Why does my beeswax pillar candle burn straight down the center and won’t relight?
Beeswax Pillar Candles are one of our most popular candle styles, which is why we believe it’s important to share a few simple tips to help you get the best possible burn and enjoy your candle for longer.
Burn Beeswax Pillars for Longer Sessions
Beeswax pillar candles are designed to burn for long, steady periods of time. We recommend lighting your pillar for at least 3–4 hours each burn. Short burn times can cause tunneling, where the candle burns a hole down the center and leaves unused wax around the edges.
If you prefer shorter burn times, Candlesticks or smaller candles may be a better fit for your space.
Wick Trimming Makes a Big Difference
If the flame becomes too large or starts to flicker, it’s a sign that the wick needs trimming.
To do this safely:
- Extinguish the candle by gently dunking the wick into the melted wax
- Straighten the wick and allow it to cool
- Trim the wick before relighting
If a small “carbon cap” forms on the tip of the wick, simply trim it away. A properly trimmed wick helps maintain an even flame and a clean burn.
How to Extinguish and Relight Your Pillar Candle
Instead of blowing out your candle, we recommend dunking the wick into the wax pool, then straightening it. This prevents smoking and makes relighting easier.
When lighting your candle, always light the base of the wick rather than the tip. This allows the wick to draw up melted wax properly and prevents it from burning away too quickly.
Understanding the Mantle (and How to “Hug” It)
After many hours of burning, a beeswax pillar candle may naturally form a mantle—a thin wall of wax around the edge. This is completely normal and part of how pillar candles burn, without the mantle the wax would spill out of the candle.
Some people like to gently fold the softened wax into the melt pool. At Honey Candles, we often refer to this as “hugging your pillar.” By gently guiding the warm wax inward, the candle consumes more wax, maintains a bright, even flame and keeps it's level top.
Others prefer to let a mantle remain, allowing the candle to glow softly as light shines through the beeswax. If you choose to leave a mantle, be sure not to let it grow too deep. A tall wax wall can act like a chimney, restricting airflow and causing the candle to smoke.
If needed, gently hug the mantle so some wax melts back into the pool, leaving only a shorter edge around the flame. This helps your beeswax pillar candle burn cleanly and evenly.
What to Do With Leftover Beeswax (Save Your Candle Ends)
Don’t throw away your candle ends! Beeswax is incredibly versatile, small pieces of leftover wax can be added to the melt pool of a new pillar (as long as the wax colour matches), helping you make the most of every candle.
Avoid Enclosed Candleholders
We do not recommend burning beeswax pillar candles in hurricane lamps or enclosed holders. Beeswax burns hot, and trapped heat can soften the candle, cause uneven melting, or lead to smoking. Open candleholders allow proper airflow and help your candle burn predictably.
Happy burning.
With the right care, a beeswax pillar candle will reward you with a long, beautiful, naturally clean burn.
Originally published in 2010 • Updated February 2026
