How to Make Ice Candles
As you know, candle making has been around for thousands of years, but some of the most fun candles were developed between 1965 and 1973. From our research, today’s project seems to have been within this time frame, although one of our readers might have an earlier reference.The ice candle project is very easy to make and every candle will look different and unique. This project is also well suited for most shapes of candles, although we have found the aluminum molds yield the best results.
Step 1:
Prepare your mold as if you were pouring a standard pillar mold. Where possible, use the wick pin because it will give the candle another avenue to release the water.
Step 2:
Fill the mold with ice. The amount of ice will vary depending on the effect you want to achieve. The more ice you add, the more cavities will exist, but it can make the candle brittle.
Step 3:
Mix your color, fragrance and wax. For this project any color/scent combination will work. Pour your wax (for best results a 141 pillar wax) into the mold. For different effects, pour at various temperatures. In most instances pouring around 175 to 180 degrees will yield a very nice finish.
Step 4:
If using the pillar pin, remove and hold the candle upside down and let the water run out. Try to get as much water out as possible.
Step 5:
Take the candle out and insert your wick. Depending on how much ice you have added will determine how many cavities exist. One of the people assisting me commented, “if the candle was yellow it sure would look like Swiss cheese.”
Additional Ice Candle Suggestions
After you take the candle out, place it back in the mold upside down and pour a different color of wax to fill the cavities. Putting the candle in upside down will work best since many of the cavities form at the top of the candle.
To create a similar look, place two or three rods about 1/4″ thick into the candle at different angles. As the candle hardens, remove the rods. Then pour wax into the holes of the candle. Be sure to remove the water first.
