Wood Wick Troubleshooting Guide

Wooden wicks create a warm, crackling ambiance, but they sometimes need a little extra attention. If your wick won’t stay lit or your candle isn’t burning as expected, use this guide to help you get the best performance from your wood-wick candle.

1. First Burn Tips

The first burn sets the foundation for your candle’s lifespan. If your wooden wick struggles to stay lit, check the following:

  • Allow the wax to melt completely across the surface during the first burn (usually 2–4 hours).

  • Trim the wick to about 1/8 inch before lighting. An overly long wick may not stay lit.

  • Keep the candle away from drafts—moving air can weaken or extinguish the flame.

2. Wick Won’t Stay Lit

If your wick repeatedly goes out, try these adjustments:

  • Trim the wick shorter. A long wooden wick can create a weak flame.

  • Remove charred pieces. Before relighting, gently snap off any burnt wood using your fingers or a wick trimmer.

  • Light at a slight angle. Tilt the candle when lighting to help the flame catch fresh wood.

3. Candle Tunneling

Tunneling occurs when the wick burns straight down, creating a ring of unmelted wax. To prevent or correct this:

  • Always let the wax melt evenly across the surface on the first burn.

  • If tunneling has already started, try the foil method:

    1. Wrap aluminum foil around the top of the candle, leaving a hole in the center.

    2. Light the wick and burn for about an hour.

    3. The trapped heat will help melt the surrounding wax and even out the surface.

4. Wick Drowning in Wax

If your wick has sunk below the wax level:

  • Use a paper towel to soak up excess melted wax around the wick.

  • Once the wax has cooled slightly, use a toothpick or tweezers to lift and center the wick.

  • If needed, gently scrape away hardened wax to expose more of the wick.

5. Wick Too Short

If your wick is too short to stay lit, use these steps to revive it:

Clear Away Excess Wax

  • While the candle is warm (not hot), soak up some melted wax with a paper towel.

  • You can also scrape away hardened wax using a butter knife or toothpick to reveal more wick.

Remove Charred Pieces

  • Break off any blackened, ashy bits before relighting.

  • Fresh wood ignites much more easily.

Relight at an Angle

  • Hold the flame to the base of the wick for several seconds.

  • Tilting the candle helps the flame catch onto clean wood.

Heat Fix (Last Resort)

  • Use a heat gun or hairdryer to melt the top layer of wax.

  • Carefully pour out a small amount to expose more of the wick.

Still Having Trouble?

We want you to enjoy every moment of your candle. If you’ve tried these steps and still need help, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to assist!