Tyler Brooks
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been abuzz with the latest trend of bendy candles, with content creators showcasing their unique, twisted candle designs. These candles are a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your home decor or to gift to someone. All you need to make these trendy candles are taper candles and hot water, and you can begin crafting your own stylish silhouettes. The process is simple: submerge the candles in hot water, mould them into your desired shape, and then set the shape by dipping them in cold water. The result is a statement piece that will brighten up any room and is sure to be a conversation starter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of candle | Taper candles |
| Wax type | Beeswax or paraffin wax |
| Length of candle | 8-10 inches or longer |
| Temperature of water | 50-60°C or 120-140°F |
| Water container | Sink, pan, or pitcher |
| Water level | Halfway or enough to cover candles |
| Soaking time | 10-15 minutes |
| Bending technique | Twist from the bottom or flatten and twist |
| Shaping | Use hands or a rolling pin |
| Setting the shape | Dunk in cold water |
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What You'll Learn
Use paraffin wax taper candles
To make a bendy candle, you'll need to start with a taper candle made of paraffin wax. Avoid coated candles, as these are more prone to breaking. Longer candles, ideally longer than 10 inches, will give you more flexibility when bending them to your desired shape.
Before you begin bending your taper candle, prepare a sink or container filled with very warm water. The water should be hot but does not need to be boiling. Place your paraffin wax taper candle into the water and let it soak. You'll know the wax is ready to be bent when it feels pliable. Warm your hands under the hot water, then gently start to bend the candle at its thickest part. If the candle bends easily, it's ready to be moulded. If it's still too firm, let it soak in the warm water for a few more minutes.
Once the wax is soft enough to manipulate, begin shaping the candle into your desired form. Keep the candle underwater as you work to maintain the wax's pliability. If you want to intertwine two or more candles, hold them together and twist your hands in opposite directions. For a snake coil shape, wrap the candle around a wooden spoon or pen.
If your candle cracks while bending it, it may not be warm enough. Place it back in the hot water to warm up, then try to smooth out the cracks with your fingers. To ensure your candle stands upright on its own, press it onto a flat surface while the wax is still warm. Finally, to set the shape, submerge the candle in cold water for about 20 to 30 seconds until the wax is no longer flexible.
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Prepare a warm water bath
To prepare a warm water bath for your bendy candle project, follow these steps:
Firstly, decide whether you will use a sink, container, pan, or pitcher. The size of your vessel will depend on the number of candles you wish to bend. Ensure you have enough space to submerge your candles without overcrowding. Overloading your vessel may cause your candles to stick together.
Next, heat your water. You will need the water to be warm enough to soften the candles but cool enough to touch. Aim for a temperature of around 50°C or 120°F. You can achieve this by mixing boiling water with room-temperature water. Alternatively, simply use very hot tap water.
Now, fill your chosen vessel with the warm water. If using a sink, you may wish to add the water directly from the tap. If using a container, carefully pour the water in. Fill it halfway, and then place your candles inside. If you are using a pitcher or pan, you may wish to continue to run a slow, steady stream of hot water while your candles soak.
Warm your hands under the hot water before attempting to pick up a candle. This will help prevent the wax from hardening too quickly as you work. Gently remove a candle from the water and start to bend it at its thickest part. If it bends easily, it is ready to manipulate. If there is resistance, allow it to soak for a few more minutes.
Once your candles are soft and pliable, you can begin to shape them. Keep the candles underwater as much as possible to maintain the warmth of the wax.
Remember, you only have a short window to work with the wax before it cools and becomes inflexible, so it is best to plan your desired shapes beforehand.
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Soak candles in warm water
To make bendy candles, you'll need to start by soaking them in warm water. This will make the wax flexible and easy to manipulate. The water should be warm enough to soften the candles but cool enough to touch—around 50°C or 120°F. You can mix boiling water with room-temperature water to achieve this temperature.
Use a sink or a container, such as a large pan or pitcher, for soaking the candles. Fill your chosen vessel with warm water. If using a sink, you can simply let the tap run until the water reaches the desired temperature. If using a container, fill it halfway with water, then continue to let a slow, steady stream of hot water flow while the candles soak.
Place your candles in the water. Make sure they are completely submerged. The amount of time they need to soak can vary depending on the type of wax and the thickness of the candle. Beeswax candles, for example, may take longer to soften than paraffin candles. Thin tapers are generally easier to manipulate but can be more prone to cracking, so extra-long tapers are ideal. You'll know the wax is ready when it bends easily. If there is still a lot of resistance, let the candles sit in the water for a few more minutes.
Once the wax is soft and pliable, start to slowly bend the candles into your desired shape. Keep the candles underwater as much as possible to maintain the warmth of the wax. If you're intertwining two or more candles, hold them together and twist your hands in opposite directions. You can also use a wooden spoon or pen to create a snake coil shape, or flatten the candle with a rolling pin or mason jar before twisting.
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Gently bend candles to shape
To make a bendy candle, you need to start by softening the wax. This can be done by submerging the candle in warm water—the exact temperature range suggested varies from source to source, but the water should be warm enough to soften the candle without being too hot to touch. It should not be boiling. You can also warm your hands under the hot water before grabbing the candle.
Once the candle is warm enough, you can start to gently bend it into your desired shape. It is recommended to keep the candle under the water as much as possible while you work to keep the wax warm. If you want to intertwine two or more candles, hold them together and twist your hands in opposite directions.
If you want to create a snake coil shape, you can wrap the candle around a wooden spoon or pen. For a twist shape, flatten the candle with a rolling pin or mason jar and then twist it. For a loop shape, bend the top of the candle around itself, being careful not to snap the candle.
Once you are happy with the shape, dunk the candle in cold water to set it.
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Dunk in cold water to set
To make a bendy candle, you will need to submerge the candle in warm water to make the wax flexible. Once you have pulled the candle out of the water, you will only have a short window to bend and mould your candle into the desired shape before the wax becomes too cool and inflexible. Therefore, it is best to plan what shape you would like to make beforehand.
To set the shape, submerge the candle into a bowl of cold water. Hold the candle in the water for twenty to thirty seconds. You will know it is ready when you can no longer bend the wax. If you want to reshape your candle using twists, the wax needs to be warmed up again to make it malleable. Repeat the process of submerging it in warm water (50-60°C or 120-140°F) for five minutes.
You can also combine this technique with the bending technique to create twisted bends in your candle. Twist from the bottom of the candle. Finally, dunk the candle in cold water again to set the twisted shape. Submerge it for ten to twenty seconds until the wax is no longer flexible.
If you are making a hand-dipped candle, you can also dunk the candle in cold water to instantly set the wax. You can then keep dipping the candle until it reaches your desired size.
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