How to Make Candles (Pillars)

Learning how to make candles at home is easy and a lot of fun! Pillar candles have a few extra steps than making container candles, but they are easy to make also. Here are some basic instructions (suitable for beginners) to show you how to make pillar candles right in your own home.

Prepare the Pillar Mold

Remove any residual wax on the inside surfaces of your mold that might have been left over from previous pillar making attempts. After insuring that the mold is clean, spray the inside of your mold with Silicone Spray Mold Release, making sure to follow the spraying directions on the can.

Wicking the Mold

Start by selecting the appropriate length and thickness of wick for the mold you’re using to make your pillar. The length of the wick should be a few inches longer than the height of mold to insure that there is extra room for tying the wick to a pencil, or anything that can lie across the open end of the mold.

Next, thread one end of the wick through the hole in the bottom of the mold (from the inside), pulling the wick through until an inch of wick is visible on the other side (the outside).

To prevent leakage of the melted wax around the hole that the wick runs through, you will need to use mold sealer. If you do not have mold sealer, try using modeling clay. Use enough sealer to completely wrap around the wick and press the sealer firmly into place to ensure a tight seal.

Now, turn the mold over so that the open end is facing up, and tie this end of the wick to a pencil or whatever is available, and center the wick on top of the mold.

Melting the Candle Wax

Since you will be needing to remove the pillar candle from the mold, it is best to use wax especially made for pillars. This wax is designed to shrink slightly when cooled allowing it to slip out of the mold.

If you wish to use regular wax I would suggest adding a teaspoon of Kemamide powder. per pound of melted wax in addition to the silicon spray mentioned above.

Heat the wax in a double broiler to 160 degrees. For safety reasons, watch your temperature and make sure the wax does not get too hot.

Then mix in the scented oils, dye, and optional Kemamide powder. Make sure you stir well to mix all ingredients thoroughly.

***Always keep an eye on the temperature. If the wax gets too hot, it can be a severe fire hazard, but don’t let it keep you from learning how to make candles!***

Pouring into the Mold

Now that the mold is clean and prepped and the wax is melted, it is time for the first pouring.

Pour the wax into the pillar mold, and fill the mold up to half an inch from the top of the mold, making sure to save some wax for the second pour.

Let the candle cool undisturbed until a thick crust of wax forms over the surface of the candle.

Using a chopstick (or something similar) poke holes into the candle near the wick. Press the stick through the candle until you reach about ½ inch from the bottom of the mold (2 -3 holes should be plenty).

The purpose of these holes is to allow the wax to shrink without forming air pockets (air trapped inside the finished candle).

These pockets of air could pull the wick off center and interfere with proper burning of the candle. It could also distort the shape of the finished candle, leaving you with an ugly hunk of wax.

The Second Pour

When the candle has hardened and cooled to room temperature, it is time to make the second pour of wax.

This will fill in the holes and the indentations in the center of the candle which are caused by shrinkage of the wax.

Begin by re-heating the wax you saved from the first pour in the double boiler. Reheat this wax between 5 - 10 degrees F hotter than the temperature of your first pour. When it is the proper temperature, pour the wax into mold filling the holes, and continue pouring until the wax reaches a level just below that of your first pour.

Pouring higher than the first pour can cause surface flaws on your finished candle. If you make a mistake and pour higher than your first pour, don’t sweat it.

Let it Cool!

Now let your pillar candle sit undisturbed until it cools completely. This may take a few hours or with larger diameter candle, the cooling process may take upwards of entire day.

You will know that your candle is completely cool when the surface of the mold is cool to the touch.

Be careful: attempting to remove the candle before it is completely cooled will result in a marred candle and a terrible mess.

And Finally…

Now that the pillar is cooled, pull the candle out of the mold. Once the candle is out of the mold, it is time to trim those wicks.

Cut off the wick at the bottom so that it is flush with the bottom surface of the candle. Trim the wick at the top of the candle to ¼ of an inch.

That’s all there is to it! Now that you know the basics on how to make candles, you can practice until you perfect the craft.

Enjoy your new pillar candles that you made right in your own home!

Scented Soy Wax Candles - Information for candle lovers!