How to Make Taper Candles

It’s best to make taper candles with bayberry wax. These elegant, tall candles will look great on your dinner table, fireplace or wherever else.

You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to include added aromatherapy benefits and create a wonderful relaxing experience.


What You Need to Make Candles

Obviously, you will need a few things to get started. If you are missing any of the items needed in the making of your buy a taper candle making kit here. Here’s my list:

  • Candle Dye Chip
  • Candle Aromatherapy Scent or regular scent
  • Thermometer
  • Craft Scissors
  • Dipping container such as a large (empty) coffee tin
  • Pencil, pen or other item or similar shape
  • Double Boiler
  • Candle Wax for Tapers 1.8 kg or 4 lbs
  • Flat-Braided Wick
  • Metal Spoon
  • Waxed Paper

How to Make Your Candle Set

Make sure your children and pets will be staying away from your work area.

  • 1. Cover your table with waxed paper to ease cleaning.
  • 2. Using your double boiler, melt the wax until it reaches 70C (158F).
  • 3. Dye the wax by adding your pigmented dye chip. Stir wax with metal spoon.
  • 4. Scent the wax by adding a few drops of scented oil. You should add a little more than you think is necessary as some will evaporate with time. Stir well with the metal spoon.
  • 5. Pour the wax into your dipping container (large coffee tin).
  • 6. Cut a piece of wick to the desired length of a candle, times 2, plus 5 cm (2in). For example, if you want 30 cm taper candles, you will need 65 cm of wick. If you want a 1 ft taper candle, use 2’2″ of wick.
  • 7. Place a pencil at the halfway point on your wick. You can also use your finger if you want.
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  • 8. Dip the wick so that your pencil is about 2.5 cm (1 inch) from the wax surface. Be careful not to touch the hot wax. Leave it in for 1 minute. Keep the two ends of the wick separated at all times.
  • 9. Bring the wick out and leave the candles hanging over the container for a few minutes to let the wax harden. As the wax cools, you can use your fingers to straighten the wick and candles.
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  • 10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you reach the desired thickness with one exception. With every dip, do not dip the candles in as much as you did the last time, so that you get the nice angle at the top.
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  • 11. Using the craft scissors, trim the bottom of the candles after every few dips.
  • 12. If you desire a glossy finish on your taper candle set, heat the wax up to 83C (180F) for the last dip.
  • 13. Hang the candles to dry in a safe place. Once fully dried and cooled, trim the wick to 1 cm (1/2 inch).