Hand-Dipped Candles

2-4 pounds of Paraffin Wax (canning wax)
or beeswax .
Candle wick (hobby and craft stores)
oils and herbs (for scent and magickal goals)
candle dye or crayons (for color)
wax paper
a wooden spoon
a double broiler

Melt the wax in a double boiler. (Fill a large pot 1/2 full of water and sit a large coffee can with the wax in it inside the pot if you don't have a double boiler.) Heat the water to a boil and cut up the wax so it will melt faster. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down and place the tin of wax inside of it. Keep the water hot enough to keep the wax melted, but not hot enough to catch the wax on fire. Stir the wax with a wooden spoon (never use metal) as it melts to make sure its all melted.

When your sure the wax is completely melted, break the crayons up and put them into the wax, stirring until all of the crayon pieces are melted and the color is even with no streaks. The candle will be a slightly lighter in color when dry. Add more crayons if needed to get the desired shade.

When your wax is the right color and smoothly blended, mix the herbs together and add. Stir with the wooden spoon until it is thoroughly mixed. Next add 10-20 drops of essential oil to the wax until it smells strongly of the desired fragrance. Now your wax is ready. Cut a piece of wick twice the length of your intended finished candle length plus 3 inches, this makes 2 candles at a time. Bend the wick in the middle and hold it at the bend. Dip the wick into the wax and then lift back out. The wick will float on top of the wax until it has enough wax on it to weigh it down. Allow it to get completely cold between dippings.

Once your candle has enough wax layers to start to taking shape you can speed up the process by dipping them in cool water after each dipping in the wax. This will speed up the process a little, candle making is still a craft that takes time and patience.

Keep dipping and cooling the candles until you have the desired size, then hang them to dry until the wax has set but not hardened. Then roll them on the wax paper with both hands to even out the shape, then dip 1 or 2 more times to make sure your candle has smooth finish. Flatten the bottoms with a sharp knife. Cut the wick and hang your candles to dry.

Tip: Soak candles overnight in vinegar and they won't drip. This works for store bought candles too.

Paraffin Wax (canning wax)
or beeswax .
Taper candle for wick
Colored chunks of wax (see recipe)
Dried leaves, herbs, flowers, petals, etc. (optional)
Essential Oil or Candle Oil of your choice (optional)

Choose and prepare the wax chunks. You can use leftover wax, old candles, crayons or you can make your own colored chunks. To make colored chunks, pour colored (crayons melted in wax) wax 1/2 inch thick in a shallow metal pan coated with silicone spray. Allow to cool until it is firm but still warm and pliable. Take a knife and cut into one half to one inch squares. Leave them in the pan and allow to cool completely. Old ice cube trays can also be used.

Using a wick as you normally would isn't as good with chunky candles because they may burn unevenly. Instead, place a taper in the center of the mold, either upright or with its wick through the wick hole at the bottom of mold. Arrange the chunks around taper so that you have a pleasing effect visible from the outside of the jar also adding in any herbs or flowers you may wish to use, placing them between the chunks will hold them in place.

Fill the mold with very hot wax (200 degrees). Don't add additives (like color), this wax needs to be translucent so the chunks show. If you are adding scented oils add them just before you pour the wax into the mold and mix evenly, make it strongly scented so the candle will have a good scent as it burns. You may need to add more chunks as you pour the chunks will settle so you may need to add more chunks. You can also drop wax chunks and dried flowers/leaves etc. into the mold after it is about one third full with hot wax (200 degrees) for a smoother finish. Use a pencil to push the dried flowers/leaves into the desired place.

Roll the candle in hot water or use a propane torch to melt away extra wax and expose the brightly colored chunks. You can also make these candles in jars.

Here's the kind of solution the string/twine should be soaked in:

2 tbsp salt
4 tbsp borax
2 cups of warm water

Mix the above and Soak string, dry, wait 3 days to be cured and then roll it into a ball for later use. I have also read that one can add salts of barium, copper, and strontium for different coloured flames: green, blue green, orange-red. See Colored Fires