How to Dye Your Candles

Your favorite candle will be even more amazing when it matches the colors you love! Dye your candle to create unique pieces that will delight your senses. Start by melting one or two candles in a double boiler, or use a block of paraffin wax to make new candles. Add some candle dye in powder or liquid form, gradually stirring in the color until you reach the desired shade. Once the wax has the color you want, pour it into a mold with a new wick and let it harden.

Buy Candle Dye. Many candle companies sell liquid dyes specifically made for their products. Other universal dyes can be used for almost any kind of candle. The key is selecting the right dye for the wax you’re using. Otherwise, the color may not blend evenly.

• Powdered dyes like Rit Dye can be used for candle coloring.
• Avoid using regular liquid dyes, such as food coloring. When mixed together, the water-based dye and the oil-based wax won’t dissolve properly, creating ugly, blotchy color patches.
• You can even use wax coloring for simplicity. Candles and wax colors are both made of wax, so they’ll mix perfectly together.

Add a small amount of dye to the melted wax. Squeeze a few drops of color or sprinkle 2-3 teaspoons of powdered dye into the wax. Don’t use too much dye – candle dyes are often very concentrated, so just a little is enough.

• The exact amount of color needed will depend on the size and number of candles you’re making and the intensity of the color you desire.
• Dyeing candles with wax color is simple. Just peel off the outer wrapping, drop the right amount of color into the melted wax, and stir it up!

Stir the wax with the dye thoroughly for 2 minutes. Stir the melted wax slowly and continuously to ensure the dye is evenly distributed. Once the color is completely uniform, you can stop and check if the shade is as dark as you want it to be.

• Don’t stir too fast, or the wax will splash everywhere around your workspace.

Gradually add more dye until you reach the desired color. The more dye you use, the darker and more vibrant the final result will be. If you want deep colors like dark olive green or navy blue, you may need to use twice or even three times as much as usual. Remember to stir constantly while adding color to the wax.

• A general rule for calculating dye quantity is to multiply the weight of your wax batch by 0.05%. For example, to dye 450g of wax, you’ll need 0.227g of dye.

Wait for the wax to cool to 57-60°C. Once you're happy with the color quality, turn off the heat and remove the pot of wax. The wax needs to cool a bit before pouring into the mold. You can use a food thermometer to measure the temperature of the wax.

• Wax hotter than 60°C could cause glass containers to cloud, shrink, or even break when poured in.

Choose a container to pour the candle into. If you’re dyeing an old candle, the easiest option is to reuse an old jar. However, you can use almost any container, as long as it’s heatproof, has a wide opening, and is large enough to hold the melted wax. Metal tins, wine glasses, teacups, and food jars all make great candle molds.

• You can also use gelatin molds or tealight holders to make several smaller candles at once.
• For freestanding candles, you can cut the top of a 1-liter milk carton to create a mold. Once the wax has hardened, simply tear the carton away to reveal your candle.

Place the wick in the empty mold. Take an uncut wick and tie one end around a wooden stick or pencil. The other end of the wick should be long enough to reach the bottom of the mold. Lay the wooden stick across the top of the mold so that the wick hangs down vertically, centered in the middle.

• A clothespin or a strip of tape can also help hold the wick in place if needed.
• To make a double wick for larger candles, simply tie another wick 4-5 cm away from the first one.

Pour the wax into the mold. To avoid mess, use a funnel or pour the wax from a container with a pouring spout. Make sure to leave about 1.5 cm from the top of the mold to account for any wax that spills over when the candle is lit.

• You can use the leftover wax to make smaller candles or wait for it to dry and scrape it out to dispose of it.

Wait for the wax to harden. The wax can fully solidify in about an hour. Once hardened, it will take the shape of the container, and you’ll have a brand new, self-made candle in the color of your choice. While waiting, be careful not to touch the wax, as this can create dents, smudges, or other imperfections.

• Be sure not to disturb the wick while the wax is setting.
• You can speed up the cooling process by placing the candle in the refrigerator or a cool place.

Trim the wick. Remove or cut the wick from the wooden stick. Use scissors to trim the wick about 0.5 cm above the surface of the wax. Now your candle is ready to be lit, casting a warm glow in the room!

• If the wick is too short, it will be difficult to light the candle, but if it’s too long, the candle may not burn well.

Select an old candle to refresh. Lighter shades like white will absorb dye more easily and create a more vibrant effect. Since you will need to melt the wax, choose a candle that is not inside a container. If you want to use a candle in a jar or metal tin, you can use a butter knife to remove the wax in chunks.

• You can use multiple smaller candles to make one larger candle, as long as they are made from the same type of wax.
• Avoid candles with decorations like flowers, seashells, or glitter.
• Don't use scented candles. The melting process can affect the fragrance in the wax and create an unpleasant odor.

Buy new paraffin wax blocks to make your own candles. If you prefer to start with a completely new candle, buy a package of paraffin wax. Paraffin is one of the easiest waxes to melt and dye. Raw wax and candle-making materials are typically available at craft supply stores.

• If you prefer, you can also choose to use soy wax or beeswax.
• When purchasing your candle-making materials, remember to buy a wick for each candle you're making.

Prepare a double boiler to melt the wax. If you don't have a double boiler, use a large pot, fill it halfway with water, and bring it to a boil on medium-high heat. Next, place a heat-resistant bowl or measuring cup inside the pot, making sure the rim of the bowl is above the water level. The boiling water will transfer heat to the container inside without getting too hot.

• You can also use a metal coffee can or similar container if you want to avoid scraping wax off kitchen tools after you're done.
• Never melt wax directly in a regular pot. Doing so could ruin its natural consistency and even cause it to catch fire!

Cut the candles or wax blocks into small pieces. Use a sharp knife to cut the wax into 2.5 cm square blocks or shave it into small shavings. This increases the surface area of the wax, allowing it to melt more quickly. The smaller the wax pieces, the faster they will melt.

• Place the candle or wax on a cutting board to avoid scratching the surface of your table.
• Be careful when handling the knife. Candle wax contains oil, so it can be quite slippery.

Place the wax into the double boiler. Transfer the small candle pieces you want to dye into the small compartment of the double boiler. If you're using raw paraffin, you can melt around 2-5 blocks, depending on how many and what size candles you plan to make. Cut the wax into smaller pieces to reduce the melting time.

• 2-2.5 blocks of paraffin can make a standard-size candle jar. 5 blocks of paraffin will create a large candle about the size of a 1-liter milk carton.

Heat the wax until it melts. Occasionally stir the melting wax and break up any large lumps. Typically, the wax will start to soften after about 5 minutes of heating and will fully liquefy in 8-10 minutes. Once it’s melted, the wax will become smooth, clear, and ready to be dyed.

• Use a thin disposable tool like a wooden stick or popsicle stick to stir the wax.
• For the same amount of wax, harder waxes like paraffin or beeswax might take an additional 2-3 minutes to fully melt.

• Keep in mind that the original color of the candle will affect how the final color appears after dyeing. For example, blue dye added to a colorless candle will still be blue, but adding blue dye to a yellow candle may result in a green candle.
• It's a good idea to wear disposable gloves when dyeing candles. You may need to scrub several times to remove any concentrated dye stains from your skin.
• Add a few drops of essential oil to the wax while it's hardening for a scented candle.
• Decorate your space with candles in colors that match the seasons. For instance, pastel-colored candles for spring and fall, and vibrant, fun-colored candles for summer.
• Handmade, dyed candles make for wonderful gifts.

• Always keep an eye on the wax while heating it on the stove. Accidents can happen if you lose focus.

• Old candles
• Raw paraffin, soy wax, beeswax (optional)
• Wax colorant (optional)
• Double boiler (or a large pot with a smaller heat-resistant container)
• Liquid or powdered dye
• Uncut wick
• Wooden stick, clothespin, or tape
• Knife
• Scissors
• Containers in various materials and sizes (for pouring the wax into)