Candle-making trends are always changing. Traditional methods of candle making are being reintroduced and incorporated with new styles and techniques. Although moulded candles have been around for centuries now, they are the latest candle trend. These candles are being reinterpreted in new and innovative ways by candle makers. There are many options available on the market today, including body moulds and bubble candles.
Mould candles are any candles made from wax that has been poured into a mould and allowed to set before being lit. When making a freestanding candle, there are three important aspects you need to be aware of. First, you need to consider the wax. The second is the mould, and lastly, the wick.
What Wax To Use For Moulded Candles?
A free-standing candle won’t have the walls of a container to keep it in place so you need to choose a wax that is extremely hard and will hold its shape while being burned. You can use a variety of waxes to make moulded candles. These include paraffin, beeswax, and palm wax. Wax with a melting point below 140 degrees F is a good choice.
The ability to handle heat better with harder waxes than those that are intended for containers is what makes them more resilient. When making a candle, you shouldn’t use wax meant for containers. It will be almost impossible to remove very soft waxes, such as coconut wax and soy wax, from your mould. You may be able to remove a container wax candle from your mould if you’re lucky. If you manage to remove your candle from the mould in one piece, be sure to prepare to clean up any oily residue that may form.
How Do You Choose The Right Mould?
After you have chosen the wax that you want to use, you need to choose a mould. We will be looking at two of the most common types: silicone and metal candle moulds Australia.
Metal Moulds
If you want to make basic shapes and have smooth sides, metal moulds are an excellent choice. They are durable and can withstand high melting point waxes. Metal moulds are much more affordable than silicone moulds. Metal moulds can last a long time if they are properly maintained.
Silicone Moulds
Silicone moulds are great for creating candles in intricate shapes. Silicone moulds have many benefits that professionals love to use for making candles.
The Benefits Of Silicone Moulds
- Silicone moulds can withstand years of professional candle-making use when made from high-quality materials.
- It can withstand wax temperatures of over 200 degrees F.
- It is not necessary to mould-release silicone as most waxes don’t stick well to it.
- There are almost limitless possibilities for shapes and details to be added to silicone mould candles.
How To Choose The Right Wick For A Mould Candle?
The best wick to use for your freestanding candle is the same as a container candle’s wick. Start by choosing the wick that best suits the wax you are working with. To choose the right-sized wick, you’ll need to measure the candle’s diameter.
The wick that is good for a container candle will not work well for a freestanding candle. Because wax has a higher melting point and is harder to melt, this is why it is difficult for wicks to work well in container candles.
It is important to choose the right sized wick for your mould candle. The candle should burn slowly and fully into itself. Over-wicking your candle will cause excess heat to cause the melt pool to burrow through the candle’s wax walls, allowing the melted wax to flow down its side. Under-wicking the candle will cause it to tunnel down the middle.