Candle Dipping For Beginners

Uncover the joys of candle dipping this winter with this handy guide.

Get creative, start dipping, and make as many candles as you want! There’s no limit once you start!

Includes complete instructions and recipe in this post.

There’s something wonderfully relaxing about candle dipping. It’s so therapeutic when you get into it – as the wax melts, so does any stress you may feel – leaving you calm and focused. 

Coming from an ancient tradition to now these modern times we live in, I’d love to share a bit of my joys and my knowledge about hand-dipping candles.

First off, let me explain what dipped candles are, just in case you don’t know. 

These candles are the long, centerpiece candles that are dipped several times to get that homely, rustic, handmade look. 

They look fantastic and are very popular at craft fairs and gift stores, often costing quite a lot of money to purchase. 

You can also find them in garden centers and the homewares section of a store – but making your own hand-dipped candles is much better!

In this post today, I’ll share my instructions for how to dip candles. 

There is a bit of an art to it, but the great thing is, the more rustic the candles look, the better they are (in my opinion, anyhow)!

So if your first few attempts aren’t perfect, don’t worry. You can still enjoy the candles and try again next time. 

I honestly love how calming it is to make dipped candles. These have become a real feature in our home, as has the practice of making them.

Read on to discover the candle-dipping joys for yourself. 

Try your hand at candle wax melts here.

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How to make dipped candles

You’ll first need to get the equipment for candle dipping. Nothing too extravagant, mind, but a candle boiler or wax melting pot is ideal, which you can easily buy online.

You could also try simply a jar in hot water – but my preference is to use a candle boiler (I feel it’s safer, plus it melts the wax better.)

So too, you’d need to buy the wax – I like beeswax for candle dipping, but soy wax is a good alternative. 

Then there’s the wick itself – I use this one, and you also need some form of weight to hold the wick down, which forms the base of the dipped candle. 

Once you’ve got these materials, you’re ready to go dipping.

Instructions for candle dipping

1. Melt the wax of your choice in the double boiler. ( I use a mason jar placed in a pot filled with water)
2. Once melted, remove the jar with the melted wax from the pot to your working area.
3. Prepare the wick by cutting them to double the desired length of the candle and attaching the weight to both ends. This will end up being two candles once you’re done dipping. 
4. Holding the wick in the middle (you can also use a pencil for holding the wick if easier), dip it into the hot wax to the desired length.
5. Carefully hang it on a drying rack to set up while you repeat the process for the rest of the candles.
6. After a couple of dips in the wax, you can cut off the weights with the scissors. 
7. Repeat dipping in hot wax until the desired thickness has been reached.
8. Hang the candles on the drying rack for up to 12 hours to fully harden before snipping the wicks and lighting.

*Check out the tips & FAQs sections below for more pointers.

Ingredients/Tools for candle dipping

Here is a handy list of the tools needed for candle dipping

• Beeswax or soy wax
• Candle wick
• Candle burner/wax burner or double boiler

You can make scented dipped candles easily by adding in some essential oils of your choice once the wax has melted. 

how to make long candles

The length of the candles you make depends on how long the wick is. And also how deep the container of wax is.

I find a good balance for burn time and a beautiful candle look is to make the wick plenty long.

This, of course, will make two candles, and by making the wick extra long allows room for the wick to be exposed for trimming and lighting too.

I find this length to be ideal for centerpiece candles (the tall, elegant ones) which can be displayed in a nice candle holder for the dinner table. 

Tips

• Cut the weights off the bottom once the candles have enough weight to sink in the hot wax on their own.
• Keep a small pot of wax melting on the stove to top off your jar as needed.
• Wax is messy – lay out parchment paper over your working surface to make cleanup easier.
• Do not let any wax down the drain.
• I boil all my pots and dishes, then dump them outside and wipe any excess wax out with a paper towel.

FAQs

What is the best wax for candle dipping? Beeswax is a much denser wax than soy, and layers on thicker than soy, resulting in a speedier process than soy.

Does beeswax burn longer than soy? Yes, beeswax burns quite a bit longer than soy candles.

Should you dip the candles into water between dunks to speed up the process? Yes, the hot wax can be quickly cooled in cool water to avoid waiting for the wax to harden. However, I do not recommend dipping in cool water if using soy wax, or else, you’ll end up with air pocket bubbles in the candle.

Read more about the differences between beeswax and soy wax here.

How long do candles last 

For storage, it’s essential to keep candles dry and away from humidity which means they last much longer.

You can wrap candles in a towel or paper (newspaper is excellent) to make sure they don’t spoil. 

A soy candle can last up to one year if kept dry; however, if you use a scented candle, then naturally, the scent will weaken over time. 

If you’re asking about burn time, then it really is down to the size and thickness of the candle you make. 

Of course, the bigger and chunkier you make dipped candles, the longer they’ll burn for (in theory.)

I say, go and experiment! Make small ones, big ones, and all sizes in between to see what works best for you. 

If you’re like me, you’ll end up making loads of candles and not actually burning them – simply because they’re too gorgeous to burn! 

Why you will love this recipe

For many individuals, making candles or the process of candle dipping may appear complicated, leaving room for big stores to make lots of money from candle purchases (when in fact, they could easily make their own)

This is why I feel this recipe deserves credibility – it’s so straightforward and fun to make dipped candles. 

I also think the use of natural ingredients in candles is essential. So many commercial candles are full of environmental hazards, and when you burn them, you breathe those in. 

Beeswax and soy wax are also 100% natural and sustainable, meaning good things for your home and the environment.

I hope you enjoy this candle-dipping recipe. If you do, make sure you check out these posts next.

• Rosemary mint soy candles
• Honey vanilla candles
• Bug repelling citronella candles
• Simple beeswax candles