7 Reasons Your Candle Is Not Burning | And How to Fix It

1. Your Wick Is Too Long (or Too Short)

One of the most common reasons candles underperform is wick length. A wick that’s too long creates a tall, flickering flame. That leads to excess soot, tunneling, or overheating the wax pool. Too short? You’ll barely get a flame at all. The fix? Trim your wick to ¼ inch before every burn. It’s the golden rule of candle care.

Bonus tip: For Wood Wick Candles, trim by pinching off the charred part with your fingers once cooled.

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2. You Didn’t Let the Wax Pool Form

The first time you burn a candle, let it burn long enough for the melted wax to reach the edge. If you blow it out too soon, you’ll cause tunneling. Tunneling happens when the wax only melts around the wick, leaving wasted wax along the sides.

At Willis Candle Shop, we design our candles — especially Coconut Soy Candles and 3 wick candles — to burn evenly. Still, every burn matters. Let your candle create that full melt pool to prevent wax waste.

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3. You’re Burning It in a Drafty Area

This one’s underrated: if your candle is near an air conditioning vent, ceiling fan, or drafty window, the flame can flicker and lean. That throws off the heat distribution and causes uneven burning — or even wick drowning. Relocate your candle to a still, flat surface. Think: centerpieces, countertops, or a quiet reading nook.

For Luxury candles or Jar candles, this especially matters — because airflow messes with the scent throw, too.

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4. You’re Burning for Too Long

Did you know there’s such a thing as overburning? Letting a candle burn for more than 4 hours straight can overheat the wax and wick. This leads to mushrooming, soot buildup, or even glass cracking if your container gets too hot.

To protect your candle, follow the 4-hour rule. Let it cool for a couple hours before relighting. It extends the life of Long Burning Candles and keeps your burn safe.

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5. You’re Using Low-Quality or Improper Wick Types

Wick material matters. Poor-quality wicks often fray, curl, or burn unevenly. Some mass-produced candles even have zinc or lead-core wicks — a big red flag.

At Willis Candle Shop, we only use cotton wick candle styles or Candles with wooden wicks — no metal cores, no shortcuts. Whether you're burning a Tobacco candle in a red tin or a Romantic candle for date night, the wick is clean and precise.

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6. You’re Not Keeping the Wax Clean

After multiple burns, bits of wick or debris can fall into the wax pool. These little pieces affect the burn by clogging the wick or feeding an inconsistent flame.

Use a wick dipper or tweezers to remove leftover debris once the wax cools. This tip is especially important for Spa candle users who like long, meditative burns.

Clean wax = clean flame.

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7. Your Candle Just Sucks (Yes, We Said It)

Sometimes it’s not you — it’s the candle. If you bought cheap candles with paraffin, synthetic additives, or untested wicks, it’s bound to fail.

That’s why we obsess over our blend of Soy Wax Candles and coconut wax from American Soy Organics. No paraffin. No fillers. No synthetic UV inhibitors. Just clean, balanced burns from Safe candles made in the USA.

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🔧 How to Fix Candle Problems Before They Start

Here’s your basic candle care checklist:

• Trim your wick to ¼ inch before every burn
• Let the full melt pool form (especially on first burn)
• Burn for 2–4 hours max at a time
• Keep it away from drafts and vents
• Remove debris before relighting
• Store in a cool, dry place

Read our FAQ Blog for more coconut soy wax candle tips and answers to common candle questions.

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Final Burn Note

Candle burning isn’t rocket science — but it’s not careless either. The right burn turns a good candle into a great experience. So grab your trimmer, light it right, and let that wax melt clean and even.

The flame deserves better — and so do you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t my candle stay lit?

The most common causes are an untrimmed or drowned wick, tunneling from a short first burn, or burning in a drafty area. Follow our care checklist to fix most issues.

How long should I let my candle burn?

Ideally, burn your candle for 2–4 hours per session. Always let the first burn reach the container edge to prevent tunneling.

How do I keep my candle burning evenly?

Trim the wick before each use, avoid drafts, and keep the wax free of debris for the most even burn possible.

This blog post is a work of nonfiction, created for educational and informational purposes based on the real-world products, trends, and manufacturing practices at Willis Candle Shop.