How to Make Chunk Pillar Candles From Wax Chunks and Fill Wax

Melt Your Fill Wax

You will need either a steamer pot or deep sauce pan, and you will also need a melting pot with a pouring spout. These two items create a double boiler to melt your wax.

Fill the bottom part of your double boiler (the steamer pot or the deep sauce pan) with about two inches of cool water, and place on the burner set to high temperature.

Place pieces of 139 degree Molding Candle Wax to be melted into the melting pot with a pouring spout, set the melting pot in the water, and attend to it as the wax liquefies. (When the water begins to boil, turn the heat down to medium low or low.)

This is the wax you are going to use to fill in the candle around your wax chunks. You can scent or color your fill wax, or both, or you can leave it white and unscented. This is another area where you can get creative. You can also experiment with wax chunks and fill wax that are different fragrances.

If you have a large block of wax and need instructions on how to safely break it into smaller pieces, please visit our section on How To Break Up Wax Blocks

When the wax is entirely liquid (i.e., when there are no solid chunks any longer in the pot) you have successfully melted the wax.

Our 139 degree Molding Candle Wax melts at about 139 degrees F. The wax will continue to grow hotter as it remains in the double boiler. Continue to heat the wax until it reaches 190 degrees F.

Adding Dye

After the wax is entirely melted and at about 190 degrees F, add your candle dye to create the color of fill wax you desire. Each of our diamond shaped dye chips colors 1 lb of wax. Use more or less candle dye for lighter or darker colored fill wax. Drop a dye chip (or part of a dye chip) into the melted wax, and stir until the dye chip is entirely dissolved into the liquid wax.

Adding Fragrance

You can also add fragrance to your fill wax. Adding fragrance is the last thing you do before you pour your fill wax into your mold. This is because the potency of the fragrance can be reduced if subjected to high heat for too long.

After the wax is entirely melted, and after you have added your candle dye, you may add your candle fragrance. The standard ratio for our candle fragrance oils is one ounce of fragrance oil per 1 lb of wax. Use more or less fragrance for lighter or heavier scented fill wax. Add the candle fragrance to the melted wax in the melting pot, and stir thoroughly to get even distribution of the candle fragrance.

Pour the Fill Wax

When your fill wax has reached the desired temperature (I recommend 190 degrees for beginners), pour it into the wax-chunk-filled mold.

To get the effect of wax chunks poking out of the top of your finished candle, pour the fill wax so that it only partially covers the wax chunks at the top of your mold.

To get this effect, stop pouring fill wax before it covers top layer of chunks.

Top of candle is all fill wax so this candle requires a 2nd pour.

Finished Chunk Pillars

Chunk pillars have a special rustic charm. Experiment with different colors, chunk sizes, and fragrances to come up with your own favorite chunk pillar recipe.