Pillar Candles Tutorial

Pillar Candles Tutorial

30th Nov 2022

Whether it is a room adorned with a hundred flickering flames for a special ceremony or a few small lights adding a cozy glow to a table of gathered friends and family, nothing creates atmosphere quite like candle light! Pillar candles can be a versatile and functional piece of art creating dramatic flare or adding a minimalist touch to any room decor. In this tutorial we will cover the basics of making pillar candles.

Supplies Needed:

*For this tutorial we used the ProBend 650 Parasoy Wax and the LX 24 Un-Tabbed Wick combination. It is always best to test for the wick type and size that works best for your particular recipe.


Step 1: Prepare Your Pillar Mold

Make sure the pillar mold is clean and has no particles or wax inside then string the un-tabbed wick through the hole in the bottom of the mold. Tie a knot in the wick leaving about 1-2 inches of wick on the end. (Tying a slip-knot will make untying it easier toward the end)

Using about a nickel size piece of mold sealer, seal the hole around the wick and then gently pull the wick from the open end of the pillar mold to fully seal it. Use another small piece of mold sealer to cover the exposed wick to prevent any leaking. Finally, Set the pillar mold that has been sealed on a flat surface and gently pull the wick taught and secure with a wick bar. Using the wick bar, center the wick in the mold.

        

  

Step 2: Prepare The Wax

Using the stove top pot, create a double boiler by placing the pouring pot inside and filling the stove top pot about 3/4 of the way full with water. Once you have enough water, remove the pouring pot and set on medium heat. Place the pouring pot on the candle making scale and tare/zero out the weight. Weigh 16 ounces of the pillar wax (we used our ProBlend 650). Place the candle making thermometer in the pouring pot with the wax and place in the stove top pot and heat the wax to 185°F.

  

    

Step 3: Add Fragrance & Candle Dye

Once wax has reached 185°F, remove the pouring pot from the double boiler. Add 1 oz. of the fragrance oil of your choice and mix well. Add your choice of candle dye and mix well (we used 7 drops of Liquid Candle Dye). 

           

Step 4: Pouring Wax

Allow wax mixture to cool to desired pouring temperature. Pour wax mixture into prepared mold leaving approximately 3 - 4 ounces of wax in the pouring pot to use for a second pour. Allow the wax to cool slightly.  When there is about 1/8 inch hardened wax on the surface, use the skewer to poke 4 - 5 relief holes.  This will help alleviate any air pockets that may form near the wick.

               

Step 5: Second Pour  

When the candle is almost completely cooled but has not pulled away from the sides of the mold, heat the remaining wax saved from the first pour.  Heat the wax 10°F hotter than the pouring temperature of the first pour. (This will help avoid a noticeable line between the two pours!) Pour the remaining wax in the mold and allow to cool over night.

                     

Step 6: The Final Details

After the candle has cooled remove the mold sealer and untie the knot. (The bottom of the mold will actually be the top of your candle so try to avoid using scissors to cut the knot off.) Turn the mold upside down and gently remove the candle from the mold. After you have removed the candle, trim the wick on the bottom flush with the wax and trim the wick at the top of the candle to 1/4 inch for lighting.

            

                 

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