About Scented Chunk Candles

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:23:11 +0000

Scented chunk candles that glow in a variety of jewel-tones from the chunks of different colored wax that make them up are a very seventies look. And they are surprisingly easy to make, as well as tailor to a more updated and sophisticated look. You will need quantities of wax for your pillar candles, wax dye and a few pillar candle molds. An array of different sizes and shapes of pillar candles in a 'candlescape' makes a lovely centerpiece or home altar adornment. Making pillar scented chunk candles is a several step process that you may need to spread over several days. You must first make the color chunks, and only when they have hardened can you make the pillar candles themselves.
Melt a quantity of paraffin wax in a double boiler, not directly on the burner. Don't use your good pans for making pillar scented chunk candles--purchase some pans specifically for wax melting at a thrift shop. Once you have used a pan for melting wax, it is almost impossible to get all the wax out of it again. Using wax dyes, color the wax whatever colors you wish. You will be repeating this process several times with different colors, so make sure you have an assortment of items to harden the wax in. You can make the color chunks for your pillar scented chunk candlesin old ice cube trays, or simply pour the dyed wax out onto an old cookie sheet, or into a plastic container. Whether you want regular or irregular chunks for your pillar candles is up to you. Allow the dyed wax to harden. Thick brick-like color chunks can be made in ice cube trays. Thin irregular chunks of color can be made by breaking up a sheet of wax hardened in an old cookie tray.
Now you're ready to plan your color-chunk pillar candles. Do you want a brick-like array of chunks, or a random hodge-podge? Much will depend on the width of your pillar mold. Prep your mold according to the manufacturer's directions; different mold types have different ways of dealing with the wicking. You may wish to spray the mold with a kitchen spray so that the candle will slide out easily when cooled. Create an interior assortment of colors that pleases you. Fill the pillar scented chunk candles mold up with chunks. Have a few color chunks that come up over the brim of the mold, if it suits your fancy. Now pour white wax into the mold to fill in all the gaps left between the chunks. For a less random look to your pillar scented chunk candles, make cutout shapes of colored wax with heated metal cookie cutters. Brush a little melted wax on the shapes and stick them to the inside walls of a square pillar mold. Then fill the mold with white wax as above. For the quintessential seventies look, don't use scented chunk candles molds at all for your pillar scented chunk candles--use old (cleaned and dried) wax milk cartons with the tops cut out. Now you're really groovy.

Making Scented Chunk Candles

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:22:44 +0000

The types of candles that can be made are almost infinite and dependent on the candle maker’s imagination. Many of today’s candles were also very popular years ago. Two good examples would be chunk candles and botanical candles. We will focus on making chunk candles in this newsletter and we will discuss botanical candles in the next issue.

The making of scented chunk candles is relatively easy and allows the candle maker to use excess wax from other production runs in a very productive manner.

To start, pour excess wax from previous scented chunk candles or new wax of different colors into a bakers tray or cookie sheet. Prior to letting the wax completely harden, take a knife and cut the sheet into square or other unique shapes. These chunks can be scented or unscented. (For a uniquely scented chunk candles try using different types of scents in these candles.) Using different scents will allow these candles to “emit” different smells during the burning cycle.

When the chunks are completely hard remove them from the sheets and place in any type of pillar mold. Common mold sizes would include 3 x 6-1/2, 3 x 9-1/2 and 4 x 4-1/2. Once the chunks have been placed in the mold, take a pillar wax (scented or unscented) and pour over the chunks. When the candle is completely set up, remove the pillar from the mold.

For variations in the basic scented chunk candles, try some of the following variations:

Once the chunks are placed in the mold, pour your pillar wax at a higher temperature, which will cause the chunks to streak and create a unique look.
Try using different types of molds such as octagons, squares and other unusual shapes.
Try making chunk candles in a jar. For best results make the chunks out of wax with a lower melt point wax.

What makes the scented chunk candles so unique is the endless possibilities that can be made with the same basic concept. The making of the chunks also make for a great use of your scrap wax.