Instructions for Making Grubby Candles

Enjoy turning a plain candle into primitive grubby candle.

Making grubby candles begins with a normal candle that is either hand-poured or purchased. Using melted wax and ground cinnamon, turn a plain candle into a decorative and fragrant candle suitable for accenting country and primitive home decors. Place the candle in a shallow tin dish to make a focal home accent with primitive style potpourri fixings of rose hips and cinnamon sticks scented with the same fragrance oil used in grubby candle making.

Things You'll Need

• Double boiler pot
• 1 lb. candle wax
• Candle thermometer
• Candle dye (brown and black)
• Candle fragrance oil
• Stainless steel bowl
• White unscented pillar candles
• Wax paper-lined roasting pan (or cookie sheet)
• Metal spoon
• 1- to 2-inch wide paint brush
• Ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Place water in the bottom pan of the boiler pot. Put the wax in the top pot and heat to the melting point according to the wax manufacturer's instructions.

2. Add 1/2 chip of brown wax dye and 1/4 chip of black wax dye. The black will deepen and tone down the color. Stir the wax until the chips are dissolved.

3. Add 1 oz. of candle fragrance oil and stir until mixed. Let the wax set until a skin forms over the top.

4. Set the candle in the wax paper-lined roast pan. Pour spoonfuls of wax over the candle until it is coated.

5. Break up the skin covering the wax surface and push it down into the melted wax with your spoon. Repeat this over the next few minutes until there is a layer of slushy, chunky skin over the surface

6. Dip the paintbrush into the slushy wax and dab the wax over the candle's top and bottom sections (about 20 percent down in each direction). If you prefer a bumpier look, cover the entire candle with the slushy wax using the brush. Reapply wax to the brush as needed until you have the candle covered as desired.

7. Sprinkle ground cinnamon over the candle before it sets up. Set it aside to cool.

8. Remelt the wax so it has a thin layer over the surface again.

9. Spoon melted wax over the candle, letting it drizzle down the candle's sides. Let it cool until solid.

Tips & Warnings

• Make grubby sticks by dipping the candle, rolling it in ground cinnamon and dipping it in wax again.

• For extra bumpy candles, whisk the wax into a foamy mixture and apply it to the whole candle with the paintbrush.

• If you are using colored candles instead of basic white, you can use candle dye shade to match your candle, if preferred.

• Use caution when working hot wax to prevent burns to the skins.

• Wax dyes are very concentrated and will stain formica-type countertops. Dyed wax can also stain surfaces if left to set.

References

• Starla's Candle Making: Grunging Your Candles