Inspiration сaptured in Wax

Inspiration сaptured in Wax

For my final project, I wanted to create candles that feel like little works of art, inspired by two styles I truly love - floral candles and dessert candles.

Floral candles always fascinate me with their elegance, they look like something straight out of a magazine or Instagram feed, instantly adding beauty to any space. Dessert candles, on the other hand, are playful and funny, they look so realistic that you just want to taste them, even though you know they’re made of wax.

I chose these two directions because they perfectly capture the feeling of the autumn-winter season - cozy, heartwarming, and a little funny.. For me, candle making is not only about fragrance or design, but also about creating a mood, a small moment of joy, and an atmosphere that people can take into their homes.

For my final project, I needed the following materials and tools:

Materials
Glass containers (one low and one standard)
Soy wax
Fragrance enhancer additive
Fragrance oils: Orchid, Orange
Candle dyes (red, white, yellow)
Cotton wicks
Wick holders (metal and wooden)
Adhesive wick stickers
Safety label stickers
Silicone orchid mold

Tools
Wooden spoon
Piping tip and pastry bag for whipped wax effect
Digital scale
Heat gun
Infrared thermometer

Off-camera, I also used a melting pot placed in a water bath on an electric stove to melt the wax.

To begin my final project, I organized my workspace and laid out all the materials and tools I would need. I measured the required amount of soy wax using a digital scale, preparing it for melting later on.

At the same time, I prepared the glass containers. I cleaned each one carefully, applied safety label stickers to the bottom, and secured the wicks in place.

In this step, I melted the soy wax using a double boiler method, placing the metal pitcher into a pot with simmering water. This allowed me to control the heat gently and avoid overheating the wax. I used thermometer to monitor the temperature closely, ensuring it reached the proper melting point.

Once the wax was fully melted and transparent, I added the fragrance oils and candle dyes. For the orchid candle, I used orchid fragrance oil, and for the dessert candle, I combined orange fragrance oil with red and yellow dyes to achieve a warm, appetizing shade.

Each addition was stirred slowly and thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of color and scent throughout the wax. This step was crucial to achieve both the aesthetic and aromatic qualities I envisioned for my final project.

After reaching the right pouring temperature, I carefully filled the prepared glass containers with the melted wax. Each wick was secured in place with a wick holder to keep it centered. I then left the candles to cool solidify completely.

While the candles were cooling in their glasses, I started working on the decorative elements.

Orchid candle
First, I tested a silicone mold to cast an orchid flower in white wax. The result looked neat, but too simple for the refined look I had in mind.
I switched to hand-sculpting the orchid from beeswax, shaping each petal with sculpting tools and softening the edges with gentle heat. This approach gave a more delicate, organic feel that matched my vision much better.

Dessert candle
The idea was a dessert in glass topped with whipped cream, cookie crumbs, and an orange syrup drizzle.
I prepared small accents in molds: a cinnamon stick and a citrus slice.
For the “cookie crumbs,” I shaved and crumbled cooled, colored wax into small irregular pieces.
For the whipped topping, I let soy wax cool to a semi-solid state and whipped it until creamy, then transferred it to a piping bag with a tip to create realistic peaks.
For the syrup, I used gel wax tinted to a warm orange tone.

All decorations were prepared in advance so the final assembly could be done quickly once the container candles were fully set.

This course gave me a deeper understanding of container candles, from the preparation of the vessels and wicks to troubleshooting common issues. Most importantly, it showed me how to combine technique with creativity to bring out my own style in each piece.
I really enjoyed this learning journey and I feel more confident now to keep experimenting with new designs and ideas.
Many thanks to Belinda for such an inspiring course!
xoxo