Make a bi-colored container candle with a colored core on the inside and another color on the outside. You could make it with a ‘surprise center’ by covering the core with wax or make it obvious by leaving the core exposed. Either way, this is a fun and unique container candle.

This project details the steps you will follow to complete your bi-colored candle and assumes you already know how to make a votive using a wick pin.

However, here are a few things to think about before starting this project:

• You will need to make your own core candle using a wick pin so your core will have a hole for the wick.
• The size of your wick will need to be appropriate for the diameter of your container candle, not just your core.
• Depending on the size and height of your container, the core can be a standard or oversized votive.
• For oversized votives, you could use a small plastic or paper cup, especially if you are using container wax. I’ve been lucky getting container wax out of these molds. I do spray a little mold release in them, though I’m not sure it’s necessary. You won’t be so lucky if you use an aluminum mold with container wax.
• If you want to use wax that is used for pillars or votives, you can use the aluminum molds with mold release. It’s perfectly okay to use non-container wax for this core portion of the project.
• Container wax, which you will use as your outer layer, is designed to adhere to containers so it is hard or nearly impossible to get it out of a rigid mold, such as a standard aluminum votive mold.

When choosing your container and your core size, consider this:

I used a 16 oz container that is 3 ½ inches high by 3 ½ inches wide (with a 3 inch opening). The best height for me to stop pouring for these containers is at 3 inches high. My core candle is only 2 ½ inches tall, so I had to initially pour about a ½ inch of wax into the bottom of my container and let it harden before adding my core. If I were to use a shorter, 10 oz. container, I wouldn't have to do an initial pour in the container, nor would I have to use an oversized votive.

This is my Lime-in-da-Coconut candle with a Lime & Coconut center and a Coconut outer layer. I didn’t want to add lime to the outer part of the candle because my lime fragrance is quite green. It would have changed the color of my white wax too much.


Please read all instructions before beginning this project.

So – you have your completely cooled core candle with a wick hole. Now you can start preparing your container.

Equipment and Supplies

• Core/Votive with wick hole (mine in an oversized votive that I made with container wax in a plastic Dixie cup)
• Candle Jar/Container (mine is 16 oz. as described above)
• Approximately 1 lb Container Wax (you should take into consideration the amount of wax or the space you will take up with your core candle)
• Color and Fragrance for your outer portion of the candle (mine is just coconut fragrance and white dye)
• Pre tabbed wick (appropriate size for your wax type and the full diameter of your container)
• Wick Stickum or Glue Dot to hold your wick to the bottom of your container
• Double Boiler Wax Melting System or Wax Melter
• Heat gun, blow dryer or warming tray (to warm up your containers)
• Funnel (to fit between core and container edge) You may not need this if your container has a wide opening or if you are doing the “surprise center” version of this candle.

Instructions

• Begin melting your container wax.
• Insert your thermometer.
• Once your wax has reached the recommended heating temperature, reduce heat or remove from heat.
• Add your color and blend well. Once you have reached your desired color, add your fragrance.
• Warm up your container(s) as recommended by your wax manufacturer.
• Attach your pre-tabbed wick to the center base of your container using a Wick Stickum or Glue Dot. Keep the wick held in place and centered.
• If necessary, (based on my comments above), pour approximately ½ inch of your container wax into your heated jar. (The amount will vary based on the size of your votive and container. You just want to make sure the top of your votive will sit level and to where you will stop pouring for the size and height of your container. Never fill a container candle to the top. You always want plenty of room for the hot wax pool.
• Let this first layer cool and harden just enough to hold the weight of your votive before moving on to the next step.
• Place your votive in the center of the container by sliding the wick through the votive hole. Be careful that you don’t tug on your container’s wick too hard or you could pull it out of the wax that you poured first.
• Center the core and wick in the container.
• Reheat your remaining wax and if necessary, reheat your container a little, trying not to melt the votive or the base wax.
• Pour this batch at a slightly lower temperature so you don't melt the core.
• To make this an obvious colored center, only pour up to the top outer edge of your votive without going over. If your container's opening is not very wide, you may want to use a funnel to get the wax around the core. If you are going for the “surprise center”, you could just pour and it wouldn't matter if your wax was on the core. You just want to be sure to pour enough wax to cover your core and not go to high for your container type. Also, be sure to move your pouring stream around your core so you don’t heat up one area of the core too much and risk it melting into the outer layer.
• You will want to tap the outer edges of the jar to release any bubbles that may occur due to having the core in the middle and/or using a funnel.
• Let your container cool, trim your wick, and there you have it...a two toned (maybe even a two scented) container candle.

Surprise or no surprise, these candles are fun, simple and unique in the world of container candles.