Clean, simple lines give these round candles the versatility to blend in anywhere. They look great on their own or in containers. Unbuffed, the candles have a matte finish. Buffed, they have a gorgeous sheen. For more DIY candle projects, check out these instructions for making Cupcake Candles and Embedded Pillars.
DIY Candles: Round Candles
Materials
• 1 lb. (454 g) soy pillar wax flakes
• Color block: desired color
• Flat braided cotton wick: large
Tools
• Adhesive wax
• Baking sheet
• Candle thermometer
• Craft knife
• Double boiler
• Glass measuring cup: 4-cup (960 ml)
• Kitchen towel
• Mold sealer
• Nylon stocking
• Paring knife
• Polycarbonate two-piece mold: round
• Scissors
• wooden skewer
Instructions
Prepare the mold
Note: There are two sides to this mold that twist together in the middle.
1. Put the two pieces of the mold together and twist to secure.
2. Cut a length of wick to fit your mold, leaving a 1/4-inch (.6 cm) tail of wick at the bottom of the mold and enough length of wick at the top to wrap around the wooden skewer.
3. Using the mold sealer, cover the bottom hole and wick tail, making sure to smooth the sealer on the surface of the mold to prevent leakage.
4. Wrap the top of the wick around the wooden skewer and set in place at the top of the mold. Use a dab of adhesive wax to hold the wooden skewer in place, if necessary.
Melt the wax flakes
1. Clip the thermometer onto the double boiler. Melt the wax flakes until the temperature reaches about 160° F (71° C); remove from heat.
2. Using the paring knife, trim thin shavings of wax coloring and mix them into the wax until the desired shade is reached (use more for a deeper shade, less for a paler shade). Stir thoroughly to blend coloring evenly.
Pour the candle
1. When the temperature reaches 150° F (65° C), pour the wax into the measuring cup. Note: Carefully wipe the bottom of the pan with a kitchen towel before pouring the wax into the glass to prevent any water from dripping into the wax.
2. Pour the wax quickly to about 1/4 inch (.6 cm) from the top of the mold, reserving at least 1/8 to 1/4 cup (30 to 60 ml) of wax for refilling; let set.
3. Allow the candle to cool. As it cools, the wax may shrink away from the wick. Carefully poke holes in the wax near the wick using a toothpick. Repeat this 2 to 3 times as the candle cools. Note: Cooling times will vary depending on the size of your candle.
4. Once the candle has completely cooled, reheat the reserved refill wax to 160° F (71° C). Refill the holes to cover the candle evenly.
Remove the candle from the mold
1. When the candle is fully hardened, remove it from the mold. First, remove the mold sealer, then gently pry the two pieces of the mold apart.
2. Using the paring knife, trim the excess wax from the poured end of the candle. This is now the candle bottom.
3. Using the scissors, trim the ends of the wick. Buff the seams and surface of the candle smooth with a nylon stocking.
Candle Success
Candle dye is very staining and difficult to remove, especially from plastics because of the molecular similarity. It comes off wood floors well with a little bleach, linoleum with a lot (soak for hours). Sealed tiles aren’t a problem but your grout could get stained beyond repair; better to put down newspaper and pick up sheets that get spilled on before they can soak through.
