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The candle won't burn... what to do?

2020-06-30
The candle won't burn... what to do?

When we buy a candle, we expect that it will help bring a cozy and soothing atmosphere to our home. If it is a scented candle, we want to feel a pleasant, enveloping aroma in our interior. What to do if you made a purchase from an unreliable source and the candle does not want to burn? Be sure to read our guide.

Why won't the candle burn?

There are many reasons why your candle won't burn. Here are the most popular ones:

  • If purchased from unverified manufacturers who use random wicks, it often happens that the poor fit of the wick to the candle means that it is unable to dissolve the wax. Then the candle won't burn. Therefore, remember to always buy good quality candles from reputable manufacturers. Home-made products usually do not meet any quality standards.
  • You may have trimmed the wick too much. Most reputable candle manufacturers recommend that the wick be approximately 5 mm long. Too long a wick means the candle burns out too quickly, and too short a wick means problems with lighting the candle. This phenomenon may also result in the wick sinking.
  • The wick drowned in the candle. If this has happened to you, there are two reasons. The first - in the case of homemade products - an ill-fitting wick and poor quality of the candle. Secondly, if you accidentally hit the candle while burning, e.g. by hitting it on a table, the wax could have flooded the wick.
  • In your candle, the so-called tunnel (i.e. the candle did not burn to the walls of the vessel, only undissolved wax remained on the walls. A funnel was formed inside the candle. In such a case, see this article dedicated to the topic of candle tunneling.
  • Your candle has been flooded with water. If the wick is wet, it will be very difficult to light it (the same applies to wet wood and lighting a fire).

What to do when the candle won't burn?

It all depends on the reason why your candle won't burn:

  • Poor quality candle - unfortunately, there is no one good solution. You can try all the methods below, but it is best to buy a good quality candle from a proven candle manufacturer next time.
  • Wick too short. Try lighting a candle for a dozen or so minutes. Then turn off the flame and try to pour off the excess wax. A small tunnel may form in the candle, but the wick will be longer and it will be easier to light the candle.
  • A wick embedded in a candle. If you manage to scrape off some wax around the wick, straighten it and light it - great, you have solved the problem (you can also use the advice from the section for a short wick). If the wax is still liquid or semi-liquid, use a special wick extractor.
  • Tunnel in the candle. If it is small, try lighting the candle for a longer time (a few hours), it may be enough to dissolve the wax from the walls. You can also use a special candle cover that makes burning easier in unfavorable conditions. If not, you can try using a long candle lighter and melting the wax from the walls. Alternatively, you can scrape off excess wax from the walls, e.g. with a wooden spatula. However, these methods will not guarantee complete success, especially if you get a candle from an unverified source.
  • Flooded candle. Place it in a warm and dry place. If there is water in the candle, of course throw it away. When the wick dries, there is a chance that you will be able to light the candle.

How to prevent a candle from not burning?

Prevention is always better than cure, so try to take care of the following:

  • Buy good quality candles from reputable manufacturers.
  • Take care of the appropriate wick length - 5 mm is the optimal length for most candles.
  • Always burn the candle until the wax melts over the entire diameter of the candle (it reaches the walls of the vessel).
  • Store candles in a dry and cool place.

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