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There’s something comforting about making your own candles. Maybe it’s the warm glow, or the fact that you get to choose every detail, from the scent and shape to the way it fits your space. You don’t need fancy equipment to get started, just a few basics and a little creativity. This collection combines decorative candle ideas that are simple enough for beginners but beautiful enough to display or gift. If you enjoy hands-on projects with a personal touch, these candle tutorials are a great place to begin.
What things can you use to decorate candles?
Decorating candles is one of the most enjoyable parts of candle-making. You can keep it simple or experiment with colors, textures, and materials to make each unique. Here are some popular ways to decorate candles:
1. Natural elements
- Dried flowers and herbs – These can be gently pressed onto the outside of pillar candles or embedded in clear wax. Lavender, chamomile, and rosemary are favorites for their look and subtle scent.
- Spices and fruit – Whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, or dried orange slices add a seasonal touch.
2. Shine and color
- Mica powder – Adds a soft, shimmery finish and works well swirled into wax or brushed onto cooled candles.
- Candle-safe glitter – Use sparingly to highlight the top or outer layer for sparkle.
3. Creative surface designs
- Wax embeds and shapes – Pour colored wax into small molds to make flowers, stars, or other decorative pieces.
- Painting and stenciling – You can decorate candles by painting over them with safe acrylic paints or using screens and stencils to add patterns and clean shapes.
4. Wrapping and accents
- Twine, lace, or ribbon – Ideal for wrapping around jars or pillars for a rustic or romantic look.
- Custom stickers or labels – Add these to jars or tins to personalize candles for gifts or events.
5. Upcycled containers
- Vintage cups, jars, or tins – These add character and charm while doubling as decorative holders.
- Shells, beads, or small charms – Often used around the base or tied on with string for themed candles.
What kind of wax should I use for homemade candles?
The best wax depends on your needs:
- Soy wax – Clean-burning, eco-friendly, and beginner-friendly. Ideal for container candles.
- Beeswax – All-natural with a subtle honey scent and long burn time.
- Paraffin wax – Holds fragrance and color well, but is less eco-conscious.
- Coconut wax – Creamy texture with excellent scent. Often blended with other waxes.
Tip: For most beginners, soy wax is the easiest to start with.
Types of Wax for Making Candles
The following are the different wax that are mentioned below in the candle ideas:
What are the basic tools I need to start making candles?
To make your first candles at home, you’ll need:
- Wax (soy, beeswax, or paraffin)
- Candle Wicks (cotton or wood)
- Heat-resistant containers or molds
- A double boiler or a microwave-safe pitcher. Use wax melting pot for best results.
- Fragrance oil or essential oil (optional)
- Candle dye or food color
- Wick stickers or glue dots
- A thermometer
- A stirring spoon or stick
- Find candle making starter kit that include most of these items for reasonable price.
How do I add scent to my candles?
Add fragrance oil or essential oil to your melted wax when it reaches around 180–185°F (82–85°C). Stir thoroughly to distribute the scent evenly. Always check the fragrance load your wax can handle — most can hold 6–10% of the wax weight.
Tip: Don’t add fragrance too early (it might evaporate) or too late (it might not blend well)
Why is my candle burning unevenly or creating a tunnel?
This happens when the candle is extinguished before the wax melts all the way to the container’s edges. Always let your candle burn long enough during the first use (2–4 hours) to create an even wax pool.
Also, make sure the wick is properly centered and the right size for your container.
How can I color my candles naturally?
You can use candle-safe dyes or experiment with natural ingredients such as:
- Turmeric powder (yellow)
- Beetroot powder (pinkish-red)
- Activated charcoal (gray-black)
- Spirulina (soft green)
Keep in mind that natural colorants may not produce bold colors and can affect the way the candle burns, so testing in small batches is key.
Can I reuse old candles to make new ones?
Yes! Recycle leftover candle wax by melting it down, removing the old wick and debris, and pouring it into a new container. Try combining similar wax types and colors for better results. This is a great way to reduce waste and experiment with new blends.
Making Candles
Making Decorative Candles
1. Gel Candle
Learn to make gel candle with this easy DIY tutorial.
2. Marble Effect with Two-Colored Wax
Apply some Gold Leaf on the edges of the Glass Candle container. Swirl two contrasting wax colors in a container for a chic marbled pattern. Pour in the final layer.
3. Concrete-Dipped Bottoms
Add gold leaf flakes and layer a silicone mold with a quick-dry concrete mixture and let it set, now pour in the wax, and see the magic of uneven layers.
4. Water Filled Candle
Fill a clear glass bowl with beads, glitter, and tiny ocean charms and add cold water half way. Now add drops of blue candle dye in paraffin wax for a serene beachy vibe and pour in cold water, the wax solidifies to form a candle. Now add candle wick and pour the rest of the wax.
5. DIY Floating Pearled Candle
Fresh flowers and pebbles in water, topped with a delicate pearled wax layer for a soft, elegant glow.
6. Elegant Frill Candles
A thin ombre wax sheet rolled into soft waves, finished with metallic edges for a delicate, sculptural glow.
7. DIY Hand Painted Candle
This candle starts with a thin wax sheet, hand-painted with a beautiful scene, wrapped inside the jar before pouring the final wax. When lit, it glows like a little storybook lantern.
8. Egg Nog Soy Wax Candle
Make naturally scented candle using Egg nog, vanilla and cinnamon essential oils in soy wax. Use spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, peppercorns and ground nutmeg to decorate.
Jojotastic
9. DIY Pressed Flowers Candle
Use pressed rosemary sprigs, soy wax and bees wax along with essential oils to make evergreen pressed herb candle.
garden therapy
Related: Nine Proven Methods to Dry Flowers
10. Ice Candle
Make this interesting ice candle by pouring ice cubes in a disposable container like milk carton or coffee cup before you pour wax. The wax will solidify quickly, cut and remove ice for this fun effect.
Suzy Sitcom
11. Upcycle Candle
Add color and pour wax on the bottle caps to complete this idea.
Related: 70 Creative Bottle Cap Ideas and Crafts
12. Seashell tea lights
Simply put the wick in the center and pour the paraffin wax.
Related: 55 Unique Seashell Painting Ideas
13. Ombre Layer Decorative Candles
Working in three layers, start by pouring one colored wax with candle titled and secured at angles as it dries to make this candle. Continue pouring for other two colors at different angles to complete.
Simply Handmade
14. Pillar candle
Transfer ink from printed tissue paper onto candle using hair dryer and parchment paper.
15. Mason Jar Candle
Great handmade gift Idea by recycling mason jar to make decorative candle. Think about all the creative ways you can decorate them.
16. Coffee Bean Candle
Add ground coffee and whole coffee beans into wax for a natural cafe vibe. Ideal for removing strong odors from home.
capper’s farmer
17. Soy Candles
Making candles using Soy by recycling tin cans.
Related: Don’t Trash That Tin Can! 35 Creative Ways to Reuse Empty Cans
18. Beeswax Candles
Making pillar candles by dipping candle wick in beeswax at home.
Related: DIY Hand Painted Candles
19. Salt Pillar Candle
Simply add a layer of Mod Podge and roll the pillar candle in Epsom Salt.
20. DIY Crayon dipped candle
Dip candle in melted crayons for this fun effect. Try different colors dipped at different layers.
21. Candle as handmade gifts
Engage in an activity to draw on tissue paper or wax paper with markers along the kids. When they are done transfer ink onto regular white pillar candle using blow dryer as you tightly press the wax paper onto the the wax surface.
22. DIY Bird Bath Candle
Make decorative candle using ceramic pieces, wax and candle wick.
ruffled blog
23. Upcycled Food Jars
Pour wax into decorative food jars, make sure to clean and dry them thoroughly before. Use essential oil for scent.
our oily house
24. Rolled Beeswax Candle
To make rolled Beeswax Candle simply take sheets of beeswax and roll it over the wick.
25. DIY Beach Sand Candle
Simply apply mod podge and roll the candle in the sand.
karen’s garden cottage
Related: 40 Meaningful Memory Keepsake Ideas to Treasure Life
26. Wax Sheet Flower Candles
Decorate simple candle with beeswax. Cut leaves of beeswax to make this one.
garden therapy
27. Seashell candles
Make candles by using seashells and other objects as molds.
28. Gel wax candle
Use spices and gold leaf to make clear gel candles.
29. Gel tealights
Add dyes or food coloring to make gel tealights by recycling old tealight cups.
30. Embellished Spring Candles
Decorated with doily (left), painted cork pads (center) and tissue paper confetti (right) glued on candle sticks.
Find more DIY Candles on our Pinterest Board that are trending.
31. Cupcake Candle
This beautiful DIY cake candle is perfect for birthday gift.
Dessert Food Candle
Related: 30 DIY Cake-Looking Candle Ideas for Unique Gifts and Decor
Tips for Safe and Beautiful Candle Making
- Always trim wicks to 1/4” before lighting.
- Test scent throw with small batches before committing.
- Use proper containers rated for heat.
- Store candles in a cool, dry place.
- Label your candles if giving them as gifts.Making candles is a relaxing and rewarding hobby—and with these decorative DIY candle tutorials, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Whether you’re crafting for fun, gifting, or even starting a candle business, these ideas combine art and aroma in one glowing package.Ready to start making candles? Save this post on Pinterest for easy candle tutorials reference.
Drafted by: Sabah Waqas
Written by: Hani Shabbir
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Wow, you found some amazing candle projects! When I was little my sister used to make this ice candle (like your milk carton) but she used a pringles can.
Thanks for sharing, some of these look fantastic
Love some of these ideas. Thanks for sharing at Toot Your Horn Tuesday 🙂
Great ideas! I especially love the shells! xo
wowwww….love sand candles…..:)
Hiya all, just a question I have just started doing my own candles and decorating them. I have a glass and I put texturised paper around the glass and add flowers ect they look lovely but will I be able to burn the candle as it has paper wrapped around the outside? Thank you, Lauren
Love all the candles they are great
If the candle burns inside the glass then it is not in direct contact with the paper. Right! It should be find but you have to be careful not to leave it unattended. Because no one can be so sure when it comes to fire.
I hope that helps!
Lovely
There are some wonderful ideas to help me get started with