Container Candles

This type of candle sits inside a non-flammable container, typically glass or metal. Container candles are popular for several reasons: it serves as a candle and holder rolled into one product, it’s safer and less messy than bare candles, and it’s better for scented candle wax. Container candles typically use a wax with a lower melting point to enhance the scent, which it can get away with because the wax doesn’t need to stand up on its own.

To make container candles, you’ll need to melt the wax you’re using and add in any fragrance oils or dyes. You’ll want to ensure that your wick is glued to the bottom of the container and held straight with a stabilizing object (like a clothespin) before you begin to pour the wax. Once you’ve poured the wax until it’s evenly distributed, you can wait for the wax to cool and trim the wick. Typically, container candles that use low melting point wax (like soy wax) will sink in the middle of the container as it cools; to fix this, you can pour in some extra candle wax to fill in that gap. To preserve the scent and wax, you can then add a metal or glass lid to keep it all airtight.

Pillar & Taper Candles

Different from container candles, pillar and taper candles are tall and not contained within glass or metal when bought or used. Instead, they stand freely and are designed to remain standing up as they melt. For this reason, pillar and taper candles typically use a type of wax that takes longer to melt, which is also why this type of candle is less suited for scents (beeswax is used most often for these candles). However, both candles use the same process of melting wax and mixing in any dye or fragrance you’d like to use.

To make pillar candles, you’ll want to use a mold that will shape your melted wax into the tall shape of the pillar as it cools and solidifies. Before pouring, you’ll need to insert the wick into the mold and keep it straight so that it stands up all the way through to the top of the candle as it cools.

Taper candles, while similar in shape to pillars, require a different process to craft. To make a taper candle, you will basically be repeatedly dipping the wick to be used for each candle into the melted wax. This is done to build up many layers of the wax, achieving a tall, tapered effect on the candle. Once dipped and to the desired girth, you’ll leave the candles hanging by their wicks to cool before trimming them.

Votive & Tea Light Candles

As some of the smallest types of candles, votive and tea light candles have a similar creation process to container and pillar candles — just on a much smaller scale. When creating a votive candle, you’ll mix the wax with the fragrance oil and dye and then pour it into the votive candle mold. However, votive candles are notably different from pillar candles in that the wick is typically added after the candle is poured and cooled. This is due to the fact that votive candle molds have a pin sticking up straight through the candle that leaves a cavity for the wick to be strewn through. Once crafted, votive candles can be sold with or without a container depending on your business and customer’s needs.

Tea light candles, on the other hand, are small candles that are similar to container candles in that they are poured in either metal, glass or plastic containers. Soy wax is most commonly used for this type of candle, which will need to be mixed into the desired dye and fragrance of your choosing. Before pouring your wax, ensure that the wick you’re using is glued to the bottom of the candle’s container. Because tea light candles are much smaller than container candles, the wick is also much shorter, meaning that it will not need much help standing up straight on its own. After pouring the wax, you can simply adjust the wick to a straight position if it isn’t already.