This is how candles burn down evenly

by time news

Dhe Advent season can be unexpectedly challenging for candlelight fans. Instead of four candles on the fir wreath, this year there should be one for the middle. The premium model (10 centimeters in diameter, 15 in height) from a German manufacturer cost a small fortune – and on the first Advent it turned out to be exactly the mood maker that we had hoped for with the purchase.

On the second Advent, however, what experts call a funnel or tunnel is already clearly visible. The candle burns straight down, but not over the entire surface, but only in the middle, while a broad, hard edge of wax remains around it. The following situation threatens: the liquid wax accumulates in the hole, the wick can no longer cope with it, the flame is smothered. Cosiness is over. It shouldn’t come to that.

With concentrated flame power

We asked the candle guild in Augsburg, which represents manufacturers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Wax master Christiane Bierler explains that the top layer of the wax, the so-called brazier, should always melt completely. Especially when lighting the candle for the first time, it is advisable to let the candle burn a little longer. However, it also makes it clear that a wick, as is customary for household use, may not have enough strength for a diameter of ten centimeters – unlike, for example, the wicks of candles that are used in churches.

For this reason, thick home candles are often sold with multiple wicks. With concentrated flame power, it is then possible to liquefy the wax over the entire surface. It is attracted to the wicks and evaporates through the tips.

Eight centimeters in diameter, the strength of a standard household wick is usually not enough for more, says the guild specialist, who does not want to rule out that the wick, which was initially shortened and limited in its power, could also have contributed to the tunnel formation in our Advent candle. In that respect, we may have been a bit hasty.

The main part of candle care is the care of the wick.


The main part of candle care is the care of the wick.
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Bild: Kai Felmy

Basically, candle care includes keeping an eye on the wick and regularly cutting it down if it ends up thickening and smoking because a so-called soot bloom has formed. Also, a candle should always burn away from drafts, otherwise the wick and wax will list.

We learn from this: Next time, the candle can be one size smaller and the wick can do its work in its full length. This time, the only option left is to use a sharp knife to remove the protruding edge once it has softened a bit after lighting the candle. – We had imagined the Advent season to be more romantic.

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