It is tempting for those just starting out to think that candle design is relatively simple. On the surface, it is wax, wick, and container, nothing more. Yet, after getting your hands on the materials, you find that everything matters, from how it burns to how it looks and even how it sits in its space. That is why, to truly start candle design you need to approach it in a very different way.
What You’re Really Making.
Candle design does not start with you thinking, I want to make candles. You want to make a design with candles, a functional, aesthetic combination of material properties and visual form. The best candle design, the simplest candle on the surface, involves multiple, layered decisions, from the type of wax used, to the size and type of wick, to the shape, to the smoothness of the surface.
Because of these intricacies, beginners who do not start with this understanding often struggle to see why candles sometimes fall short of expectations. Without seeing the candle as a design and a process, it is very difficult to make a good candle.
Start with Simple Projects.
Beginning candle designers often have the idea that it is okay to start with complex shapes or designs, or that they will simply work themselves up to more complicated projects and will only do the basics as a preliminary step. Yet, projects that are difficult, or that involve multiple color layers or intense scenting, often mask real problems with your techniques. It is a good idea to stick with the most straightforward forms at the start.
A simple pillar or jar candle will teach you a lot more about what works and how it works than a highly designed object might. Starting with something simple allows you to focus on getting a good, clean burn, a smooth texture, and good surface finish, all without worrying about how to pull off something more elaborate.
Design through Testing.
Candle design is an iterative process and learning will come from experimenting. Every candle that is designed involves a lot of choices: type of wick, the type of wick size, the type of fragrance added, and even the type of wax used.
You do not know how a candle is going to turn out until you make it; so, you must find out. A larger wick, for example, may create a good burning candle, but it may also burn the candle very quickly. A different wax may burn better but not hold a fragrance very well. This is the data you are collecting. Over time, and as you get a lot of testing and data behind you, you will get a feel for what is what.
Look and Look and Look Again.
A mistake that some beginner candle makers make is that they only think about a candle when it is finished. Yet, it is really during the burning tests that you learn the most. A good candle might look very good, and a bad candle can also sometimes be quite lovely; this is where the testing really comes in.
Does a candle tunnel? Is there a stable flame? Is the scent constant from top to bottom? How a candle performs over time will be the best indicator of whether you have actually made a good design or whether you have only made a pretty looking one.
Finding Your Own Design Voice.
Once you become used to candle design, you will probably start to find some common themes and design elements in your work. You may find yourself attracted to very basic shapes with subtle textures, or very bold sculptural forms, or something else entirely. This is the point where you begin to find your own voice.
It will still be candle making, but you will also find that you are no longer copying techniques; you will instead be designing objects.
Wrapping Up.
There is no other way to learn candle design than by repetition, observation, and refinement. While it takes time and dedication, the process is relatively clear: start with simple projects, design and test carefully, and then keep refining it from the feedback you receive.
When you understand what you are doing with your materials, and when you realize the importance of each and every design choice, you will see candle design in a whole new way. You will see every single candle in front of you as the result of an intentional choice and a deliberate design process. And from that point on, design will begin.