GROW WITH CONFIDENCE
CANDLE MAKING 101
Your complete guide to making your first candle. From choosing your wax to lighting the wick.
Welcome
This is the guide we'd hand you over the counter. Tim, Zac and the Pure Crew have walked thousands of first-time makers through their first candle, and what you're about to read is the playbook we use every day.
By the end of this page you'll know exactly what to buy, how to use it, and what to do when something doesn't look quite right. If you get stuck, we're a phone call or message away.
Step Zero
Five ingredients plus a few bits of equipment. That's it. We've linked each one through to our range so you can shop along the way, or grab everything in a Starter Pack if you want the easy option.
The base of your candle. Soy, coconut soy, or a professional blend - each behaves a little differently. We recommend Pure100 Soy for first-timers.
Compare all 6 waxesThe container your candle sets in. Sienna, Bobby, Archie, and Alana ranges all have different shapes and sizes. Pick what suits your look and burn time.
Shop candle jarsSized to your jar diameter. Too small and your candle tunnels, too big and it smokes. We've mapped every jar to the right wick in our wick guide.
Shop PureWix175+ fragrances to choose from. Start with one of our Top 10 if you're not sure, or browse by scent family - Floral, Fruity, Sweet, Earthy, and more.
Browse fragrancesOnly if you want coloured wax. One small chip per 500g of wax for true colour. Skip this step if you're going for natural white.
Shop dye chipsPouring jug, kitchen scales, thermometer, wick stickers, and a double boiler or wax melter. Most makers have the basics in the kitchen already.
Shop equipmentThe process
From cold wax to cured candle, here's exactly what to do and in what order. Read through the whole thing once before you start - it'll only take a few minutes - then refer back as you go.
If this is your first time, go with Pure100 Soy Wax. It's 100% natural, vegan-friendly, forgiving on pour temperature, and gives a beautiful creamy finish. Once you've got the basics down, you can experiment with other waxes for different finishes.
See our full wax comparison guide if you want to weigh up the alternatives.
Pick something simple to start. Sienna Large or Bobby Medium are popular first jars - they're a comfortable size to pour, easy to wick, and look great finished. Anything from our Sienna or Bobby range will do.
Note the jar's diameter (mouth opening in mm) - you'll need it to pick your wick. We list it on every jar's product page.
Wick size is determined by jar diameter. Use the chart further down this page, or check the "Recommended wicks for this jar" section on each jar's product page. Get this wrong and your candle will either tunnel or smoke.
For a Sienna Large (78-80mm diameter), use a single PureWix PT70 or PT75. For larger jars like Sienna XL, use a double wick.
Choose one of our Top 10 if you can't decide, or browse by scent family. For your first candle, start with a single fragrance rather than blending - it's easier to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.
Check the fragrance's vanillin content on the product page. High-vanillin fragrances can discolour your wax over time, especially with no dye added. Not a problem, just good to know.
Clear a flat surface near the stove. Lay down baking paper or newspaper to catch drips. Place a wick sticker on the bottom of your wick and stick it to the centre of the jar. Use a wick holder across the top to keep it straight.
Place your empty jar on the kitchen scales and tare to zero. Fill the jar with water to about 1-2cm from the rim, then weigh it. That's roughly how many grams of wax you'll need (wax is slightly lighter than water but close enough for a first candle).
For PCS glassware specifically, use our chart further down - we've already done the maths.
Melt the wax in a heat-resistant jug using a double boiler (a saucepan of simmering water with the jug sitting inside). Heat slowly and monitor the temperature with a thermometer.
For Pure100 Soy, heat to 62-72°C. Other waxes have different melt targets - check the product page or our wax comparison guide.
Once the wax is fully melted, let it cool to the fragrance-add temperature. For Pure100 Soy, that's 52-55°C. Pour in your fragrance (8% of total wax weight) and stir gently for 2 minutes. The wax may go slightly cloudy - that's normal.
If you're adding dye, this is the time. One chip per 500g of wax for true colour. Stir until evenly dispersed.
Once the wax has cooled to its pour range (45-55°C for Pure100), pour slowly into your prepared jar, leaving a 1cm gap from the rim. Avoid splashing.
Let the candle cool undisturbed for at least 24 hours in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight. Once fully set, trim the wick to 5-10mm above the wax surface.
The maths
Two simple formulas you'll use every time. Save these or screenshot them.
Two ways - the precise way (weigh your jar) and the quick way (use our chart for PCS glassware).
Precise method:
1. Tare empty jar on scales to 0
2. Fill with melted wax to ~1cm from rim
3. Weight on scale = wax required (g)
Quick reference (PCS jars):
Sienna Large — 285g wax
Sienna XL — 380g wax
Bobby Medium — 237g wax
Bobby Large — 285g wax
Archie XL — 399g wax
(at 8% fragrance loading)
Most container waxes hold a maximum fragrance load of 8%. Stay at or below that.
Wax weight × 0.08 = fragrance (g)
Example: 220g wax × 0.08 = 17.6g fragrance (round up to 18g)
Then: 220g (total) − 18g (fragrance) = 202g of actual wax to melt.
Want lighter? Multiply by 0.06 (6%)
Want stronger? Try 0.10 (10%)
For PB75 Gel: cap at 0.05 (5%)
Going above the max can cause oil seepage and burn issues. Stay within range for consistent results.
Wick chart
Match your jar's mouth diameter to the right PureWix size. Single wick for most, double for larger vessels.
| Vessel | Inside Diameter | Wick Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Sienna Extra Large | 88mm | Double PureWix PT60 or single PT80 |
| Bobby Extra Large | 88mm | Double PureWix PT60 or PT65 |
| Sienna & Bobby Large | 78-80mm | Single PureWix PT70 or PT75 |
| Sienna Medium | 74mm | Single PureWix PT70 |
| Bobby Medium | 74mm | Single PureWix PT70 |
| Archie Extra Large | 85mm | Double PureWix PT55 |
| Archie Small | 60mm | Single PureWix PT60 |
| Archie Mini | 55mm | Single PureWix PT55 |
| Alana Small | 63mm | Single PureWix PT60 |
| Sienna Mini Bowl | 120mm | Triple PureWix PT60 or PT65 |
| Bobby Bowl | 185mm | 5× PureWix PT75 |
| Christmas Bauble | 90mm | 2× PureWix PT55 |
| Candle Tin (6 oz) | 68mm | Single PureWix PT65 |
| Candle Tin (4 oz) | 60mm | Single PureWix PT55 |
When things go sideways
If your first candle doesn't look quite right, you're not alone - and you're not failing. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.
What's happening: pour temperature too low, room too cold, or natural wax frosting (which is harmless).
Fix: check your pour temperature is in range (45-55°C for Pure100). If the room is below 18°C, warm it up before pouring. For genuine wet spots, use a heat gun briefly on the top to even out the surface once set.
What's happening: the wax pulled away from the wick as it cooled, usually from cooling too quickly or pouring too hot.
Fix: pour slightly cooler next time. To rescue the current candle, melt a small amount of leftover wax and pour over the top to fill the hole.
What's happening: wick is too small for the jar diameter, or you didn't burn it long enough on the first burn.
Fix: on the first burn, always burn long enough to create a full melt pool across the surface (usually 1-2 hours per inch of jar diameter). If it still tunnels, the wick is undersized - go up a PureWix size next batch.
What's happening: wick is too large for the jar, or it hasn't been trimmed between burns.
Fix: trim the wick to 5-10mm before every burn. If it still mushrooms heavily, drop down one PureWix size.
What's happening: not enough cure time, fragrance added at the wrong temperature, or fragrance load too low.
Fix: cure for a minimum of 7 days before testing scent throw (14 days is even better). Make sure you added fragrance at the right temperature (52-55°C for Pure100) and stirred for the full 2 minutes. If still weak, try 8-10% fragrance load on your next batch.
What's happening: high-vanillin fragrance reacting with light, or normal age-related discolouration.
Fix: check the vanillin content of your fragrance oil (we list this on every fragrance PDP). For "None" or "Low" vanillin, this shouldn't happen. For "Moderate" or "High", consider adding UV Stabiliser to your next batch or storing candles out of direct sunlight.
What's happening: "wet spots" - a cosmetic issue caused by the wax cooling unevenly against the glass.
Fix: preheat your jars with a hair dryer or in a warm oven (50°C) before pouring. Pour slightly slower. If your space is cool, place jars on a warm surface during cool-down.
Message the team. Send a photo, tell us what wax + wick + jar you used, and we'll talk you through what likely went wrong. We've seen pretty much every issue and we're happy to help, no purchase required.
Email hello@purecandlesupplies.com.au or call 03 9730 2213.
Keep going
Once you've nailed your first candle, here's where to grow from here.
Grab everything you need in one go with a Starter Pack, or chat with the team if you want help picking your first wax.
Shop Starter Packs Ask The Team