A pillar candle is an upright candle cast in a mold. Here is a general guide to making a pillar candle:
Supplies:
- Pillar candle wax (soy wax, beeswax, kerosene, etc.).
- Wick
- Template for pillar candles
- Fragrant oil (optional)
- Dye (optional)
- Melting or pouring pan
- Thermometer
- Stirrer
- Scissors
- Mold release agent (if needed)
Steps:
- Preparation:
- Make sure you have the right wax! There are 2 types of wax: conatiner wax or pillar wax
- Provide a clean and dry mold for pillar candles. If the mold does not have a built-in release agent, consider lightly greasing the mold to make it easier to remove the candle later.
- Use the appropriate thickness of a wick. The thickness depends on the diameter of the container. You can find the correct thickness on the wick page in the table.
- Measure the height of the mold and cut the wick slightly longer than the mold height.
- Fuse Preparation:
- Attach one end of the wick to the bottom of the mold. This can be done by dipping the wick in melted wax and then placing it at the bottom of the mold.
- Melting wax:
- Melt the candle wax in a melting or pouring pan over low heat. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the wax and prevent overheating.
- Adding fragrance and color (optional):
- Add scented oil and food coloring to the melted wax if you wish. Mix well to achieve even color and fragrance.
- Casting wax:
- Let the melted wax cool to about 60-70 degrees Celsius.
- Carefully pour the melted wax into the prepared mold, making sure the wick stays in the center and straight up.
- Curing:
- Allow the candle to harden completely. This can take several hours to a day, depending on the size of the candle and the type of wax.
- Removal from the mold:
- After the candle has fully hardened, you can carefully try to remove the candle from the mold. If it is difficult to loosen, you can gently heat the mold to loosen the candle.
- Adjustments (optional):
- If the bottom of the candle is uneven, you can carefully cut it off with a knife to create a flat base.
- Finish:
- Cut the excess wick to about 1 cm above the top surface of the candle.
- Burn:
- Let the candle harden for a few days before lighting it. Light the wick and enjoy your homemade pillar candle!
Be sure to follow proper safety precautions when working with hot wax and open flames.
