Container, Pillar and Votive Paraffin Candle Formulas

March 4, 2011 by SandraW

Most candle suppliers provide premixed candle waxes, but if you want to experiment you can try some of these formulas. This is particularly handy if you only have plain paraffin on hand and want to try a variety of candles.

Candle Additives

The two most common additives used in candle making are vybar and stearic acid. Vybar 103 is used for harder candles while 260 is for containers. Vybar helps candles hold more scent and makes them smoother (less likely to crack). Stearic acid hardens candles and increases their burning time. It’s basically animal fat or vegetable oil that is transformed into a powder.

According to Deborah Ward’s Candle Making Manual, 1 (28 grams) or 2 oz (56 grams) of Crisco shortening will increase your scent throw. She still advises using no more than 1 ½ ounces (42.5 grams) of fragrance per pound (454 grams).

Votive Candle Formula

I pound (454 grams) of 140 F (60 C) melting point paraffin wax
1 tsp vybar 103
1 oz (28 grams) scent

Pillar Candle Formula

1 pound of 140 F (60 C) melting point paraffin wax
1/2 tsp vybar 103
1 tbsp stearic acid (acts as a hardener and raises the melting point)
Or
1 pound (454 grams) of 135 F (57 C) melting point paraffin wax
2 tbsp stearic acid
1 tsp vybar
1 oz (28 grams) scent

Container Candle Formula

1 pound (454 grams) of 130 F (54 C) melting point paraffin wax
1 tsp (3.2 grams) vybar 260
1oz scent

Sources:
Candle Making: A Step by Step Guide from Beginner to Expert by Bob Sherman (Evans and Company, 2002)

Candle Making Manual by Deborah Ward (1999, Scribd)

Secrets to Successful Candle Making (Kaya Yurtkuran on Scribd)

Photo of Candles by Pedro Simao

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One of the best things about the return of warmer weather is getting to plant new flowers and starting the vegetable garden if you have one. Off to the Nursery by Alice Oehr is subtitled “a celebration of gardening, plants and seasons,” and it’s also a celebration of diversity (because gardening is for everyone) and caring for the earth.

The book starts with the work of getting the garden ready for spring, pulling out the old plants and spreading compost made from kitchen scraps. They grab tomatoes and peppers, learn about zucchini and eggplant and explore the tasty world of herbs.

They also look through the seeds, succulents, berries and fruit trees, flowers and aquatic plants, talking about the benefits of different plants and how fun they are to grow. Maybe you can relate to the family buying what seems like way too many plants?

The book was originally published in Australia, so some of the flowers mentioned might not be familiar to your or your kids, but that’s kind of fun, too. You can also use this as an opportunity to talk about which plants in the book can grow where you live and that just like animals, plants have preferred habitats, too.

Illustrations are colorful and the book combines a standard font and a hand written font to make it feel more like a journal about the garden. The illustrations include fun facts and growing tips such as always planting mint in a pot or germinating seeds on a wet paper towel before planting.

If you want to introduce kids to gardening or just talk about what kind of plants can be grown at home where you live (yes to tomatoes, probably no to the kumquat tree), this cute book is a great addition to your spring reading list.

About the book: 30 pages, hardcover. Published 2025 by Scribble US. Suggested retail price $18.95.