Pillar Candle Making Course

Discover essential candle making equipment, from the double boiler to small items like rubber band and blu-tack, designed for beginners and hobbyists.

Learn about pillar wax as the primary material for pillar candles, compare container and pillar wax, review paraffin, beeswax, palm, soy, blends, Eco Soy Pillow Blend, and the pellets-to-flakes shift.

Choose cotton ply wicks for pillar candles, compare braided and twisted forms for slower burns, and cut to size with a wicking needle, matching ply sizes from 4–6 to 21–30.

Explore silicone and acrylic candle molds, learn easy demolding with a slit design, and secure molds using rubber bands or bulldog clips to prevent wax leakage.

Pour the optional fragrance oil into your candle mixture using glass beakers, keeping the process tidy and easy with a Luxe Aroma Amalfi Coast scent.

Select a heat-resistant silicone stirring spatula with a soft blade to stir candle wax without scratching cookware. This lightweight, stain-resistant tool cleans easily and works well for color-rich candles.

Use a heat gun to preheat molds and prevent frosting, sinkholes, and tops; clean wax off equipment with plastic wax scooper and double boil pot and aluminium jug (1.8 kilos).

Explore essential candle making tools, from rulers and scissors to rubber bands, bulldog clips, silicone molds, wax scrapers, gloves for fragrance oils and dyes, and precise kitchen scales.

Seal the bottom opening of the acrylic mold with blu-tack to secure the wick. Pour hot wax to prevent leakage and keep wax inside the mold, not on the benchtop.

Use soft-bristled brushes with a nice, soft brush head to brush dust from candles, restoring a fresh, new look.

An infrared thermometer is essential when making candles; it provides digital, easy-to-use infrared readings, and this Bosch model accompanies the process.

Learn how to color pillar candles using concentrated liquid dyes, starting with one drop, testing on a paper plate, and adding drops to reach the desired color within a minute.

Explore optional candle accessories from Empire Candle Co, including a sharp wax trimmer for wick trimming, a candle snuffer, a wick dipper, and a matte black candle tray.

Explore pillar wax basics, compare three of Australia’s most popular pillar wax, and discuss the top six pillar wax to guide selection.

Explore pillar wax characteristics and types, including freestanding candles, higher melt temperature, reduced sweating, and de-mold release, while examining soy, palm, beeswax, coconut, and paraffin options for sculptured pillar candles.

Discover six pillar wax options, including Exo Pillar blend, rapeseed wax 9562, Curacao 4120, 827 performance blend, A27, and BW 9 to 1, with notes on fragrance retention and color.

Compare the top three pillar waxes in a bubble cube burn with unscented, uncolored wax and 15-ply braided wicks; note A27 and eco olive melt pool results.

Compare burn tests of three pillar candle waxes, eco olive, A27, and eco soy, over nine hours, noting melt pools, tunneling, spills, and the heat-proof dish guidance.

Trim the wick to about five millimeters before lighting to promote a steady burn. Avoid issues from a wick that is too long, which can cause soot and wax spillage.

Thank you for watching and enjoy today's topic on pillow wax; look forward to the next lesson.

Learn to choose the correct wick size for pillar candles, prevent tunneling, and recognize the wick as the heart of the candle, unlike vessel candles.

Discover how wicks deliver fuel to the flame in pillar candles and how cotton pie wicks (flat, braided, knitted, twisted, and cotton square) affect burn rate and beeswax use.

Explore how wax type, color, fragrance, oil, and environment influence wick sizing, and learn to test and document to prevent extinguishing or excessive burning.

Discover how candle memory makes the first burn crucial, lasting 1–4 hours depending on shape and size, and how wax tunnels for the life of the candle.

Shows the most common wick ply sizes for pillar and taper candles, from four to thirty ply, with examples like six ply tapers, bubble cubes, and palm candles.

Determine the correct wick size for pillar candles using a ruler, calculator, and wick guide. Start with a 60% melt pool on the widest part; 15 ply is common.

Measure the candle's widest part to set the melt pool (70 mm equals 42 mm), then check the wick guide for 15 ply and use 12 ply.

Measure the bubble cube candle’s widest part at 60 mm, set the melt pool to 36 mm (60%), and cross-check with the wick guide to confirm 15 ply.

Determine palm candle wick length by taking 60% of 110 mm to 66 mm, cross-check with the week guide, and test 24 or 30 ply wicks.

Explore common wick ply sizes for candles, from four and six ply for tapers to twenty-one, twenty-four, and thirty ply designs like bubble cube and palm candle.

Estimate your wick, and test wick sizes to find the best match. Use a wick needling tool, dip the wick in wax, and trim to five millimeters to control flame.

Explore module five of the pillar candle making course to color soy wax with dyes, manage frosting, and choose mediums like liquid dye, diamond chips, dye blocks, and pastels.

Identify essential equipment for color-dyed pillar candles, including pillar wax, liquid dyes, diamond chips, pastels, or dye blocks, and tools like spatulas, gloves, aluminium jugs, molds, a thermometer, and documentation.

Explore how color in pillar candles communicates mood, with blue for calm, green for luck and safety, purple for problem solving and luxe, including four main color dye mediums.

Explore the four main mediums for color dyes—liquid dyes, diamond chips, pastels, and dye blocks—and how they influence candle color.

Use diamond dye chips to color wax easily, mixing colors for pastel or vibrant shades. Dissolve chips fully to avoid dark spots and uneven color in the finished candle.

Measure liquid dyes with the nozzle and test on a paper plate, then mix for two minutes for consistent color. Start with few drops; follow pastel, medium, vibrant guidelines.

Learn how to color pillar candles with dye pastilles. Dissolve pastels in melted wax at 80–85 degrees and stir until dissolved, using light, medium, and vibrant shade recommendations.

Master highly concentrated dye blocks for soy, paraffin, and palm wax; color large batches, shave blocks for smaller volumes, and document your method, one block per three kilos of wax.

mica powder gives a beautiful shimmering effect in candles, needing only a small pinch; too much can clog wicks and compromise burn quality, especially in melts or wickless candles.

Explore color blending for pillar candles, creating teal from blue and green, purple from blue and red, and orange from red and yellow, using a color wheel.

Document the wax to dye ratio to ensure color consistency, noting that color results may vary and that burning characteristics can change with color; use the logbook for calculations.

Add fragrance oil to the wax after color is mixed, near the pouring temperature for centered pillar candles, using 60–65°C pours and around 70°C for better hot and cold throw.

Avoid food coloring and crayons as dye mediums for pillar candles; they don’t bond or dissolve in wax and can create chunky bits that disrupt burning.

Learn how candle color dyes vary by supplier and concentration, test and document colors, and find your magic shade with top suppliers like Candle Science, Makesy, Cosy Owl.

Add color to your pillar candle to stand out from the norm and enjoy experimenting with different color dye mediums. Explore what is available in your local region.

Explore essential oils versus synthetic oils, fragrance oil calculations, maximum fragrance load, mixing temperatures, and hot throw, cold throw, and storage for candle making.

Explore essential oils vs synthetic oils for pillar candles, covering plant-derived fragrance, extraction methods, carrier oils, and fragrance loads of 1–2% for essential oils and 6–10% for synthetic oils.

the fragrance wheel visualizes and classifies fragrances by aroma, helping candle makers identify dominant notes, compare categories like floral, citrus, woody, and blend scents for a desired candle profile.

Explore fragrance notes and the scent progression in pillar candle making, detailing top, middle (heart), and base notes, their durations, and examples like citrus, florals, and woody scents.

Calculate fragrance load by weight for pillar candles, using 6–10% for synthetic oils and 1–2% for essential oils, and test scent throw while following wax-specific manufacturer guidelines.

Discover the correct mixing and pouring temperatures for fragrance oils in melted wax for pillar candle making to ensure proper incorporation, scent retention, and safety by monitoring flashpoints.

Balance hot and cold throws by adjusting wax type, wick, candle size, and fragrance oil to optimize fragrance strength when lit and unlit.

Store fragrance oils in a cool, dark place in airtight containers. Monitor discoloration and bleeding risks, noting vanilla and wax interactions; follow fragrance load, temperatures, and ventilation.

Explore mold sourcing, preferred suppliers, and the rise of silicone and other mold types for creative candle designs; learn maintenance and storage to extend mold life.

Explore silicone molds for candle making, featuring flexibility, durable release, diverse 3D designs, tin cured or platinum cured options, and guidance to check finished candle size with suppliers.

Tin cure silicone molds use tin as a catalyst with silicone rubber, offering durability and high heat resistance for high-melting-point waxes, but tear more easily and absorb colors and scents.

Platinum cured silicone moulds offer chemical resistance and longer lifespan for scented candles. Consider cost and needs: platinum moulds offer flexibility and durability, while tin cured moulds suit limited runs.

Choose food grade silicone molds for candle making, offering flexibility, high-temperature tolerance, lightweight handling, nonstick release, and easy cleaning for reliable, convenient results.

Wrap rubber bands around thick silicone molds to prevent wax leakage and secure the candle, then align the side opening and smooth any bumps for a professional, seamless finish.

Use bulldog clips to prevent wax leakage with silicone moulds, smooth the inside with your fingers, and reposition for a straight line to minimize the opening.

Explore acrylic molds for pillar candles, noting durability and long lifespan, contrast with silicone, and enjoy glossy results, contemporary designs, plus practical steps for wick setup, sealing, and demolding.

Leverage metal moulds for pillar candles, offering durability, long lifespan, crystal patterns, and affordability versus silicone options. Use stands, thread wick through bottom opening, and clean with a heat gun.

Polycarbonate candle molds offer one-piece or two-piece options with heat resistance up to 120 degrees, plus lightweight durability, easy cleaning, and excellent mold release for glossy candles.

Learn to design candles with custom molds, using silicone mold casts or collaborating with a mold maker for unique, creative finishes.

Clean candle molds by washing with warm water and dishwashing detergent to remove wax buildup. Use a low-heat gun to melt wax, wipe and air dry completely before storing.

Ensure moulds are dry, then store in cool, dark place away from sunlight; keep dust out with airtight containers or folding-lid boxes, maintain a single flat layer to avoid squashing.

Explore Canimals as essential candle molds, including silicone, polycarbonate, metal, and custom options, and learn how to choose, handle, and care for molds to ensure longevity and professional quality candles.

Explore the final steps to elevate pillar candle creations, learn to handle imperfections, understand curing, apply labels and tags, and store your pieces, while maintaining a clean, organized workspace.

Maintain the appearance of candles by brushing with a soft brush to remove excess wax and debris, keeping surfaces smooth and fresh and boosting sales.

Use a wax carving tool, like a pottery or ceramic tool, to carve away excess wax and create a sharp, smooth surface; brush regularly to keep pillar candles looking fresh.

Curing candles lets fragrance oil bond with the wax for a stronger, more consistent scent when burned. Vary cure times by wax and fragrance, aiming for at least one week.

Enhance candle packaging with informative labels that convey scent and burn time, and include a care card advising removing labels from the wick and trimming to five millimetres before lighting.

Store pillar candles in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat, in containers with tight lids. For large inventories, consider dust covers to keep candles dust-free.

Set aside a dedicated candle making space free from distraction to stay focused. Dispose of waste in nearby bins, wipe spills, and wear an apron to protect clothing.

Close your candle projects with final touches by curing, addressing imperfections, adding labels, and tidy storage, and share your beautiful creations on social media.

Master candle safety and care with flame precautions, use, handling, and storage to prevent fires and injuries. Use holders, keep away from flammable objects, and never leave candles unattended.

Practice pillar candle safety by never leaving candles unattended and keeping them away from flammables, children, and pets. Extinguish fully after use, monitor drafts, and limit burns to three hours.

Maximize burn quality with the first burn, wick trimming, and debris removal. Store candles away from heat and light, use lead-free cotton wicks, batch testing, insurance, and care cards.

Identify open flame hazards and apply essential precautions: use safe handling and storage, keep away from flammable objects, never leave candles unattended, and use candle holders.

Master the double boiler method for economical, fast wax melting with a step-by-step setup, then craft a classic bubble cube candle with a perfect round finish.

Master the double boiler method with a pot and aluminium jug on the stove, then calculate 180 g wax at 8% fragrance to yield about 14 g fragrance oil.

Melt your wax using the double boiler method, placing it in a pot and watching it melt for about ten to fifteen minutes.

Preheat molds with a heat gun, thread the wick through the center with a wicking needle and 15 ply cotton, then pour wax for a bubble cube.

Melt wax to 75 degrees, add fragrance oil, and stir gently for two minutes. Experiment with pouring temperatures in 5–10 increments depending on wax, mold, fragrance, and color.

Center the wick with a centering tool, pour wax into a bubble cube, and cure 6 to 8 hours (24 hours for large candles) before demolding smooth top and scent.

Master the double boiler technique to melt wax and craft bubble cube candle, and use tips: aluminium jug up to 1.8kg, fill halfway, monitor water levels, and dry the jug.