Candle tunneling occurs when only the center of the wax right around the wick melts and burns down. ... Sometimes, candle tunneling is caused by a wick that isn't large enough for the size of the candle, but more often it's caused by the timing of the first burn.

How do you stop a candle from tunneling?

You can fix a tunneled candle by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil around the edges and simply letting it burn. Make sure the foil hangs over the built-up wax areas, but leave an opening in the center so the wick can still burn properly. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface.

Why are my candles sinking in the middle?

Why Your Candles Sink In The Middle

You've poured your wax. ... Wax sinks when it sets because as the wax cools, it slowly contracts and can leave what I refer to as 'sink holes' in the middle of your candles, but can also present as sunken dips around the wick.