How to Make Country Primitive Candles

Any size or shape candle can be made to look primitive.

Country primitive candles are also called "cake candles," "grubby candles" or "primitive candles." A thick lumpy coating distinguishes these candles from other types. Candles of any shape, size or color can be turned into country primitive candles. Some artisans like to include additives in the grubby coating, but this is inadvisable if you plan to burn it. Better to perfect the technique of creating the grubby coating with nothing more than candle wax and a little color and scent.

Things You'll Need

• White candles
• Paraffin wax
• Candle scent
• Candle color
• Double boiler
• Wooden spoon
• Newspapers
• Old fork
• Candy thermometer
• Wax paper or parchment paper

Instructions

1. Start with any smooth-edged candle. You may either create your own candles by dipping or pouring into pillar molds, or purchase candles to turn into primitive candles. Ideally, purchase white, smooth-edged tapers or pillars.

2. Melt paraffin candle wax in a double boiler. The top of the double boiler must be taller than the candle; for example, if you are using a 6-inch-tall pillar candle, the top of the double boiler should be 8 inches tall. A coffee can placed in an old pot makes a good double boiler, you may also purchase wax melting pots to use as the top of a double boiler. Wax melting pots are taller than coffee cans.

3. Melt the paraffin wax. Add a little candle scent, if desired. When liquid, turn off stove and remove the wax pot from the hot water. Set wax pot on newspapers on the counter.

4. Whip the wax gently with an old fork as it cools. Wait for a skin to form on top of the wax, and scrape and push the cooling wax to the sides of the pot. Wait for another skin to form, and repeat. As the wax continues to cool, stir the skins back into the pot. Eventually, you will have a pot of soft wax with lumps in it, similar to lumpy oatmeal.

5. Dip the candle into the lumpy wax and remove. To get the consistency you desire, use a wooden spoon or ladle to pour lumpy wax over the sides and top of the candle.

6. Spread wax paper or baking parchment paper on the counter and roll the coated candle on the paper if you want a smoother primitive candle. This step is optional.

7. Reheat the paraffin wax in the double boiler. Stir with wooden spoon and bring the wax up to 180 degrees F. Take the wax's temperature with a candy thermometer. Add any color you desire. Primitive and grubby candles have extra candle color in their coatings, so add more color than the directions suggest.

8. Dip the candle for three seconds, then remove. Each time you dip the candle for three seconds, the coating will become smoother and darker. You may dip only once or as many times as you desire.

9. Hang taper candles to dry. Set pillar candles on wax paper or parchment paper and press gently so that the bottom will cool flat.

Tips & Warnings

• If the bottom of a pillar candle is very uneven, take an old frying pan and smooth the bottom on the candle in the pan over a low heat.

• Pour unused wax into a pot lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Allow to cool and store for next time.

• Keep candle making equipment and food kitchen equipment separate. Once a pan, pot or tool has been used for candle making, it must no longer be used for food preparation.

• Never pour melted wax down the drain, even a small amount.

References

• French Hill Country: How to Make Grubby Candles
• Candle Cauldron: Primitive Grunge Candles

Resources

• Cabin Fever Primitives: Good pictures of primitive country candles.