Introduction to making chunk candles

Chunk candles offer a creative alternative to the standard pillar candle. They are aesthetically pleasing, yet they are very easy to make. It could even be argued that they are easier to make than regular pillars. Surface blemishes that are common with standard pillars are generally a non-issue with chunk candles. Also, chunk candles cool faster than standard pillars and often do not require a repour. So, if you are looking to try something different that looks perhaps a little more sophisticated than a standard pillar, but will consistently yield attractive results, look no further than the chunk candle.

We will be making chunk candles in two phases. Phase one will be making the chunks. Phase two will be using the chunks to make the candle. The nice thing about doing it in two phases is that, for those of us with a day job, you can carryout the separate phases on separate evenings. One night you could make a ton of chunks (maybe even a variety of colors), and another night you could make a ton of candles with those chunks. You could purchase ready-made chunks from four to eight dollars per pound. But, why bother when they are so easy to make.

With the objective of keeping these instructions as brief as possible, I am assuming that the reader has made standard pillars before. If not, please review the pillar instructions. I should also mention here that while the procedure illustrated here is for chunk pillars, it could easily be adapted to making votives or containers.




Using a double boiler and a thermometer, melt your wax and bring it to a temperature of about 190 degrees F. Add any additives, dye and fragrance oil that you have chosen and mix well.

You can scent and dye the chunks, the overpour wax, or both.

For this project, I selected IGI 1343 to make the chunks as well as the overpour. If no additives are used, this wax is somewhat translucent and results in brilliant colors that have some depth to them. If you are using this wax and you intend to add fragrance oil, then the addition of vybar 103 or Universal Additive will be required. These additives will increase the opacity of the wax. In this project, I elected to forgo the use of any additives so that I could achieve a finished candle that would glow nicely from within and allow the colors to show through the wax to some degree.