How to Make a Taper Candle Into a Primitive Candle

Make a ready-made taper candle into a custom-decorated primitive one.

Charming primitive candles can give your home a unique decorative touch when displayed in your country-themed home. These candles have the look of homemade, rustic candles, with a rough, messy texture. Instead of making these types of candles from scratch, you can decorate a ready-made taper candle to look like a homemade, primitive one. Customize your candle with a variety of decorations, depending on how you plan to use the candle; some decorations are flammable and should only be used on candles you plan to display only.

Things You'll Need

• Double boiler
• 1 pound 140 melting-point paraffin wax
• Wooden spoon
• 1 teaspoon polymer-based wax additive
• Candle dye
• Candle-making thermometer
• 1 ounce candle fragrance oil
• Electric mixer
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon coffee grounds
• Aluminum foil
• Taper candle
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Heat 1 pound of 140 melting-point paraffin wax in a double boiler. Use a double boiler that is taller than the candle.

2. Stir in 1 teaspoon of a polymer-based wax additive and enough candle dye to color the candle to the desired shade, using a wooden spoon. Heat the wax until the temperature reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows the dye to properly melt, testing it with a candle-making thermometer. You can also add 1 ounce of candle fragrance oil to the wax to add some scent to your candle.

3. Remove the wax from the heat. Allow the wax to cool until a skin forms on the top.

4. Whip the wax with an electric mixer for five minutes, then allow the wax to sit for a few minutes and whip again for five minutes. The wax should have a frothy texture similar to scrambled eggs.

5. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of coffee grounds onto a sheet of aluminum foil.

6. Hold the tip of a taper candle with a pair of tongs and dip it into the warm wax. Let the candle sit in the wax for 30 seconds. Cover the entire candle with wax up to the candle wick.

7. Roll the candle in the cinnamon and coffee mixture.

8. Dip the spice-covered candle in the wax for five seconds to coat it completely. Roll the candle in spices and re-dip it until you achieve the look you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• You can skip rolling the candle in spices and simply re-dip it into the thick wax to give it a grungy look. Use a brush to paint on the wax to give it more of a lumpy look.

• Substitute oatmeal, other spices or sand to grunge your taper candle instead of cinnamon and coffee grounds.

• After over-dipping the taper candle, it should dry quickly -- hold it up by the wick to dry it evenly for a minute or two. Let it sit flat and undisturbed on a sheet of aluminum foil overnight before use.

• Use an electric mixer and double boiler that you will not use for food preparation, only candle-making.

• Do not burn candles rolled in spices or other items; these items can be flammable and should be used for show only.

References

• The Candle Cauldron: How to Make Primitive/Grunge Candles
• French Hill Country: How to Make Grubby Candles
• Pumpkin Harvest Primitives: Colonial Primitive Grubby Taper Candles
• One Stop Candle: Cake Candle Project