Adding color to candles can transform them from basic household items into beautiful, decorative accents. The color of a candle can set a mood, match a theme, or make a statement. While plain white or ivory candles serve a simple purpose, colored candles add flair and personality.
There are several options for adding color to candles, depending on the desired effect and how involved you want the process to be. From quick and easy methods like dipping and painting, to more complex techniques like embedding botanicals or layering colors, creative methods allow you to make your candles as vivid or nuanced as you like.
Dyeing Candle Wax
One of the easiest ways to color candles is to add liquid dye to the melted wax. Candle dye comes in just about every color imaginable, from primary colors to vivid hues and soothing pastels. Wax dye blends easily into melted candle wax to infuse the entire candle with color.
Candle dye can be oil or water based. Oil-based dyes, while more expensive, blend better with wax and produce more vibrant colors. Water-based dyes are cheaper but may not incorporate as evenly, resulting in streaky or uneven coloring.
When working with wax dyes, it’s important to add the correct amount for the candle size you are making. Most candle dye is concentrated and only a few drops are needed per pound of wax. Adding too much dye can result in candles that bleed or fade when lit. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Here are some tips for uniformly dyeing candles with wax dye:
– Melt wax completely before adding dye. Dye will not blend properly into solid wax.
– Stir well to fully incorporate the dye.
– Add dye drop by drop, stirring for at least 1 minute between drops.
– To evenly disperse dye, let the wax cool slightly before pouring into containers. Do not add dye to wax that is too hot.
– For a marbled look, add one color, pour, then add a second color and continue pouring.
– Use cotton swabs to add dye to the tops of poured candles for an ombre effect.
Candle wax dye allows you to easily add any color imaginable to your homemade or purchased candles. With proper dye dispersion and concentration, your colored candles will have a rich, uniform hue.
Painting Candles
For customizable color effects, paint the outside of poured candles with liquid candle dye or other paints formulated for candle surfaces. Painting allows you to add multiple colors, designs, stripes, dots, or other patterns on the candle exterior.
Acrylic paint, oil paint, and liquid candle dye all work for painting candle surfaces. Avoid using water-based craft paints which may not adhere well to wax. Whichever paint you choose, applying 2-3 thin coats will provide the best results. Allow each coat to fully dry before adding the next.
For the smoothest finish, dip-dye the whole candle first in one color, let dry, then paint designs on top. This covers any visible brush strokes with a backcoat of dye.
There are a few techniques for painting candles:
– Stripes or bands – Use painter’s tape to mask off sections, applying different colors in each stripe.
– Ombre or gradient – Start with a dark color on the bottom fading up to light on top.
– Dots or drips – For a funky, whimsical look flick dots of contrasting colors over a base coat.
– Geometric or floral designs – Use stencils and a stencil brush to add intricate designs.
– Scenes or landscapes – Get creative with landscapes, animals, or abstract art using a small brush.
Seal painted candles with a clear acrylic spray to prevent color loss when burning. Let candles cure for 2-3 days before lighting to allow paint to fully adhere. With the right paints and some creativity, painting allows you to customize the look of plain or colored candles.
Adding Botanicals
For a natural approach, dried flowers, herbs, and other plant materials can provide beautiful color and interest to candles. Popular botanicals to add to candles include:
– Flower petals – rose, lavender, marigold, chamomile
– Herbs – basil, sage, mint, rosemary
– Spices – cinnamon sticks or powder, clove, nutmeg
– Fruit peels – lemon, orange, grapefruit
– Nuts – coconut shavings, crushed walnuts or almonds
– Bark – cinnamon sticks
Botanicals can be gently pressed into the top of poured candles before the wax fully sets up. Arrange petals, herbs and spices in artistic designs for a pretty candlescape.
For candles with layers of color, press botanicals between layers while the wax is still warm. They will suspend within the candle. Natural materials work best for this method since they hold up to heat well.
Another option is to fully submerge botanicals into melted wax then allow the wax to harden in the vessel before pouring your candle. This encases the plant material within the candle for a striking 3D effect. Fragile botanicals may burn up when the candle is lit, so hardier ingredients work best.
When adding botanicals, pay attention to safe burn properties. Materials like bark, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones may spark or crackle when lit. Avoid using anything with high water content which can cause splattering. With some trial and error, you can create candles with beautifully embedded botanicals.
Layering Wax Colors
For an artful effect, layer multiple colors of wax in a single candle vessel. As the candle burns down, the colors will be revealed in stripes, swirls, or other patterns depending on technique.
A simple striped candle can be created by carefully pouring alternating colors of dyed wax into the vessel. Tilt the candle container slightly with each new layer to encourage straight stripes.
For marbled or swirled looks:
– Spoon colors next to each other in a pouring vessel then gently fold together using a skewer or chopstick.
– Stir colors together then let sit so they begin to set up before pouring. The wax will retain swirls and texture.
– Drop different colored wax dots into the vessel then use a heat gun to lightly blend the layers.
– Pour alternating colors in very thin layers, allowing each to partially set up before adding the next. The wax will push into the previous layer.
Layering wax requires precision and patience to achieve the desired effect, but the reveal of colors and textures when the candle is lit makes it worthwhile.
Making Flame-Colored Candles
For vibrant colors that seem to come alive when lit, specialized candle dyes can create flames that flicker in hues like blue, green, orange, or purple. These flame colors are eye-catching and magical.
But flame dyes must be used carefully, only adding the tiny amounts needed to produce the effect. Follow manufacturer’s instructions exactly. Adding too much flame dye can be dangerous, producing tall, sooty flames.
Here are some tips for safely making flame-colored candles:
– Only use dyes specifically made for colored flames. Food coloring and other dyes will not work well or safely.
– Do test burns with small amounts of dye to gauge color intensities before making a large candle.
– Add infinitesimal amounts of dye at a time until you achieve the desired color. Stir well between additions.
– Never burn flame-colored candles unattended. Trim wicks to 1⁄4” before every lighting to prevent hazardous sooting.
With careful dye amounts and wick trimming, flame candles create ambiance and excitement. But too much dye can make them unsafe when lit.
Using Crayons
For colorful wax that’s safe and mess-free to work with, try melting old crayons into new candle creations. Peel the wrappers off crayons then break into pieces to melt in a double boiler or small slow-cooker.
Stir frequently as the crayon wax melts to form a beautiful rainbow swirl. Avoid overheating or burning the wax. Once fully melted, pour into containers or candle molds just like regular wax.
Here are some crayon candle ideas:
– Multi-color swirl – Melt together an assortment of different crayon colors
– Ombre – Melt crayons of the same hue from light to dark
– Geometric – Alternate pouring contrasting crayon wax colors
– Hidden design – Place crayon bits, sequins or confetti in a mold before pouring
– Layering – Pour a base later then top with a contrasting crayon layer
The soft, creamy texture of melted crayons produces candles with a smooth satiny finish. Kids can help sort and peel crayons for a fun craft activity. Upcycle old broken crayons into new votive candles, tapers, or decorative pillars.
Using Wax Chips
For convenience and predictable results, colored wax chips take the guesswork out of candle dyeing. Sold in an array of colors, these small wax pieces melt easily into candle wax to produce uniform tinting.
Wax chips come in 1-ounce packages, so calculating the amount needed for a given quantity of wax is simple. Follow package directions for adding chips into melted candle wax. Stir thoroughly until chips are fully dissolved.
With wax chips you can easily produce:
– Solid color candles – Use a single color wax chip for even coloring
– Swirled or marbled – Melt together chips of complementary or contrasting colors
– Ombre – Gradually add more color chips as you pour layers
– Faded or washed out – Use sparing amounts of chips for soft tinted wax
– Painted – Melt chips into oil or acrylic paints for candle painting
Wax chips ensure predictable dyeing results for both color saturation and candle burn properties. Their small size makes dyeing wax easy.
Trying Food Coloring
In a pinch, liquid food coloring can add a pop of color to candles. However, food coloring works best when paired with other dyeing methods for maximum vibrancy and colorfastness.
Because food coloring is water-based, it does not bond as fully to wax. This can result in fading, color separation, or bleeding if too much is added. For best results, use oil-based food coloring gels instead of regular liquid food color.
To minimize food coloring limitations:
– Use very small amounts of dye. Start with just a drop or two per pound of wax.
– Combine with another dyeing method like crayon wax or wax chips which help anchor and evenly disperse the color.
– Pour candles immediately after adding food coloring when wax is still hot to prevent settling.
– Consider food coloring for a top layer over fully colored wax since lighter exposure can cause fading.
With its limitations fully understood, adding a drop or two of food coloring can provide a quick color pop for handmade or plain candles.
Trying Natural Dyes
For an all-natural, non-toxic dye option, look to your kitchen for colorful ingredients like spices, fruits and vegetables. These everyday foods contain pigments that can naturally tint candle wax soft hues.
Here are some natural items to try for candle dye:
| Dye Source | Color Produced |
|---|---|
| Turmeric powder | Yellow |
| Beet juice or powder | Pink/red |
| Carrot juice | Orange |
| Spinach juice | Green |
| Blueberry juice | Lavender |
| Coffee grounds | Brown |
Since natural dyes have less pigment, only light colors are possible. Cooking your dye ingredient in water first helps intensify the color before adding to wax. Use up to 1 tablespoon of natural dye liquid per pound of wax.
Anchor natural dyes with wax chips or crayon wax so the colors disperse evenly into the candle. Natural dyes work best for thin top layers over fully colored wax bases.
With some experimenting, everyday kitchen ingredients can produce darling pastel candles with a natural, homemade feel. Kids will love concocting the plant-based dyes!
Trying Candle Coloring Blocks
For precise color-mixing and vibrant hues, try candle coloring blocks from art supply stores. These solid blocks of high concentration dye provide intense color saturation.
Color blocks allow you to swirl and blend custom colors before adding to wax. Simply shave or scrape small amounts of color from the blocks using a knife or grater. Mix the shavings into melted wax, stirring until fully dissolved.
With candle coloring blocks you can:
– Produce any hue by blending primary color blocks
– Recreate specific shades by mixing measured amounts
– Achieve uniform coloring with concentrated dye
– Add just a pinch of color for soft tinted wax
– Create multi-color swirling or striping effects
Candle coloring blocks offer limitless mixing and matching options for candle dyeing. The highly pigmented blocks result in vivid, consistent coloring with just small amounts needed.
Trying Liquid Candle Colorants
For the simplest, no-fuss way to achieve perfect colored wax, liquid candle colorants are a great option. These premixed dye concentrates come in every possible color.
Candle colorants contain high loads of pigment suspended in a liquid carrier oil. Just a few drops quickly and easily tint pounds of melted wax.
Liquid colorants offer many advantages:
– Concentrated, intense color
– Consistent results batch after batch
– Blend easily into wax for even distribution
– Vibrant transparent colors that don’t obscure candle glow
– Wide range of color options from primary colors to black
– No messy powders, blocks, or crayon peels
With just quick, drip-free drops needed per candle, liquid colorants take the uncertainty out of dyeing. Even candle-making beginners can achieve pro-quality colored wax.
Trying Gel Candle Dye
For optimal color vibrancy, gel candle dyes deliver intense, translucent color. These oil-based gels utilize metallic-free pigments to provide see-through coloring.
Gel dyes mix instantly into wax. Only a pea-sized amount tints up to several pounds of wax. Gel’s thick viscosity means colors blend smoothly without settling to the bottom of the candle.
Advantages of gel candle dyes:
– Unparalleled color intensity from light to deep shades
– Transparent, luminous colors that maximize candlelight glow
– Very concentrated so only tiny amounts needed
– No caking, clumping, or bleed-through
– Easy to mix thick gel smoothly into wax
– Vivid even in small pillars or votives
For professional quality, extremely vibrant candles, gel dyes are the ultimate choice. Their intensely saturated hues and ease of use make perfectly colored candles simple to achieve.
Trying Chunk and Chips Wax
For bold, random color effects, chunk and chips wax offers creative versatility. These chunks and small irregular pieces of color wax melt into candle wax for marbled visual interest.
Just melt wax as normal then add spoonfuls of the chunk or chip wax, stirring minimally to retain streaks and swirls. The colors ribbon throughout the candle with striking results.
With chunk and chip wax you can create:
– Multi-color marbling, swirling or mottling
– Hidden designs or shapes using stencils
– Accent colors on top of solid colored wax
– Abstract patterns from uneven melting
– Distinctive imperfections and variation in each candle
Chunk and chip wax brings fun and freeform creativity to candle coloring. The chunky wax pieces result in striking finished candles perfect for gifts or decorative displays.
Trying Color Shavings
For a festive sparkle effect, add color shavings to your candle wax. These thin curling shavings come in every color and add glimmering accents. The translucent shavings disappear when the candle burns so do not affect burn performance.
Simply sprinkle color shavings over the tops or into layers of slightly cooled wax. The shavings will adhere to the wax and suspend in the finished candle. Try combinations like:
– Silver shavings over blue wax for a snowy effect
– Gold, green and red shavings for a Christmas tree candle
– Assorted color mixes for a fun confetti or streamer look
– Patriotic red, white and blue shavings layered in stripes
The dimensional shavings create dazzling candles for any occasion. Kids will love helping sprinkle the thin curling color pieces into candle wax or molds.
Conclusion
With this wide variety of options, it’s easy to turn basic candles into colorful works of art. From a simple application of wax dye to intricate layering or painting techniques, the possibilities for adding color are endless.
The method you choose will depend on your desired effect, complexity, time investment, and personal creativity. Handmade, customized colored candles make wonderful gifts and unique home accents.
Next time you want to brighten up a basic pillar or votive, explore the fun techniques for coloring candle wax. You can create simple accents or elaborate artistic designs. Your imagination is the only limit!
