Candles cannot be colored by soap paint because the glycerin in the soap color doesn’t blend well with the oils in the wax. The dye doesn’t mix evenly and the moisture can result in popping candles that can apply wax to surrounding surfaces. Any water-based liquid dye can be used to color your soap. Mica powder doesn’t mix evenly with your candle wax and will settle to the bottom as your candles dry, leaving dark spots on the bottom of the candle container.
After extensive testing, I can tell you that not all dyes and dyes are the same in terms of the function of your finished candle, especially plant-based wax candles such as soy and coconut. Therefore, you should color them with carefully formulated dyes that blend exceptionally well and give the wax multiple shades.
Can you use any dye for candles?
If you use dyes that are specifically designed for candles, you should not have any problems with wick clogging when using the right proportions. While some types of food coloring can dissolve easily and stain candles, the ingredients in food coloring are not made with the intention that they are near an open flame. If necessary, food coloring can be a good way to color a candle as long as it’s not a liquid color. I also found that the color chips on my digital scale were easy to measure and could be used to color soy, coconut, palm, or beeswax.
We recommend testing your color before adding fragrance so you don’t lose any fragrance when you need to add more color flakes and put it back on the water bath.
What type of dye do you use for candles?
The difference between pigment and dye is that the dye actually dissolves in the wax and does not clog the wick, which is why dyes are the preferred dye for making candles. Let me start by saying dyes specifically designed for candle making are the only options you should consider. Add a small amount of powdered or liquid candle dye and gradually stir in more pigment until you get the shade you want. During my tests, I found that candle dye chips melt smoothly into candle wax and needed less stirring than other candle dyes.
For someone who prefers to make homemade candles in small batches while using less than 2 pounds of wax at a time, color chips are very affordable.