Basics
Pro Tips
Troubleshooting Candle Issues: Why Your Candles Tunnel, Crack, or Frost
Feb 18, 2025
Making candles is a rewarding and creative process, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced candle maker, you may encounter common issues like tunneling, cracking, or frosting. These imperfections can affect the appearance, performance, and overall quality of your candles. In this guide, we’ll explore the reasons behind these problems and, most importantly, how to prevent and fix them.
1. Tunneling: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
What is tunneling?
Tunneling occurs when a candle burns straight down the middle, leaving unused wax around the sides of the container. This not only wastes wax but also shortens the lifespan of your candle.
Causes of tunneling:
The first burn was too short – candles have a "memory," and if the wax pool doesn’t reach the edges on the first burn, it will continue to tunnel in future burns.
A wick that is too small for the container or wax type.
Poor-quality wax or improper wax-to-fragrance ratio.
How to prevent tunneling:
Ensure the first burn lasts long enough for the wax to melt evenly across the surface (typically 1 hour per inch of candle diameter).
Use the correct wick size based on your container’s diameter and wax type.
Avoid adding too much fragrance oil, which can alter the wax consistency and burn behavior.
Fixing a tunneled candle:
Wrap aluminum foil around the edges of the candle while burning. This helps retain heat and allows the wax to melt evenly.
Use a heat gun to melt the wax and smooth out the top layer.
If the tunnel is too deep, scoop out excess wax and replace the wick with a slightly larger one.
2. Cracking: What Causes It and How to Prevent It
What is cracking?
Cracking refers to small or large cracks that appear on the surface of your candle after pouring or during cooling.
Causes of cracking:
Pouring wax at the wrong temperature – if the wax cools too quickly, it can cause surface cracks.
Room temperature fluctuations during cooling.
Using a container that is too cold before pouring wax.
How to prevent cracking:
Pour wax at the correct temperature for your wax type. For soy wax, the ideal pouring temperature is usually between 50-70°C (122-158°F).
Preheat your candle jars slightly before pouring to prevent temperature shock.
Allow candles to cool gradually in a room with stable temperature (avoid placing them near open windows or fans).
Fixing a cracked candle:
Use a heat gun to gently re-melt the surface and smooth it out.
If cracks appear deep, remelt the entire top layer and let it cool more gradually.
3. Frosting: Why It Happens and How to Minimize It
What is frosting?
Frosting appears as a white, crystalline layer on the surface or sides of soy wax candles. It’s a natural characteristic of soy wax and doesn’t affect performance, but some candle makers prefer a smoother look.
Causes of frosting:
The natural crystallization process of soy wax.
Pouring wax at too high or too low temperatures.
Rapid cooling of the candle.
Overuse of dyes or fragrance oils that can interfere with wax consistency.
How to minimize frosting:
Stir the wax gently and avoid overmixing, which introduces air bubbles that contribute to frosting.
Pour at the correct temperature (usually between 50-70°C for soy wax).
Allow candles to cool naturally at room temperature, avoiding sudden temperature changes.
Use high-quality soy wax designed to reduce frosting.
Fixing frosting:
While frosting cannot be entirely eliminated, you can use a heat gun to lightly warm the surface and smooth out the appearance.
Accept frosting as a natural part of soy wax and embrace its handmade, organic look!
Mastering Candle Making Without the Frustration
Understanding and troubleshooting candle-making issues is key to improving your craft. In my Candle Making Course, we dive deep into each of these problems, teaching you how to prevent them from happening and how to fix them if they do. I share my best techniques, recommended materials, and step-by-step guidance to ensure that every candle you create burns beautifully, smells amazing, and looks flawless.
Want to create perfect candles every time? Join my Candle-Making Course (click here) and take your candle-making skills to the next level!
Happy candle making!
