PILLAR CANDLE

In this lesson, we’ll go through the process of making a pillar candle with colorant and fragrance.

What you’ll need:

1) Wax
2) Double boiler or wax melter
3) Silicone mold
4) Kitchen thermometer
5) Scale
6) Heat gun
7) Wick
8) Thick needle with a large eye
9) Wick centering tool (wick holder)
10) Scissors
11) Water
12) Paper towels; silicone mat/heat-resistant surface; gloves (optional).
13) Wax dye
14) Fragrance oil for wax
15) Pipette (dropper)
16) Spoon

Let’s start making:

Step 1. Preparation – Open
Step 2. Melting the wax – Open
Step 3. Coloring the wax – Open
Step 4. Adding fragrance – Open
Step 5. Mold preparation – Open
Step 6. Pouring the wax – Open
Step 7. Top-up pour – Open
Step 8. Demolding – Open

Step 1. Preparation

1. Calculate the required amount of wax and additives for making the candle.

a) If you are using the mold for the first time, you need to measure how much wax the candle will require. To do this, place the mold on the scale, turn it on, and fill the mold with water. Multiply the resulting weight by 0.9 (average wax density). Add a few more grams of wax (3–10%), since some wax will remain on the walls of the pouring pot.

b) To calculate the fragrance, use any up-to-date calculator online or compute it yourself. Multiply the wax mass by the fragrance load in % and divide by 100; this gives you the mass of the fragrance.

c) Next, subtract the fragrance mass from the wax mass; this gives you the wax mass accounting for the fragrance.

Example calculation:
Mass of water in the mold: 105 g
Fragrance load: 5%

Wax mass = 105 × 0.9 = 94.5 g
Fragrance mass = 94.5 × 5 / 100 = 4.7 g
Wax mass accounting for fragrance = 94.5 − 4.7 = 89.8 g

If you are making more than one candle at a time, multiply both the fragrance mass and the wax mass accounting for fragrance by the number of candles.

2. Place the pouring pot on the scale and tare it to zero, then add the required amount of wax.

STEP 2. MELTING THE WAX

1. Place a water bath (double boiler) with the wax on the stove over medium heat.

2. Stir the wax periodically and wait until it is fully melted.

3. Use a thermometer to monitor the wax temperature and do not exceed the manufacturer’s maximum heating temperature (e.g., 90–95 °C).

STEP 3. COLORING THE WAX

1. Add a small amount of dye to the wax (the amount depends on the dye’s pigment strength) and mix thoroughly.

2. Pour a small amount of the wax onto a light surface and check the color after it sets.

3. If needed, add more dye to reach the desired shade.

STEP 4. ADDING FRAGRANCE

1. Heat the wax to the recommended mixing temperature (e.g., 60–70 °C).

2. On a scale, measure the pre-calculated amount of fragrance.

3. Add the fragrance to the wax without removing it from the water bath; stir gently with a spoon for about 2 minutes (sometimes it takes longer to fully incorporate the fragrance, but remember: the longer the fragrance stays in hot wax, the more it evaporates).

STEP 5. PREPARING THE MOLD

1. The mold must be completely clean and dry.
2. Cut the wick and thread it through the eye of a needle; the wick should be longer than the mold’s height.
3. Pierce the mold exactly through the center with the needle and pull the wick through.
4. Secure the wick using a wick holder/centering tool.

STEP 6. POURING THE WAX

STEP 7. TOP-UP POUR

1. When the wax has set a little and is no longer liquid, trim the wick.

2. Top up with a small amount of wax on the surface.

3. Leave the candle until it fully hardens.

STEP 8. DEMOLDING

1. After the wax has fully hardened (hardening time varies by wax and mold.), gently turn the mold inside out or bend the edges outward.

2. If needed, press the candle from below with your fingers to help it come out; do not try to yank it out, especially if the shape is complex.

3. Remove the candle from the mold.

4. Trim the wick so its length is 3–5 mm.