Candle mould-Gnome with Christmas tree

01 · THE 530 G DO NOT FIT

The arithmetic makes it plain

The cylinder the candle occupies is about 206 cm³, giving a ceiling in beeswax of 198 g. The 530 g quoted are more than twice what physically fits.

And a figure never fills its cylinder: between the hat, the tree and the base there is a lot of empty space, so the real wax sits well below that ceiling.

02 · HOW MUCH WAX REALLY

About 76 grams, 13 candles per kilo

The LYSON catalogue gives the figure for this piece: about 76 g per candle.

That works out at some 13 candles per kilo of wax. Weigh the first one and adjust from there: it is the only way to get the right number for your own mould.

03 · THE WICK AND THE POUR

3×11 and wax at 70-75 °C

For the 5 cm width the recommended wick is 3×11, centred and held at the base before closing the mould.

The wax is poured at 70-75 °C: at its own melting threshold, 62-65, it sets before reaching the bottom of the hat and the tree, and the detail comes out blunt. And like any piece this size, it shrinks as it cools — top it up a second time. The mould has a slit: before pouring, close it with rubber bands so the wax does not escape through the join.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

Reckon on about 76 g of wax per candle, not the 530 that were quoted, and a second top-up on each piece.