Think of the wax like snow that only melts where the sun hits. If the sun only touches the middle during the first couple burns you get a narrow valley and tall banks on the sides. A breeze tilts the sun, and a tall wick can sputter or mushroom, both of which make the melt uneven. Set it on a level table away from the draft, trim to a quarter inch, and let it burn until the top is a full shiny pool. Foil around the rim can focus the warmth, and a hair dryer on low over the stubborn ridge will flatten it in a minute. Going forward, let that first session reach the edge, keep the wick neat, and avoid short burns that set a small memory ring.
