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 online candle making instructions compiled throughout 20 years as a candle making hobbyist, and from the very welcome and helpful tips of other candle makers.

information is divided into the following subject areas.  check the supplier's section, too for candle making equipment suppliers and other candle maker's web pages.    contents:  click one... waxes   set up and clean up    additives   wicking  moulds projects   making the candles    scents   colours    beeswax     burning candles   Troubleshooting Suppliers   ADVERTISE on this page!:  (US version)     (AUSTRALIAN version)   E-mail Sharon Click Here to E-Mail Me

  Last Updated July, 1998  Created October 1996   This page has been visited  times since June 1997   

waxes                              index 

Paraffin Wax comes in different melting points. The type of candle you are making will determine which melting point to buy.

Paraffin is a petroleum by-product. It contains oil. The lower the melting temperature of the paraffin, the more oil content and the slower the burning. You want slow burning wax for container candles, and faster burning wax for moulded free-standing candles. Use the fastest burning wax for taper candles.

moulds                                            index
 

I use small candle making dye chips. They come in a packet of 8 chips.  Each chip colours about 1/2  kilo ( 1 pound of wax.) Use more chips for deeper colours. I think I have seen about 30 shades for sale, and then you can get endless variety by mixing them for custom colour making!  Dye also comes in liquid form and larger cake form and flake form.

scents                              index

Liquid candle making scents are available in 15 ml (1/2 oz) and larger bottles.  One supplier recommends 15 ml for 1/2 kilo of wax (1/2 oz for 1 pound).  Scent strength does vary according to the formulation - check with your supplier to find out what quantity to use with wax.

I have had some problems using essential oils not specifically made for candles. They did not mix well with the melted wax,  leaving pitting and bubbles and mottling on the candle's finish and an oily residue on the candle surface.   If in doubt, check with your supplier to make sure that their formulation will mix with wax.   It depends on the type of carrier oil used in the scent.

I have used ground cinnamon, added to the melted wax just before pouring. You have to stir very well, and it still tends to settle in the bottom of your mould, but that effect is nice in a rustic style candle. Try other aromatic spices!  Check below for instructions on hurricane candles to get an outer candle layer filled with herbs or other materials.

I have also added crushed and whole lavender flowers. They settle too, in a mould or container but the effect was attractive. And they add a wonderful aroma to a candle.

set up and clean up               index

Use old bed sheets, wax paper or towels to cover your work surface. I just roll them up when I'm done and put them away in a box with the other candle making materials to reuse.

Put a couple of inches of water in an old sauce pan. Then put your wax in a metal container, preferably a pitcher for ease of  handling. This container goes in the sauce pan on the burner, and this is how you melt your wax. The pitcher is easiest because it has a spout and a handle, and you can pour the melted wax better. You can also use a large juice can and just pinch the rim into a spout shape. A juice can would be hard to hold while pouring because of the heat of the wax. I don't wash my pitcher. I just melt all of the wax out of it when I'm finished and wipe the wax and colour residue out with a paper towel while it is still warm.  Others have used crock pots, deep fat fryers and coffee urns fitted with brass spigots to melt paraffin.... with good success.

Clean Up

Don't pour wax down the drain. It will clog. Use a can to pour out waste wax, then throw the can away or re-melt the wax for later use.

Any spilt wax on a hard surface will just scrape off after it has cooled. If wax gets on clothing or cloth, you can pour hot water through it and the wax will mostly melt away with the pouring water. If wax gets in your carpet by some chance, let it harden and rub an ice cube on it to make it brittle, then scrape it out with a dull knife. Some wax will remain, and if its a noticeable colour, you can then melt it with a hot, wet cloth and sponge it up mostly with repeated treatments.

A correspondent suggested the warm iron treatment for stains on carpet or fabric. They had a red wax candle drip onto white carpet, and they found that "using a warm iron through paper towel got the colour out the best and cleanest".

I don't wash any of my tools, I just clean my moulds. It is important to have a wax and dust free mould for good candles. The candles will come out of the moulds easily, and they won't have marks or blemishes on them. Your moulds will not rust or deteriorate if you take good care of them. There is a cleaning solution for metal moulds that will remove wax. It is available at candle making supply shops. It is called chlorothene. It is a liquid that you pour into a dirty mould and swirl it around, then dump out. This is for stubborn stains and wax build up. For regular normal metal mould cleaning, just put the mould upside down on a foil lined cookie sheet in a 70 degree C (150 F) oven. Not hotter. The welds in the mould will melt. Heat the mould for 15 minutes this way, and the wax will simply run out onto the foil. Be sure not to scrape or scratch the inside of your mould. It will mar every candle you make in it from that point on. Also, be careful not to dent a mould. The candles will be very difficult to remove from the mould.  Metal and glassware can simply be put in the dishwasher as well.

making the candles                index

Break up your wax block by putting it in a plastic bag, and whacking it with a hammer. You can also just prise chunks off the main block with an old knife. Melt your wax over a medium burner in the saucepan and pitcher "double boiler" set up described above. Or, try the deep fryer to melt your wax as a correspondent suggests: "I find that using a fry daddy with adjustable heat to melt my wax works much better than the old double broiler. You just have to keep the heat very low until the wax starts to melt or the teflon coating bakes off. Once the wax goes into meltdown you just set the heat and your on your way. I then dip the wax with a plastic cup or punch ladle. I find this method much easier to control the temp of the wax, and once the power is off you just let the wax cool and it pops out in a block that fits back into the unit at a later date." For pouring wax into moulds the temperature of the melted wax should be between 85 and 95 degrees C (180 and 200 F) for blemish free candles. If you like interesting mottled patterns in your candles like I do, I don't bother taking the wax temperature. I just wait until it is fully melted and clear. If you want, you can use 3 parts paraffin wax and one part block beeswax. This will not be clear when it is melted. This mixture is harder to get out of a mould because of the sticky properties of the beeswax.  Use silicone spray in your mould to get easier releasing candles.  You can also put the mould in the refrigerator after its mostly cooled,  for half-hour to help with the releasing.  The blend of beeswax/paraffin produces lovely honey coloured candles with a lovely beeswax aroma. Other benefits of a beeswax/paraffin mixture are smoother candles without cracks or web like patterns caused by thermal shock in the cooling process.  Beeswax doesn't shrink nearly as much as paraffin, so you will notice smaller or no wells forming down the middle of your candle as it cools - this means less or no refilling as it cools.

Prepare your moulds and containers while the wax is melting. You can spray inside each plastic or metal mould with silicone spray available at candle making supply stores. I recommend doing so, the candles always release from the mould easily this way. You can also use vegetable oil to lightly coat the inside of your moulds. If your mould has a hole in the bottom, thread the wick through here and seal it on the outside with rubber putty. Stretch the wick to the open end of the mould and suspend it here wrapped around a rod or pencil or something similar.

If you are making candles that stay in the container, or if your mould cannot be perforated with a wick hole, you can wick them two different ways that I can think of. When using flat braid wicking, make sure the braid grain or nap is going from top to bottom on your candle for even burning. An upside down wick will develop a carbonized ball on it as it burns and that will smoke and cause the candle to burn unevenly, and faster without utilizing the wax of your candle efficiently.

Pouring the wax.

When your moulds and containers are ready, and your wax is melted, add the colour chips to your melting pitcher and melt fully into the wax. Then, at the last add your scent. The scent is added at the last so it doesn't denature or dissipate through too much heating for too long. Now you can pour your candles. If you're aiming for a very smooth surfaced candle, it helps to have the mould warmed and tilt the mould so the wax doesn't fill the mould so turbulently, and cause tiny air bubbles to form on the sides and surface of your candles. Save some wax to refill the candles as they cool. I keep wax in a melted state for hours because as the candles cool the wax in the moulds and containers contract and form a deep well right down the middle of your candle. Refilling this well may be necessary several times.  If you have beeswax mixed in with your paraffin, the shrink well will not be as big, or need refilling as much.   Be careful not to let your refill wax run over the top of the original candle level. The refill wax will run over and seep down inside between the candle and the mould and will mar your surface if you're going for perfect smoothness. It also makes it difficult to get a candle out of the mould.

Moulded candles can be made to look very even and shiny by cooling them in a cold water bath. About 1 minute after you pour, take the entire mould and set it in a container of cold water. Be careful not to get any water in your wax. It will ruin a candle. You will likely need to weight your mould so it doesn't float or tip in the water bath. Let the mould sit in its water bath after its second refill for about 2 hours. The final cooling process takes place at room temperature. It will take about 8 hours depending on the size of the mould for the candle to cool completely and be ready to remove from the mould. You can speed this final cooling process by putting candles in the refrigerator. Sometimes they will develop lines and tiny 'thermal shock' cracks which can be quite attractive. Remove the mould from the refrigerator after it feels cold to the touch. Any more cooling will result in many lines and tiny cracks, which means your candle surfaces will flake off later. If you desire this effect, you can put the cooling mould in the freezer for a half hour!

Remove the candles from the moulds.

If your finished candle has seams in it, you can gently remove them with a knife. Flatten the base of a wobbly candle by rubbing it gently around inside a warm fry pan until it melts flat. Polish finished candles with nylon stockings to remove fingerprints and small scratches. To get a hard shiny protective surface on a candle apply liquid candle sheen with a soft cloth. It is available at candle making supply stores and it works great!  A spray version is also available. Others have used no-wax acrylic floor polish with good results.  These smell, but readers report that the smell goes away when the wax hardens.
 

 

decorating ideas          index
 

Water Balloon Candles

Fill a balloon with water to the desired size.  Dip the balloon in wax, make sure it is somewhat cool.  Continue dipping the balloon until a hard shell has formed around it.  Carefully pop the balloon at the top, and empty out the water.  Pull the balloon out of the wax shell.  Pour a small amount of wax (a different colour from the first) into the shell.  Roll it around in the shell, making sure all areas are covered, until the wax is dry.  Continue doing this with different colours until the shell is almost filled.  Insert the wick during the last fill.  Once the candle is cool, use a potato peeler or something similar to shave the top of the candle, making it smooth and flat.
These candles turn out to look something like a geode.  They are a little time consuming, but the end result is fantastic!!

Hope my suggestion comes in handy!!
Michelle from Indiana

(Thanks Michelle for a great idea!)
 

Fruit Candles

Fruit Candles   Fruit candles are easy.  Fill a jar with water and your favourite colourful fruit slices.  Put a floater candle on top, and enjoy!

 
  Ways to Attach Fruit, Herbs, Flowers Leaves, and Spices

Leaf/Berry Candles   Stick pressed flowers or leaves to the outside of a finished candle by dipping the flower in uncoloured melted wax and pressing it gently to the surface of the candle. Then take the candle by the wick and dip the whole thing into the melted wax once or twice to form a seal over the flowers, but still let them show through the glow of the burning candle.  The most lightly coloured or non coloured wax works best with this decorating idea. The flowers can be seen better.
 
Ground cinnamon or other aromatic spices added to the melted wax are nice. They tend to settle to the bottom of your candle a bit , but this looks nice. Glitter and confetti can  be used also.
 

Cinnamon Stick Candle

Stick whole cinnamon sticks vertically around the outside surface of your candle by painting one side of the stick with melted wax. You can also line your mould with cinnamon sticks and a good deal of melted wax before you pour the mould. Let it harden and then fill the rest of your mould with wax. This gives a very rustic look.
Try the same techniques using miniature candy canes for Christmas candles. The candle will have a nice subtle sweet mint aroma.

Try attaching dried blood orange slices, or whole spices to the outside of a finished candle using melted wax and a paintbrush, or clear drying craft glue such as Elmer's. To dry the fruit slices, put them in a 150 (65C) degree oven for several hours on a piece of parchment. You can also dip the dried fruit slices right into melted clear paraffin for a few seconds and then press them onto your candles. Don't burn your fingers, use tweezers to hold the fruit and a chop stick or tongue depressor to press the fruit onto your candle.
   
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.
 
 

  burning the candles                  index

 

beeswax Hive                                  index

Natural beeswax is golden in colour, stickier and has that lovely aroma. It comes in blocks, beads or  honeycomb sheets. Melt 3 parts paraffin wax and 1 part block beeswax for great container candles. I have also used this mixture for moulded candles with good success, although they don't come out of the mould as easily as straight paraffin wax candles. Experiment with your ratio of beeswax to paraffin. For candles where you tear away the mould (such as juice cans, milk cartons) you can use a high concentration of beeswax, and not worry about it releasing from the mould. Use beeswax sheets (no melting required) to roll up into candles.  Beeswax has a melt point of 62 C or 146 F.  This high melt point can make a pure beeswax container candle burn improperly.  The candle may burn a hole straight down the wick, leaving the majority of the wax unmelted around the sides of the container.  Try using  a blend of  low melt point (54 C or 125 F) paraffin mixed with your beeswax instead if you have this problem.

Check your area for apiaries. The bee keepers often sell natural beeswax, or even coloured and scented block and sheet beeswax.  Ask if they filter it (to remove honeycomb and other material).
I recommend checking country fairs and markets, or your area university's agricultural extension service for local apiaries you can call and enquire about beeswax. This will save you mailing expense for the heavy wax.  You can also buy unfiltered beeswax, melt it and pour it through nylon stockings stretched over another container to filter it yourself.  One supplier offered unfiltered beeswax for half the price of the filtered wax.
 

Midnite Bee    Maine Beekeeping page and links to bee pages.  Beeswax information :  How bees make it, what it is used for, present day and historically.... most fascinating!
                                                                        index

  thank you for visiting the candle making page ! Please feel free to email me with  contributions or questions: Click to Mail Sharon in Parmelia,  Western Australia   Happy Candle Making! Enjoy the Results! Australian Web Page candles in eggshells