoy a clean, even burn every time.