Silicone candle mould cylinder with snowflake

01 · HOW MUCH WAX, REALLY

The geometry will not take more

The cylinder the candle occupies is 196 cm³: in beeswax, a ceiling of 188 g. The 340 g quoted as consumption do not physically fit, and are suspiciously close to the 410 g the mould itself weighs.

The figure to work with is about 180 g per candle: 5 or 6 candles per kilo. Weigh the first one and adjust.

02 · YOU CANNOT POUR AT 50 °C

Wax is solid at that temperature

Beeswax melts at 62-65 °C. The 50 °C that was recommended is below its melting point: at that temperature wax is not liquid and there is nothing to pour.

The temperature that works is 70-75 °C. There the wax runs and fills the bottom of every point of the snowflake; right at the melting threshold it starts to set before it arrives and the relief comes out blunt.

03 · THE WICK AND THE CLOSURE

3×13, taut, and the mould tied well

Thread the 3×13 wick first and leave it taut: a slack wick shifts as you pour and the flame ends up off centre. Then close the mould with bands or cord before pouring anything.

A light spray of silicone release inside helps it come out. And like any piece this size, it shrinks as it cools: top it up a second time once the surface has taken.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

Reckon on about 180 g of wax per candle and a second top-up on each. And pour at 70-75 °C, not 50.