How do Candle Toppers / Lids work?
- 1. How candle toppers ensure your Jar Candle Burns Evenly
- 2. What is candle tunnelling?
- 3. How do I fix Candle Tunnelling?
- 4. How to fix Candle Tunnelling without a Candle Topper?
- 5. Why do candle toppers extend the burn time of my jar candles?
- 6. Reduce Soot / Black Marks from your Jar Candle
- 7. How does a jar candle topper help reduce candle soot?
- 8. Do I need to clean the black soot from my candle jar before using a candle topper?
I often forget that many people don't even know why we even use Candle Toppers! I wanted to write this article from the first day I launched this website but have only recently found the time.
Candle Toppers are designed to not only add unique style to your jar candles, but they have added benefits such as:
- Even Burning
- Reduced Soot
- Reduced Wax Tunnelling
Jar candles prices range from £1.99 from local shops such as B&M all the way up to £39.99 for special edition jar candles (such as the Yankee Witches Brew).
To get the most out of your candles, you really should invest in a candle topper, but how do they actually work?
How candle toppers ensure your Jar Candle Burns Evenly
Looking at the image above, you can see that once a candle is lit and a topper has been placed on the rim - heat is reflected back into the candle, heating up and melting the wax across the whole upper parts of the candle.
Candle Toppers not only distribute the heat evenly within your jar, but also makes your candles last much longer by preventing tunnelling.
What is candle tunnelling?
Candle Tunnelling is when the flame melts only the wax around the wick. This causes "tunnels" to form around the wick shortening the life span of your candle.
Using a candle topper, the heat is reflected back into the jar ensuring all the wax melts at the same rate and therefore reducing candle tunnelling.
Small candles like Votives, or Tealight candles do not generally suffer from tunnelling due to their small size, however medium and large jar candles will show large tunnels if you're not using a candle topper to distribute the heat inside the jar.
How do I fix Candle Tunnelling?
If your candles show the dreaded tunnels, then adding a candle topper will certainly help even things out.
- Add a candle topper lid to the top of your jar
- Light the candle
- Leave lit until the un-melted side wax has melted
How to fix Candle Tunnelling without a Candle Topper?
If you don't have a candle topper, there are other fixes which will make all your jar wax one level.
Use Kitchen Foil to remove wax tunnelling
Place foil around the edges of your jar candle lip and light the wick- this creates a temporary candle topper and should melt the side wax if left for long enough.
Use a Spoon
With the candle "unlit", scrape the side wax using a spoon and fill the tunnel ensuring not to completely cover the wick - re-light and allow the wax surrounding the wick to melt.
Why do candle toppers extend the burn time of my jar candles?
As illustrated above, candle toppers will distribute the heat in your jar and prevent tunnelling. This will ensure that your candle burns "slower" and therefore make your candles burn evenly and last much longer.
Reduce Soot / Black Marks from your Jar Candle
I recently wrote about Soot in candles, however I did want to touch on it again in this article. Soot is formed when your burn any candle - however it's much more evident in jar candles as the soot is caught by the glass interior.
When you light a jar candle, the soot is often collected inside the jar and can make your jars look unsightly, and even more so if you're not using a candle topper.
Although there are many reasons why soot forms (low quality wickes, low quality wax), one of the main reasons soot forms on the inside of your jar candle is due to the flame touching the sides of the glass when lit - especially if your candle is placed in an area with more draughts.
I do go into more detail about soot in the article linked above, so be sure to give it a read.
How does a jar candle topper help reduce candle soot?
Candle Toppers can eliminate draughts which causes the flame to "lick" the inner glass jar therefore reducing black marks and soot.
If the location of your jar candle has a lot of foot traffic, my best advice would be to use a candle shade, which offers even more draught protection.
Do I need to clean the black soot from my candle jar before using a candle topper?
Candle toppers will only prevent new soot from forming, so to enjoy the benefits of a "clear glass candle jar", you would need to remove any existing soot/black marks using a damp cloth first, then re-light once your candle topper is in place.