How to Make Pillar Candles at Home

In this article we will teach you how to make pillar candles at home. While we recommend you purchase a kit from Makeandgrow.com to have all the necessary components, you can also purchase them on your own. Making pillar candles is a fun project and your candles can be used as gifts or in your home. You can use a variety of colors and scents to make something which is both decorative as well as providing a nice scent for your home.

Because candle making involves the use of hot wax, we recommend that if you involve children you take extra precautions to keep them away from the melted wax and stove. We also advise that you take cautions to ensure you do not spill your wax or overheat it.

The first thing you'll need to do is to purchase your supplies. You'll need the following to make pillar candles at home.

For each pillar candle you will need 1.5 lbs of wax. We recommend soy wax for it's environmental cleanliness and long burning efficiency.

One pillar mold. Should include a hole for the wick

Long wick 6"-8" depending on the height of the pillar you intend

Wax sealant for the wick hole

Flutter color dye chip

1 oz of Fragrance 

Stirring stick (chop stick works well)

Melting pour pot

Candy thermometer

The first step is to assemble all your components onto a good work surface with ample room to lay everything out and prepare for the process. Next you will want to do all the prep work prior to melting the wax, so that you can focus on the wax melt and pour process without being distracted. Next thread the wick through the bottom of the pillar mold, leaving 1/2 to 1 inch of wick out the bottom. Place the screw into the bottom of the pillar mold partially and then wind the wick around the screw. Tighten the screw to seal the bottom of the mold. Warm the sealant by rolling in your hands and then cover the screw to completely seal the mold from leaking wax out the bottom. Apply pressure to the sealant to ensure a tight seal.

Have your color chip and fragrance ready to add to melted wax. Place 1.5 lbs of wax into the pour pot and place in a larger pot with 2" of boiling water. Stir wax until fully melted and temperature measures 170 degress farenheit. When temperature is achieved turn off heat and add color chip and stir for two minutes. Add fragrance and continue stirring for two more minutes.

Pour your melted wax into the pillar mold. Start by pouring 1/3 full and then wait to make sure that there is no leak. If the seal holds add more wax until you have reached the desired height. Save some wax for topping off after initial wax has set. 

Let the wax set, which can take up to 16 hours. When the wax has set it may have a concave depression on the top. This can be topped off by re-heating the remaining wax until completely melted and pouring into the top of the mold. Again, let set until fully solid.

Once the wax has set, the pillar candle should slide easily from the mold. You can clip the wick to a preferred length.

Now you should have pillar candles, which will burn beautifully and smell wonderful.