You can save a candle if you already have a build up. Simply place your candle/candles in a pot of water on the stove and boil them on medium heat. Do not submerge the candles in the water, just enough water to cover the wax in the jar. Make sure that you keep the wicks straight while boiling. I myself use the lollipop sticks. Boil until all the wax has melted. This will give you a flat wax surface again. Hope this helps. I make candles myself all the time.
Pickle Bumps, You lost all credibility with me when i read your comment ( " ... i myself ...). Unless you have a split personality, i figure you are one in the same . . . .
@@lizzfrmhon You place the jar of the candle into a pot of water on the stove. The water remains outside of the jar, similarly to a double boiler. You don't want the outside water to be much higher than the level of wax in the jar. (You may want to place a spacer of some kind underneath the jar to help prevent the direct heat from potentially breaking the glass) The wax inside the candle jar remains dry, but the heat of the water slowly melts the wax until it flows to a level surface. (Now I have also seen videos and texts that recommend AGAINST this, so I would do more research before trying it myself.)
@@fjb4932 well I lived to see a person looking for credibilty on the internet. And expressing oneself on a random subject, most particular on the grammer. Bugger.
Very clear. One thing you're forgetting, put salt on the side of the candle, the size of the memoryring. This salt will extend the heat and also melt the memoryring. This way you get maximum use from your candle, because it burn up all the wax and leaves no rings
You can also take a dinner knife and gently loosen the soft wax that is part of that ring and bend it inwards and down so it has a chance to melt. It takes time and watching it closely so you don't bend too much wax down to melt so that melted wax doesn't "drown" the wick to the point the wick goes out and there isn't enough wick sticking out of the wax to light or keep it lit. It sounds as if it wouldn't work, but I've been doing that to large container candles since I was a teenager and I'm about to turn 71 in three days.
What if the wax never melts to the edge? I have one candle that has NEVER melted to the edge of the container - regardless that it had an initial burn of six hours (small candle too)
I have gotten rid of the memory ring with no problem. Once the wax is warmed and soft just use a disposable knife to get between the container and the was and push the wax inward toward the flame so it melts to the edge. Works for me.
Came here to say the same thing. Sometimes while the candle is still burning, I'll tilt it a bit so the warm wax melts the wax on the side and I keep doing this until it evens out.
I place the glass candle holder in the hot oven when I'm finished cooking. The residual heat melts the memory ring away. Trim the wick when it's time to light. If I melt over the wick, I push half a birthday candle next to it.
Man, but we’re abt to have lots of third world problems. So when you find yourself burning candles because there’s no power you might then appreciate having watched this.
13.75 pounds for that candle? Sheesh. But thank you for the tips. I immediately got out a few candles and lit them. A little bliss in otherwise jarring times.
A tip for easily removing spent candles from containers..put it in the freezer and after several hours you can pop out the remaking wax and burned down wick.
Thanks for info.never knew why my candles did that. I've taken a knife and cut the wax on the sides and filled in the hole,being sure not to cover the wick.and the ball on the wick, I just pinch it off the wick. Now I know why it gets it.Didn't know there was a recommend length for wick either. THANKS FOR SHARING this. Learned alot ,glad I watched it.
You can always use a heat gun and melt down some of the tunneling! but yes a proper first burn to the edges is essential! Great video! I Love making my own homemade candles!
Just wanted to give another vote comment for the foil heat trap method! Make a foil "collar" for the candle, which will help insulate and direct the heat downward and if the tunneling isn't too deep yet, can actually help melt the wax all the way to the edge. I also like to do this on first lighting so that I can ensure that the wax melts all the way to the edge a little bit faster.
Wow, thanks for your video presentation. In the past, I used to buy the long glass candles from any commercial stores over the counter & I noticed the wick was too thin & I always keep having the memory ring tunneling effect issues. Whilst I was at the Target store, I'm buying those candles in which the wicks are a little thicker, therefore, whenever I burn them, it burns so evenly for my religious (Catholic) devotion.👍✌🙂😸✝🙏🙏
Good advice. I remember having a tea light going and near it’s end, just a sea of liquid wax and the wick, alight. Then all of a sudden the whole diameter, all the wax, was alight! It produced a tall column of flame about 8-10” tall. Very frightening. I managed to snuff it out from the side, but I’ve a new respect for tea lights now.
Lovely to see St Eval candles getting a showing! They're made not far from me and yeah, they're expensive but it's not like you use these ones in a power cut. Great video, I'm guilty of not letting them burn long enough and have often had this problem but no longer! :)
I melt down any unburned candle wax in a double boiler and reuse it in an empty container. I have both new wooden wicks and cloth wicks that I bought from Amazon. This gives me a new candle from the leftovers. And yes, I do mix scents sometimes to create a new one. Also, if the new jar can accommodate at least 2 wicks, this will also help prevent tunneling with the newly created candle.
Good information. Thank you. You mention the "size" of the wick. Some candle makers don't make their candles with a wick of appropriate diameter. If it's too slender, the flame and the subsequent heat won't melt the wax surface enough to extend to the edges. Also, a wick that's too fat can create problems as well.
Wow. Didn't realise there were any considerations or 'science' when it came to candles. I have some lovely scented ones unused & tucked away, because of the exact reasons you mentioned. Soot & tunnelling. Great video. Thank you 😁👍
This just appeared on my "New to you" section! I threw away four candles,on Saturday(which were Christmas buys) for exactly this reason, I even put sea salt crystals on them - that only worked on the triple wick! Just subscribed - brilliant information!!
That was a really well presented, easy to follow guide on what most people think is all about simply lighting it up and blowing it out. Full of useful tips. Thanks and Sub’d
I think the most common reason is a poor first burn as many people don’t know to burn a candle until the top layer is completely melted. At the first burn stage, the wick is fresh and it’s size is dictated by the manufacturer.
@@mariej5319 Good candle brands will have a message to say to burn at least so many hours when burning for the first time. So this is definitely the mistake people make.
I have encountered commercially-produced candles where the manufacturer cheaped out and used too-skinny wicks, thereby dooming the candle. Learned about wick thickness over several instances of melting "waste" wax to pour into new candles...some of those commercial ones gave me lots of material to work with!
I make short candles in used Gu dessert jars, with wicks intended for candles about 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the jars. Left to their own devices, they would leave just under 1/2 inch of wax around the sides, but I place a small earthenware plant pot over them, raised about 1/4 inch off the surface, and the candles then burn completely, lasting between 9 to 10 hours. The heat trapped beneath the plant pot is what prevents the tunneling, and promotes a slow clean burn which helps warm a small room, with no sooting on the inside of the plant pot!
This is such a great video! Two things I do when I have not been able to burn the wax all the way to the side is, next time I make a tent with some aluminum foil with a hole in the top, it helps the wax on the side melt down. The other thing I do is, when I have a bunch of candle left but the wick is all gone, after its cold, I break bits of wax of at the bottom and put them into plug-in wax burners. I usually end up with completely clean jars doing this.
I sold a lot of partylite candles in my younger years. The rule of thumb is, for every inch of the candles diameter, needs a minimum of one hour burn time. So a six inch (wide) candle needs to burn a minimum of 6 hours to burn evenly.
I make short candles in used Gu dessert jars, with wicks intended for candles about 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the jars. Left to their own devices, they would leave just under 1/2 inch of wax around the sides, but I place a small earthenware plant pot over them, raised about 1/4 inch off the surface, and the candles then burn completely, lasting between 9 to 10 hours. The heat trapped beneath the plant pot is what prevents the tunneling, and promotes a slow clean burn which helps warm a small room, and with no sooting on the inside of the plant pot.
Dump melted wax into a wax warmer - the scent lasts a long time and the wax doesn't get consumed. It really stretches how long you can "use" an expensive candle.
When I have ended up with an inverted volcano as I think of it. I use a tool of some some sort, a nail file has worked for me. I scrape the edge of the candle at an angle to make loose wax, pour in to a toilet roll tube, then invert the candle, pour the loose wax back atop the wick making a little mountain and make sure that the wick has a little hole to pop out. Has given full wax burning and quadrupled my candles life time 😊
Personally, I've run into the issue of letting my new candles burn for several hours but they still wouldn't melt the wax all the way to the glass. So just another tip for anyone out there, you can use candle toppers, which help to hold in more of the heat of the flame and as a result do a better job of melting all the wax.
Yeah some candles are just too fat for 1 wick. It's so annoying. I had a candle that I left burning for 4 hours on the first burn, and it still tunnelled.
Awesome valid reasons, I adore candles, my mood improves when I 'm down, for me it's a mood booster, anything that has to do with candle's I'm up for it, thanks for those very important tips.
Yankee Candle had a wonderful device that you put on top of the candle to create an even heat flow so you don't get the tunneling. I've had candles tunnel without ever blowing them out so explain that one... I've never read anywhere, even on candles, to burn them until the top layer is completely melted. If anything, I've been told to not burn candles too long because you are essentially burning off the oils which will leave you with a scentless candle. Weird stuff.
Hmm, the candle illustrating the wax melting right up to the glass has a much larger wick. I used to make candles and every time you use a thin wick it will tunnel. No matter how long you burn it the heat doesn't melt the wax to the glass.
I make my own candles with Crisp n Dry in glass jam jars. I get memory rings / tunnelling. But it doesn't matter, because I can melt the "wax" again and again. Once the wax has solidified again, I just put a new dining candle into the Crisp n Dry. Then it's ready to reuse.
This video just popped up in my newsfeed so I hope a few see this comment. The best way to keep a candle from tunneling is to sprinkle salt all over the top of the wax before you light it. I’ve tried this on cheap candles and it’s never failed me once. Just do it every time before lighting.
Or put a ring of foil around the rim slightly tented over the wax to return the heat to the candle and then it will prevent / fix the tunnelling. Been doing this for ages
I love burnng candles and have wondered about these issues for years like when the cadle burns down in the middle and have often ended up throwing the candle away. Put me off buying more expensive ones. Now i know and it all makes sense. Thanks for a really great video. That’s me subscribed.
You can wrap the upper sides of the candle with foil. When it burns, the heat will distribute better and melt the wax left on the sides in rings. It really works !
absolutely. seconded. To say theres 'nothing you can do' is wrong. Wrap with foil then let the rings melt which they will - and the candle is reset nicely. no waste.
This is interesting, but I do remelt quite successfully. I bought extra wicks for this purpose. I rest the jar in really hot water and leave it till all the wax in hte inner jar melts, topping up the outer bowl with hot water if it cools too quickly. (Make quite sure your wax doesn't get wet). Then I pour the molten wax into a smaller jar with a new wick. Until now, a memory ring has formed again, but now I know ow to deal with that too. Win-win!
another couple tips: when you have a tunneled candle, they do have a candle warmer plate that you can set the candle off, it'll melt the wax and release the aromas. or invest in a small tart/candle warmer(melter), and chip pieces of wax out of the candle jar and use that to melt. If the candle company has a jar topper, like Yankee Candle for instance, it's worth the buy. it helps keep the wind from the flame, and helps keep the heat in the jar to have a more even melt. i love my jar toppers. there is an effect of having candles in a cold/cooler room, sometimes the heat in the jar isn't hot enough to melt the wax all the way across. so if you need candles for light, use pillars. :)
I’ve chipped out the pieces of candle wax and used them in my candle warmers! Works great and definitely saves money not having to buy the wax blocks for melting in the warmers!
Not all candles have lids.. but it leaves soot inside after a few times also. I've learned dipping the wick actually helps to keep it from getting charred & mushrooming too.
Great tip about the candle tunneling--that always happens to me and I finally know what to do! Also I see from the price tag on the bottom of one of the jars that UK folks pay a lot for candles too! I think candles are frequently overpriced.
@@cynthiacrawford6147 in the UK, VAT or Value Added Tax is included in the price you see. It will be shown on the receipt, but £13.75 would have been the price that was paid, unless there were any sales reducing the price.
@@lyannecb8499 very nice but still yall pay a lot in taxes. Our government is addiing more taxes too. Every time the dems get in office they go up. Then the reps lower it some but keep some. So both sides are messing us up. Plus we have no healthcare here. So at least your high taxes give you an occasional doctors visits.
New subscriber here! This vid was really helpful! I've got candles all over the house that never burn properly - they've also got "memory rings". And, who knew there are "instructions" on the bottom of the containers?? Not me! Gonna try your tips!
You CAN save a candle that's already developed memory rings! If you take your candle out for regular walks, give it plenty of fresh air, and especially enrich it's environment it will soon develop new, beautiful memories that will take over any bad, unfinished memory rings of the past. Make sure you always listen to your candles' feelings and don't project your own negativity and insecurity upon your candle. You're candle is going through a lot and needs your support. I hope all of your candles will have long and beautiful lives!
Thank you for this information. When my candles burn to the bottom of the jar and are and nearly finished I wait until the wax has set and then cut the old wax out with an old butter knife getting it all out. Then pull the small metal base of the wax out with a pair of pliers because it is stuck to the bottom with some kind of glue then clean out the jar with a small piece of wire wool 'it does not scratch the glass' then re use the old candle jar for the small tealight candles afterwards.
I use 250ml beakers (tall) and it will tunnel at first but when the flame burns down about 30mm from the rim it melts the ring and from then on there is no ring at all, just liquid wax for the first 6-10mm and solid wax below that. What happens is that the heat produced by the flame radiates to the side and that melts the wax but is insufficient to melt it all the way, but when the flame burns down 30mm the heat radiating from the side is augmented by heat that generally goes straight up -- the additional heat melts the wax to the glass. I have no idea what you're talking about as far as candle memory is concerned, wax that is heated then cooled will be cold and is less likely to melt in a few minutes. I routinely operate the candle for about 6-12 hours per day but the first day of use the flame hasn't burned down enough to melt the wax to the glass so it forms a tunnel. The next day the candle burns down enough that much of the heat that just goes straight up begins to add to the radiant heat and by the end of the second day there is no tunnel as all the wax above the flame has melted. I tried a larger beaker of 300mm but it was wide enough that it was harder to heat the wax enough to melt it to the glass. I also tried smaller beakers but they don't last very long so 250mm tall beakers seem about perfect. I get about 56-64 hours per candle and each candle contains about 270g or wax as I fill the wax to the very top.
You can push the wax down after burning for a little while. Extinguish the flame and with the back of a spoon push the wax built up on the side down! I have done this and it works!!
You can easily fix this with tin foil. Cover the top of the candle and poke a hole about 2cm in diameter in the centre. This gives access for air to circulate but reflects the heat of the wick. This will melt the surrounding wax back into the pool.
I’ve been able to recover a tunnel by wrapping the outside of the candle jar with aluminum foil and a small piece of tape. Not the most attractive thing but it keeps the heat in and melts it evenly
We had a 24 hour power outage and I burned new candles for more than 20 hours straight and there were differences in the melted area. All candles aren’t created equal.
I used to just take the softened wax around the edge and push it down so that it would get a little melty. All in all that's usually what I did I haven't had this problem in a long time but anyways so swept over I just take it out and I put it in my wax melter and I use that for a few days until the smell is gone
Candle tunnel. Get a Butterknife gently push the walls toward the center the flame melt the side walls that you pushed toward the center and all will be resolved. Still fun to do…:)
Good afternoon. How does one prevent a memory ring on a pillar candle (one NOT in a jar or metal tin)? These candles really don't melt to the outer edges of the wax pillar...Thanks in advance.
The point of many types of pillar candles is this effect. They act as decorative cylindrical colored lanterns. My Grandmother always had such a pillarcandle in her small kitchen lit for winter and early breakfasts and teatime, and was careful to get the more expensive ones that had that pillar effect. Partly bc it actually gives off much more light, partly bc it was placed in a window without a "storm glass" (protective cylinder, don't knoe the word for it in English). This function protects the candle from any effects of drafts, provides more protection for surrounding materials when burning and also when distinguishing (no spatter, and there's no running wax flooding your tray or dish. It's alot safer. It's what you'd expect from a better quality pillar candle especially ones with gradients of color. With the type of pillar candles often used in churches they are contructed to act like giant regular dipped candles, as the flame is the central symbol.
One thing you didn't mention is how to clean the wax off the container when it's finished. Quite a lot of candles come in a nice glass container, and it is a shame to waste the glass. All you need is vegetable oil. Leave the oil in the glass/container for a few days. The wax will have softened enough top be able to wash away with simple washing up liquid.
i used to have those outdoor citrus mosquito repellent candle buckets (they didn't work btw... or we just have way too many mosquitos to notice.. i dont know) anyway the wicks had gone out and each bucket had three memory holes and no more wick. this happened towards the end of the season so they kinda got shoved aside and forgotten. during that span of time i forgot i had them, and while they were MIA they'd reheated from the summer temps and all the holes refilled. so when i found them again i was excited.... however i forgot that their wicks had all gone. i remembered as i tried to dig them out but couldn't find anything. really annoying. what a waste of money suddenly, out of pure desperation for them to work and do their job i rammed a sturdy oak twig into the middle of one bucket and lit that. it actually worked. so i did the same thing to the others and filled the air with lovely citronella and earthy oak smoke lol it still didn't repel mosquitoes like i expected and i will never throw my money away on them again, but i did learn a lesson. so if you run out of wick on the others give that a try. i have no idea if anyone has suggested that before in other videos.. i only know it worked for me.. if you have a shortage of oak twigs then try a toothpick.
"Memory rings" eh - who knew! Sounds like a new age healing exercise lol. Glad I watched this, I'd always wondered about this stuff esp as my tastes for candles are getting more expensive due to not wanting the health impacts of those cheap toxic wax ones. BUT it sounds like price is no guarantee you won't get "memory rings" - if the wick isn't right ie manufacturer has cut corners, you'll still end up with a wasted tunnel thing.
That’s correct! Although, over time you get to know which brands are better for this than others. Ideally, inspect the candle before you buy it so you can assess the wick size first..
When mine burns wrong , I let it cool then I cut the wax out making into pieces then I use that wax in my wax pot, waste not want not , then I take hot soapy water and clean the candle jar and use for other purposes. You can also take the wax pieces and put in bottom of trash cans , put trash bag in , no more orders,
I successfully use a butter knife to push all that unmelted wax on the sides, into the center recess, around the wick. (Don't cover the wick.) It melts into the pool of burning wax and isn't wasted. I don't know why you said there is nothing you can do. That's ridiculous!
Good video and advice! Is it possible to stop this tunneling happening with candles that are NOT in containers - self-standing ones, like the big, thick 'church' type candles? For example, I have a big candle (300 mm tall, 100 mm wide) which is now basically a shell or tube of wax with the wick way down inside. I can trim it with a warm knife which works but can be a bit messy so I'm wondering if you have any tips on making chunky candles burn down more evenly?
Greetings Anna, I have just read about tunnelling in candles not in containers. If you press the lip of the candle inwards, but dont cover the wick. See 'Sharehows'. They displayed this while advising against tunnelling. Hope this helps. Best of luck.
Best of luck! Just tbink you bring all the prayer blessings and intentions from your church to your home. What a privileged blessing your home must be. Enjoy
I have a candle in a jar about 3.5" in diameter and 3.5" high. At the beginning I used a foil topper with a hole in the middle to ensure the wax is liquid covering the entire surface. At about half through the flame became tiny, so I removed the topper. Now I see a normal flame, but it began to form a tunnel. If I put back the topper, the flame again is almost dying. Any suggestions?
You can save a candle if you already have a build up. Simply place your candle/candles in a pot of water on the stove and boil them on medium heat. Do not submerge the candles in the water, just enough water to cover the wax in the jar. Make sure that you keep the wicks straight while boiling. I myself use the lollipop sticks. Boil until all the wax has melted. This will give you a flat wax surface again. Hope this helps. I make candles myself all the time.
Pickle Bumps,
You lost all credibility with me when i read your comment ( " ... i myself ...).
Unless you have a split personality, i figure you are one in the same . . . .
I really don’t understand what u mean. Plz explain more
@@fjb4932 They used proper English. So basically you're stating that they lost credibility to you for your own lack of education.
@@lizzfrmhon You place the jar of the candle into a pot of water on the stove. The water remains outside of the jar, similarly to a double boiler. You don't want the outside water to be much higher than the level of wax in the jar. (You may want to place a spacer of some kind underneath the jar to help prevent the direct heat from potentially breaking the glass) The wax inside the candle jar remains dry, but the heat of the water slowly melts the wax until it flows to a level surface. (Now I have also seen videos and texts that recommend AGAINST this, so I would do more research before trying it myself.)
@@fjb4932 well I lived to see a person looking for credibilty on the internet. And expressing oneself on a random subject, most particular on the grammer. Bugger.
Very clear. One thing you're forgetting, put salt on the side of the candle, the size of the memoryring. This salt will extend the heat and also melt the memoryring. This way you get maximum use from your candle, because it burn up all the wax and leaves no rings
You can also take a dinner knife and gently loosen the soft wax that is part of that ring and bend it inwards and down so it has a chance to melt. It takes time and watching it closely so you don't bend too much wax down to melt so that melted wax doesn't "drown" the wick to the point the wick goes out and there isn't enough wick sticking out of the wax to light or keep it lit. It sounds as if it wouldn't work, but I've been doing that to large container candles since I was a teenager and I'm about to turn 71 in three days.
@@bunnyslippers191 🙂Happy Birthday to you!!!! 🎂🫖
will all that salt in the wax affect any candles you make using that extra wax?
What if the wax never melts to the edge? I have one candle that has NEVER melted to the edge of the container - regardless that it had an initial burn of six hours (small candle too)
@@carliem9494 Evidently from the video it means the wick is too thin; there is nothing you can do. 😥
I have gotten rid of the memory ring with no problem. Once the wax is warmed and soft just use a disposable knife to get between the container and the was and push the wax inward toward the flame so it melts to the edge. Works for me.
Came here to say the same thing. Sometimes while the candle is still burning, I'll tilt it a bit so the warm wax melts the wax on the side and I keep doing this until it evens out.
me too!
I place the glass candle holder in the hot oven when I'm finished cooking. The residual heat melts the memory ring away. Trim the wick when it's time to light. If I melt over the wick, I push half a birthday candle next to it.
I'm also a sucker for pulling or pushing the hot wax away from the glass using a popsicle stick.
Same here
Man, we've got some first world problems. Life can't be too bad if I'm sitting here watching this. 🙃
Exactly 😆
Man, but we’re abt to have lots of third world problems. So when you find yourself burning candles because there’s no power you might then appreciate having watched this.
Agreed!!
13.75 pounds for that candle? Sheesh. But thank you for the tips. I immediately got out a few candles and lit them. A little bliss in otherwise jarring times.
Me too 😂😂🤣
Those of us preparing for power outages need this. Thank you.
A tip for easily removing spent candles from containers..put it in the freezer and after several hours you can pop out the remaking wax and burned down wick.
I scooped the wall out and put the wax in a warmer, candle burns perfectly afterwards 😉 I do know why it happens now, thank you 👍🏻
I’ve not thought of that and yet it’s so simple!
I’m usually trying to squish the wax back down into place. Great tip! 👍🏼
Thanks for info.never knew why my candles did that. I've taken a knife and cut the wax on the sides and filled in the hole,being sure not to cover the wick.and the ball on the wick, I just pinch it off the wick. Now I know why it gets it.Didn't know there was a recommend length for wick either. THANKS FOR SHARING this. Learned alot ,glad I watched it.
You can always use a heat gun and melt down some of the tunneling! but yes a proper first burn to the edges is essential! Great video! I Love making my own homemade candles!
Thank you for all info. I’ve been doing it all wrong and always wondered why my candles burned leaving all that lovely wax not touched . 👍
Just wanted to give another vote comment for the foil heat trap method! Make a foil "collar" for the candle, which will help insulate and direct the heat downward and if the tunneling isn't too deep yet, can actually help melt the wax all the way to the edge. I also like to do this on first lighting so that I can ensure that the wax melts all the way to the edge a little bit faster.
Wow, thanks for your video presentation. In the past, I used to buy the long glass candles from any commercial stores over the counter & I noticed the wick was too thin & I always keep having the memory ring tunneling effect issues. Whilst I was at the Target store, I'm buying those candles in which the wicks are a little thicker, therefore, whenever I burn them, it burns so evenly for my religious (Catholic) devotion.👍✌🙂😸✝🙏🙏
Good advice. I remember having a tea light going and near it’s end, just a sea of liquid wax and the wick, alight. Then all of a sudden the whole diameter, all the wax, was alight! It produced a tall column of flame about 8-10” tall. Very frightening. I managed to snuff it out from the side, but I’ve a new respect for tea lights now.
Good info TFS
Lovely to see St Eval candles getting a showing! They're made not far from me and yeah, they're expensive but it's not like you use these ones in a power cut. Great video, I'm guilty of not letting them burn long enough and have often had this problem but no longer! :)
I melt down any unburned candle wax in a double boiler and reuse it in an empty container. I have both new wooden wicks and cloth wicks that I bought from Amazon. This gives me a new candle from the leftovers. And yes, I do mix scents sometimes to create a new one. Also, if the new jar can accommodate at least 2 wicks, this will also help prevent tunneling with the newly created candle.
I do same but just pour the molten wax onto a piece of tinfoil and let it harden and use as wax melts in my oil burner
@@sapphire22011 Yes, I put my old wax in burner too and I get the great smell with no flame.
@@rfowler6039 I never thought of that, even though I always use wax melts 🤦♀️
Same here.
WAx milk container works you can peel it off once the wax is hard regularly string works well as wick
Good information. Thank you.
You mention the "size" of the wick. Some candle makers don't make their candles with a wick of appropriate diameter. If it's too slender, the flame and the subsequent heat won't melt the wax surface enough to extend to the edges. Also, a wick that's too fat can create problems as well.
Wow.
Didn't realise there were any considerations or 'science' when it came to candles.
I have some lovely scented ones unused & tucked away, because of the exact reasons you mentioned. Soot & tunnelling.
Great video. Thank you 😁👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
This just appeared on my "New to you" section! I threw away four candles,on Saturday(which were Christmas buys) for exactly this reason, I even put sea salt crystals on them - that only worked on the triple wick! Just subscribed - brilliant information!!
That was a really well presented, easy to follow guide on what most people think is all about simply lighting it up and blowing it out. Full of useful tips. Thanks and Sub’d
Several reasons for the tunneling effect, but the most important one is: you are using the wrong wick size.
I think the most common reason is a poor first burn as many people don’t know to burn a candle until the top layer is completely melted. At the first burn stage, the wick is fresh and it’s size is dictated by the manufacturer.
@@mariej5319 Good candle brands will have a message to say to burn at least so many hours when burning for the first time. So this is definitely the mistake people make.
I have encountered commercially-produced candles where the manufacturer cheaped out and used too-skinny wicks, thereby dooming the candle. Learned about wick thickness over several instances of melting "waste" wax to pour into new candles...some of those commercial ones gave me lots of material to work with!
I make short candles in used Gu dessert jars, with wicks intended for candles about 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the jars.
Left to their own devices, they would leave just under 1/2 inch of wax around the sides, but I place a small earthenware plant pot over them, raised about 1/4 inch off the surface, and the candles then burn completely, lasting between 9 to 10 hours.
The heat trapped beneath the plant pot is what prevents the tunneling, and promotes a slow clean burn which helps warm a small room, with no sooting on the inside of the plant pot!
Great information as good candles are expensive. your tips help get best value.
Very helpful, thank you. No more wasted candles for me!
This is such a great video! Two things I do when I have not been able to burn the wax all the way to the side is, next time I make a tent with some aluminum foil with a hole in the top, it helps the wax on the side melt down. The other thing I do is, when I have a bunch of candle left but the wick is all gone, after its cold, I break bits of wax of at the bottom and put them into plug-in wax burners. I usually end up with completely clean jars doing this.
Great tip. Thanks for sharing!
I sold a lot of partylite candles in my younger years. The rule of thumb is, for every inch of the candles diameter, needs a minimum of one hour burn time. So a six inch (wide) candle needs to burn a minimum of 6 hours to burn evenly.
I never trow the left overs of candles, I recicle them. Its so easy!
I make short candles in used Gu dessert jars, with wicks intended for candles about 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the jars.
Left to their own devices, they would leave just under 1/2 inch of wax around the sides, but I place a small earthenware plant pot over them, raised about 1/4 inch off the surface, and the candles then burn completely, lasting between 9 to 10 hours.
The heat trapped beneath the plant pot is what prevents the tunneling, and promotes a slow clean burn which helps warm a small room, and with no sooting on the inside of the plant pot.
Dump melted wax into a wax warmer - the scent lasts a long time and the wax doesn't get consumed. It really stretches how long you can "use" an expensive candle.
Thanks for the tip Maria!
Who would have thought there is so much to burning a candle properly, thanks a lot.
When I have ended up with an inverted volcano as I think of it. I use a tool of some some sort, a nail file has worked for me. I scrape the edge of the candle at an angle to make loose wax, pour in to a toilet roll tube, then invert the candle, pour the loose wax back atop the wick making a little mountain and make sure that the wick has a little hole to pop out. Has given full wax burning and quadrupled my candles life time 😊
Maybe I should make a video of my own!?
Personally, I've run into the issue of letting my new candles burn for several hours but they still wouldn't melt the wax all the way to the glass. So just another tip for anyone out there, you can use candle toppers, which help to hold in more of the heat of the flame and as a result do a better job of melting all the wax.
Yeah some candles are just too fat for 1 wick. It's so annoying. I had a candle that I left burning for 4 hours on the first burn, and it still tunnelled.
Wow...14 pounds for a small candle...no wonder saving as much of the wax as possible would be ideal...
4:30 Very important! I’ve painted and polycrylic’ed my countertops; set a jarred candle on it a year later, and now have a permanent mark.
Ah shoulda had it on a coaster or mat, a tile or piece of wood....
@@jennyc1846 Yes, that is what I was implying. 👍
i use a trivet! :)
Awesome valid reasons, I adore candles, my mood improves when I 'm down, for me it's a mood booster, anything that has to do with candle's I'm up for it, thanks for those very important tips.
You're very welcome!
Yankee Candle had a wonderful device that you put on top of the candle to create an even heat flow so you don't get the tunneling.
I've had candles tunnel without ever blowing them out so explain that one...
I've never read anywhere, even on candles, to burn them until the top layer is completely melted. If anything, I've been told to not burn candles too long because you are essentially burning off the oils which will leave you with a scentless candle.
Weird stuff.
Hmm, the candle illustrating the wax melting right up to the glass has a much larger wick. I used to make candles and every time you use a thin wick it will tunnel. No matter how long you burn it the heat doesn't melt the wax to the glass.
I make my own candles with Crisp n Dry in glass jam jars. I get memory rings / tunnelling. But it doesn't matter, because I can melt the "wax" again and again. Once the wax has solidified again, I just put a new dining candle into the Crisp n Dry. Then it's ready to reuse.
This video just popped up in my newsfeed so I hope a few see this comment. The best way to keep a candle from tunneling is to sprinkle salt all over the top of the wax before you light it. I’ve tried this on cheap candles and it’s never failed me once. Just do it every time before lighting.
Hi Lisa! A few people have said this. I’ve never tried it myself..
@@businessvideo_pro Sorry, I looked at some of the comments but didn’t see this suggestion. Try it! I think you’ll be amazed. 😊
Keep it going darlin, me and my boys absolutely LOVE this. Dragons have a voice that needs to be heard ❤ 🐲🎶
Thanks so much!!
As a candlemaker I fully endorse the information in this video.
Or put a ring of foil around the rim slightly tented over the wax to return the heat to the candle and then it will prevent / fix the tunnelling. Been doing this for ages
I love burnng candles and have wondered about these issues for years like when the cadle burns down in the middle and have often ended up throwing the candle away. Put me off buying more expensive ones. Now i know and it all makes sense. Thanks for a really great video. That’s me subscribed.
You can wrap the upper sides of the candle with foil. When it burns, the heat will distribute better and melt the wax left on the sides in rings. It really works !
absolutely. seconded.
To say theres 'nothing you can do' is wrong.
Wrap with foil then let the rings melt which they will - and the candle is reset nicely. no waste.
Does not work.
@@charliem.7492 worked for me. so, yes, it does.
They say you learn something new every day well with this video I certainly did 👍🏻
Great video! I love candles ability to instantly create a more relaxed focused pace.
This is interesting, but I do remelt quite successfully. I bought extra wicks for this purpose. I rest the jar in really hot water and leave it till all the wax in hte inner jar melts, topping up the outer bowl with hot water if it cools too quickly. (Make quite sure your wax doesn't get wet). Then I pour the molten wax into a smaller jar with a new wick. Until now, a memory ring has formed again, but now I know ow to deal with that too. Win-win!
another couple tips: when you have a tunneled candle, they do have a candle warmer plate that you can set the candle off, it'll melt the wax and release the aromas. or invest in a small tart/candle warmer(melter), and chip pieces of wax out of the candle jar and use that to melt. If the candle company has a jar topper, like Yankee Candle for instance, it's worth the buy. it helps keep the wind from the flame, and helps keep the heat in the jar to have a more even melt. i love my jar toppers. there is an effect of having candles in a cold/cooler room, sometimes the heat in the jar isn't hot enough to melt the wax all the way across. so if you need candles for light, use pillars. :)
I’ve chipped out the pieces of candle wax and used them in my candle warmers! Works great and definitely saves money not having to buy the wax blocks for melting in the warmers!
This is a very helpful and clear video!👍
I never even knew about this...thank you for the video.
Use the lid to extinguish the flame. Zero fuss.
Not all candles have lids.. but it leaves soot inside after a few times also. I've learned dipping the wick actually helps to keep it from getting charred & mushrooming too.
@@Mandy-nt2cs also leaves burned smell into a delicately perfumed candle.
Great tip about the candle tunneling--that always happens to me and I finally know what to do! Also I see from the price tag on the bottom of one of the jars that UK folks pay a lot for candles too! I think candles are frequently overpriced.
And add their high taxes on too
@@cynthiacrawford6147 in the UK, VAT or Value Added Tax is included in the price you see. It will be shown on the receipt, but £13.75 would have been the price that was paid, unless there were any sales reducing the price.
@@lyannecb8499 very nice but still yall pay a lot in taxes. Our government is addiing more taxes too. Every time the dems get in office they go up. Then the reps lower it some but keep some. So both sides are messing us up. Plus we have no healthcare here. So at least your high taxes give you an occasional doctors visits.
Great advice, thanks👍 I always extinguish my candles by putting a ceramic saucer over the top of the candle glass.
You can sort out a tunnelled candle but wrapping tin foil around/over the edge of the jar. The reflected heat will help to melt it.
Thanks Natalie! I did try this once but didn't really have any success...?
New subscriber here! This vid was really helpful! I've got candles all over the house that never burn properly - they've also got "memory rings". And, who knew there are "instructions" on the bottom of the containers?? Not me! Gonna try your tips!
Thanks Lynda! Glad the video was helpful 😀
You CAN save a candle that's already developed memory rings!
If you take your candle out for regular walks, give it plenty of fresh air, and especially enrich it's environment it will soon develop new, beautiful memories that will take over any bad, unfinished memory rings of the past.
Make sure you always listen to your candles' feelings and don't project your own negativity and insecurity upon your candle.
You're candle is going through a lot and needs your support.
I hope all of your candles will have long and beautiful lives!
Stupid ass comment
Thank you! So helpful. Now I know how not to waist my candles. So informative
Thank you for this information. When my candles burn to the bottom of the jar and are and nearly finished I wait until the wax has set and then cut the old wax out with an old butter knife getting it all out. Then pull the small metal base of the wax out with a pair of pliers because it is stuck to the bottom with some kind of glue then clean out the jar with a small piece of wire wool 'it does not scratch the glass' then re use the old candle jar for the small tealight candles afterwards.
Thank you for addressing the wick.
I use 250ml beakers (tall) and it will tunnel at first but when the flame burns down about 30mm from the rim it melts the ring and from then on there is no ring at all, just liquid wax for the first 6-10mm and solid wax below that. What happens is that the heat produced by the flame radiates to the side and that melts the wax but is insufficient to melt it all the way, but when the flame burns down 30mm the heat radiating from the side is augmented by heat that generally goes straight up -- the additional heat melts the wax to the glass. I have no idea what you're talking about as far as candle memory is concerned, wax that is heated then cooled will be cold and is less likely to melt in a few minutes.
I routinely operate the candle for about 6-12 hours per day but the first day of use the flame hasn't burned down enough to melt the wax to the glass so it forms a tunnel. The next day the candle burns down enough that much of the heat that just goes straight up begins to add to the radiant heat and by the end of the second day there is no tunnel as all the wax above the flame has melted.
I tried a larger beaker of 300mm but it was wide enough that it was harder to heat the wax enough to melt it to the glass. I also tried smaller beakers but they don't last very long so 250mm tall beakers seem about perfect. I get about 56-64 hours per candle and each candle contains about 270g or wax as I fill the wax to the very top.
You can push the wax down after burning for a little while. Extinguish the flame and with the back of a spoon push the wax built up on the side down! I have done this and it works!!
Never knew I needed instructions to burn a candle...thanks, I appreciate the knowledge......
Really enjoyed this! Nice pace. Nice narration. Nice advice! 👍🏼
Thanks so much!
Great hints thankyou, will have to try to remember them
Imagine lighting Buckingham Palace with candles and oil lamps! They must have been elated when electricity came about. 😁
😂
Wow... I never knew... Thank you for the info!
Thanks for the great tips. 🌞
Really useful video! Thanks
Good advice, I don't do much candle burning since my cat got corkscrew shaped eyebrows from trying to sniff it 😂 they did fall off eventually
😮
Some candles just never burn totally. I use a candle warmer lamp and that does reset it.
Yes this is usually due to the wick size being too small.
New subscriber here! Awesome info, thank you!!
You can easily fix this with tin foil. Cover the top of the candle and poke a hole about 2cm in diameter in the centre. This gives access for air to circulate but reflects the heat of the wick. This will melt the surrounding wax back into the pool.
I’ve been able to recover a tunnel by wrapping the outside of the candle jar with aluminum foil and a small piece of tape. Not the most attractive thing but it keeps the heat in and melts it evenly
We had a 24 hour power outage and I burned new candles for more than 20 hours straight and there were differences in the melted area. All candles aren’t created equal.
I used to just take the softened wax around the edge and push it down so that it would get a little melty. All in all that's usually what I did I haven't had this problem in a long time but anyways so swept over I just take it out and I put it in my wax melter and I use that for a few days until the smell is gone
Candle tunnel. Get a Butterknife gently push the walls toward the center the flame melt the side walls that you pushed toward the center and all will be resolved.
Still fun to do…:)
If tunnelling occurs, just melt the wax in a double boiler and add a new wick . Just tried tbat and it was pretty easy
Very helpful, many thanks.
Very helpful, thank you very much.
Good afternoon. How does one prevent a memory ring on a pillar candle (one NOT in a jar or metal tin)? These candles really don't melt to the outer edges of the wax pillar...Thanks in advance.
The point of many types of pillar candles is this effect. They act as decorative cylindrical colored lanterns. My Grandmother always had such a pillarcandle in her small kitchen lit for winter and early breakfasts and teatime, and was careful to get the more expensive ones that had that pillar effect. Partly bc it actually gives off much more light, partly bc it was placed in a window without a "storm glass" (protective cylinder, don't knoe the word for it in English).
This function protects the candle from any effects of drafts, provides more protection for surrounding materials when burning and also when distinguishing (no spatter, and there's no running wax flooding your tray or dish. It's alot safer. It's what you'd expect from a better quality pillar candle especially ones with gradients of color.
With the type of pillar candles often used in churches they are contructed to act like giant regular dipped candles, as the flame is the central symbol.
Thanks for these useful tips 🙂
My pleasure 😊
Thank you for helpful information!
Thanks for the great video
One thing you didn't mention is how to clean the wax off the container when it's finished. Quite a lot of candles come in a nice glass container, and it is a shame to waste the glass.
All you need is vegetable oil. Leave the oil in the glass/container for a few days. The wax will have softened enough top be able to wash away with simple washing up liquid.
i used to have those outdoor citrus mosquito repellent candle buckets (they didn't work btw... or we just have way too many mosquitos to notice.. i dont know) anyway the wicks had gone out and each bucket had three memory holes and no more wick. this happened towards the end of the season so they kinda got shoved aside and forgotten. during that span of time i forgot i had them, and while they were MIA they'd reheated from the summer temps and all the holes refilled.
so when i found them again i was excited.... however i forgot that their wicks had all gone. i remembered as i tried to dig them out but couldn't find anything.
really annoying. what a waste of money
suddenly, out of pure desperation for them to work and do their job i rammed a sturdy oak twig into the middle of one bucket and lit that.
it actually worked. so i did the same thing to the others and filled the air with lovely citronella and earthy oak smoke lol
it still didn't repel mosquitoes like i expected and i will never throw my money away on them again, but i did learn a lesson.
so if you run out of wick on the others give that a try. i have no idea if anyone has suggested that before in other videos.. i only know it worked for me.. if you have a shortage of oak twigs then try a toothpick.
Im subs,,,,thank you very useful tips there,,,im learning really!
Great place you hve lots of candle and clean home!
Very helpful. I use a lot of candles.🕯️
I wrap my candles in foil.... works a treat.
"Memory rings" eh - who knew! Sounds like a new age healing exercise lol. Glad I watched this, I'd always wondered about this stuff esp as my tastes for candles are getting more expensive due to not wanting the health impacts of those cheap toxic wax ones. BUT it sounds like price is no guarantee you won't get "memory rings" - if the wick isn't right ie manufacturer has cut corners, you'll still end up with a wasted tunnel thing.
That’s correct! Although, over time you get to know which brands are better for this than others. Ideally, inspect the candle before you buy it so you can assess the wick size first..
When mine burns wrong , I let it cool then I cut the wax out making into pieces then I use that wax in my wax pot, waste not want not , then I take hot soapy water and clean the candle jar and use for other purposes. You can also take the wax pieces and put in bottom of trash cans , put trash bag in , no more orders,
Thanks for the tips Sarah!
I successfully use a butter knife to push all that unmelted wax on the sides, into the center recess, around the wick. (Don't cover the wick.) It melts into the pool of burning wax and isn't wasted. I don't know why you said there is nothing you can do. That's ridiculous!
Thank you! Great tips!
Glad it was helpful!
Good video and advice! Is it possible to stop this tunneling happening with candles that are NOT in containers - self-standing ones, like the big, thick 'church' type candles?
For example, I have a big candle (300 mm tall, 100 mm wide) which is now basically a shell or tube of wax with the wick way down inside. I can trim it with a warm knife which works but can be a bit messy so I'm wondering if you have any tips on making chunky candles burn down more evenly?
Very interesting and useful, thanks.
This is great info. What about candles not in containers? Did I miss something here?
Greetings Anna, I have just read about tunnelling in candles not in containers. If you press the lip of the candle inwards, but dont cover the wick.
See 'Sharehows'. They displayed this while advising against tunnelling. Hope this helps. Best of luck.
@@margaretenglish4326 thank you. I will try that, because I use lots of church candles. And I can't believe I never knew this about tunnelling 🤨
Best of luck! Just tbink you bring all the prayer blessings and intentions from your church to your home. What a privileged blessing your home must be. Enjoy
I have a candle in a jar about 3.5" in diameter and 3.5" high.
At the beginning I used a foil topper with a hole in the middle to ensure the wax is liquid covering the entire surface. At about half through the flame became tiny, so I removed the topper. Now I see a normal flame, but it began to form a tunnel. If I put back the topper, the flame again is almost dying. Any suggestions?
When you put it out with a wick-dipper do you then immediately pull the wick out of the wax ready for next time ?
Hi Lynn, yes that's correct!
Thank you I am going to give this a try.
Ty for these Tips 👍
That was incredibly useful!
Thank you so much for this information! 🐼
Any time!
What happened to good old fashioned pillar candles which, once burned down, did not leave a container behind that has to be recycled?
They still exist. Dollar stores.