Make Vintage Bottle Candles

Learn how to make authentic vintage bottle candles with this easy tutorial. (Video included as well!)

PS: This is my first EVER instructable! Would you take a second to vote for me in the First Authors Contest? It's the little gold metal in the upper right corner. Thanks! You're the best. :)

Step 1: Prepare the Mold

Cut 4 pieces of cardboard to create a rectangle. This rectangle should be 1" larger than your bottle in all dimensions. This will ensure that your mold will be strong enough to retain it's shape. Then tape the sides together with packing tape. I recommend taping both sides (outside and inside) with tape. You'll be pouring liquid into this and you don't want it leaking out!

Step 2: Glue Down the Bottle

Put a cork in the bottle and hot glue gun it upside down to a piece of cardboard.

Take the rectangle we made in step one and place it over the bottle. Seal with hot glue.

Step 3: Mix the Silicone

This is the easiest step EVER. Just mix equal parts A and B together in a bowl until well combined. There are lots of different types of silicone out there. I got this kit on Amazon for about $30.

Step 4: Pour Your Mold

Make sure to pour the silicone in at an angle to avoid creating air bubbles. Let your mold harden for at least 6 hours but preferably overnight.

Step 5: Cut Out Your Bottle

When cutting through the silicone use a sharp exacto or scalpel. Do not just cut a straight line. Remember, you'll be pouring hot liquid wax inside so try and cut in a zig zag pattern.

Step 6: Making Candles

It's SUPER important to choose the right wick size for your object. Use a wick guide from your preferred candle seller. I like to use Candle Science. They're very knowledgeable and have great products. Based on the diameter of your bottle you'll use a different type of wick.

I poked a hole in the bottom of my mold (in the center) and threaded the wick through. To secure the wick in place you can tape the bottom down and use chopsticks to secure the top. Do all of this before melting your wax.

You should use parafin (not soy) wax for this project. Parafin wax is best for pillar candles, like this one. Melt the wax down in a double boiler and pour into mold.

Note: I also secured the sides of my molds with rubber bands and tape. Nothing leaked out, so ultimately it wasn't necessary, but do this step over a lipped cookie sheet just in case you have spills!

Step 7: Remove Your Candle

Definitely the most fun and rewarding step! Remove your candle and cut the wick 1/4" above the wax. Enjoy!

Good luck making your own silicone mold candles! Send your photos to me on Facebook! or follow me on Instagram.

Did you miss the video? Watch the full tutorial below!

Comments

[David Catriel]

Very cool. Have you tried casting with alginate? It's way cheaper than silicone (it's about $30 for 4lbs) and cures faster, but you do only get one (maybe two) casting.

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Hey David, interesting, I haven't even heard of that! I guess the big advantage of the silicone is you could (potentially) have hundreds of pours - so I suppose it depends what your end game is.

PS: Would you mind voting for me in the contest? There's a little vote icon in the upper right corner. Thanks!

[David Catriel]

yeah, definitely depends on the end game. And the vote was done a while ago. Hope you get it :)

[Lineakat]

really cool!

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Thanks!! Would you mind voting for me?

[asergeeva]

Congrats on posting your first Instructable! The candles look amazing! Have you tried adding scents or essential oils to your wax?

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Hey! Thanks! YES. Absolutely. You can add scent and colored dye chips once the wax is completely melted. Take off flame first.

[ymasullo]

i voted for you!

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Woot! Thanks! You rock! ;)

[wannabemadsci]

Is it an option to create a two part mold by doing a two pour process? You would have to orient your bottle horizontally and make your box like a trough. Then make two pours; one half way up with some impressions on the flat surface to create interlocking features when add some mold release and finish with a second pour so in the end you don't have to cut the bottle out.

[DIYwithCaitlin]

That's a really interesting idea. I imagine it wouldn't be a perfectly clean line because the new wax will partially melt the old wax, but would probably still look awesome.... something new to try!

Would you also mind taking a second to vote for me in the First Author's contest? Thanks! :)

[wannabemadsci]

Sorry I was not clear. I meant to make the mold in two pours of silicone so that you do not have to cut it apart.

[DIYwithCaitlin]

But then you're trying to create a seal over a much greater surface area. I think that would make things more challenging.

[wannabemadsci]

No different than when you put your mold (which you have cut apart) back together to make another candle. Except that you create the mold in two pours so you don't have to cut it apart.

[ddamico361]

I voted for you as well. very nice demo and so well thought through. I have never made a candle but do other crafts. If I do, your instructable will be most udeful.

[ymasullo]

I think that is a nice idea, but I wonder at how you opened your mold as you did. If the mold it ruggedly torn, will it be easily re-used?

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Can be very easily reused! I've used these molds many times now! :D Would you also mind taking a second to vote for me in the First Author's contest? Thanks! :)

[ymasullo]

sure, but where is the link?

[rouschel]

The bar at the top of the page with the title, download options, and various other buttons has a button next to a medal graphic that says "Vote!". Just click on that and hit the "Vote" button.
Took me a bit to find it, too.

[DIYwithCaitlin]

Can be very easily reused! I've used these molds many times now! :D Would you also mind taking a second to vote for me in the First Author's contest? Thanks! :)