How to Make a Tye Dye Candle

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Last Updated: January 31, 2023

Tye Dyed candles are easy to make and they look like works of art. You can make this project even easier by using canning wax, paper cups for molds, and crayons for dye, you will always get the best results by using a metal mold, higher grade wax, wax additives, and liquid candle dye. This candle is an advanced-beginner project, it's best to be familiar with basic candle making techniques first.

Steps

Cover your work area with newspaper or foil.
Prime your wicks at this time.
You can use a cool water bath or the fridge to speed the cooling of the wax.
If you've used a pan, cut the wax into small pieces.
The wax chunks will take up some space, so you will only need about 2/3 the normal amount.
Luster crystals, white beads, and micro 180 are all good choices to make brighter colors and a harder candle. If nothing else, add stirring to increase the burning time.
Be careful not to splash the molten wax over the chunks, cover the chunks completely. Tap your mold to release air bubbles.
Take your liquid dye, or melted dye, and drop a small amount around the edges of the mold, so the dye travels down the sides of the candle.
You can use a cold water (ice water) bath, but the freezer is easier. Check on the candle every ten or fifteen minutes. Remove it from the freezer when the wax has hardened on the bottom of the candle. ***if your candle is in a glass container, it is advisable not to put it in the freezer. Glass reacts to extreme changes in temperature by shattering and/or cracking***
Let the candle cool in the fridge (NOT the freezer) or at room temperature.
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Tips

Liquid dye makes richer patterns than melted dye or powder dye.

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Prime your wicks in wax to make them burn better.

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To make a swirl candle, complete steps 1-2 and instead of pouring the wax into a mold, crush some old crayons and melt them the same way you did with the wax. Mix the wax and crayon mixture together to make swirls of color or mix for a bit longer to make a solid color. Empty the mixture into a Ziploc bag and cut off the tip. Squirt into your mold in a swirl(go around the edges and into the center), and with the extra, squirt it in without making a swirl and leave a little space ion the top so it won't go all the way to the edge and you will still have a little wax left to make another swirl on top and finally, place your wick in the center. Start again at step 11 and keep going.

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Warnings

Don't leave your candles in the freezer for too long, they will crack!

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Wax can ignite, use a thermometer and never heat wax over 230ºF.

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Never burn candles unattended.

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Never pour wax down a drain! Let it cool and then save it or throw it in the trash.

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Things You'll Need

Basic candle making equipment: double boiler or melter, wax pot, molds, wicks, spoons, scent, pans, scissors, mold sealer, etc.
Liquid dye, or melted candle dye
Large workspace