Variations on tapers

Making Bubbly candles on purpose. Dipping a finished candle in melted paraffin that isn't at its hottest will result in a thin layer of bubbles over your candle surface which is very attractive in a rustic way. I made some tapers, using 145 (62 C)degree melt point wax.  For the last two or three dips, I let the melted wax cool off to about 120 (50C) degrees.
 

Floral, Herbal, grubby and Hurricane Candles:

Make a paraffin pillar candle, wait till it's totally dry and set it inside a mould that's a little bigger around. Then sprinkle potpourri or dried herbs and flowers around the candle and fill around the sides with more wax. That way the flower pieces won't be in the middle part that burns. The outside wax should be a harder (higher melt point) wax than the inside candle so the outer floral shell doesn't melt.

I also made a regular moulded candle, let it cool completely and fixed some dried pressed flowers to the candle using melted wax and a paintbrush. To seal the flowers, I then dipped the whole candle in clear melted paraffin at a temperature of about 120 degrees (it was 138 melt point wax). I dipped it twice, and the flowers show through nicely, and there are bubbles in this outer layer of wax.

You can spray candles with non flammable craft spray paints. An under layer of deep blue, red or green looks nice with a dusting of gold or bronze paint over it.
 
To make rustic looking candles with a sandy looking surface, pour the wax cold... just as it begins to thicken.
 

Cake Candles, Whipped Wax Cake Candle
 
You make a normal pillar candle, let it cool and harden  and remove it from the mould.  Then apply the outer coating of wax in whatever style or effect you want:
 

To do this, just melt some more paraffin. You can colour it if you want.  Use a higher melt point type of wax than used in the original candle if possible.
Take it off the heat and use a hand mixer  or wire whisk to whip up the wax for a minute or so.  Then paint the whipped wax onto the outer surface of your candle with a stiff paintbrush or a tongue depressor or other stick type implement.  It may help if you slightly melt the outer surface of the core candle a bit with a hairdryer or rub it around in an old fry pan.  The new wax layer will adhere better to a layer of slightly warm/melted wax.
I haven't tried this, but some say a pinch of cream of tartar in the whipped wax helps it to adhere better.

To make variations, add other materials to the whipped wax before you apply it to the candle:  Sand , herbs, potpourri.

Or to get a stippling effect, apply the wax to the candle, then go over it in a gentle jabbing manner with a very stiff stencilling type brush  at a 45 degree angle to the side of the candle.

Or, don't whip the wax, just paint it on thickly (let it cool a bit before you start)  Then roll then entire candle in sand or dried herbs or potpourri and it will stick. Let this cool fully,

You can then over dip the entire candle to seal it and give it a shiny surface if you wish.
 

The  higher melt point of the outer layer of wax will let it stay fairly intact while the core candle burns down naturally.  Then your herbs or flowers won't get into the melt pool of the core candle and catch on fire.