Candle molds are used to shape the wax as it sets. They are made from different materials and come in all shapes and sizes, so choosing between them can be quite difficult.
To make life easier, we’ve listed some of the most common types below.
At a Glance: Our Choice of the Best Candle Molds On the Market
- Candle Shop 4 Pack Mold Set (Best Overall)
- Milivixay Plastic Molds (Best Budget Choice)
- Candle Shop 12 Pack Mold Set (Best Premium Choice)
- EricX Light Candle
- Hi Party 3D Bee Honeycomb Set
- Doyolla Diamond Stone Jewelry Molds
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Types of Mold
Aluminum
Aluminum is a strong, rigid metal and makes very durable, long-lasting molds. The wall sections also often vary in depth and shape, so you can create different designs. The aluminum mold you choose should feel smooth across its surfaces, as this makes removing the set candle easier.
Beeswax
Beeswax molds are used to produce candles that have a beeswax pattern around their edge. They are made from polyurethane and usually come in a wide pillar shape, although other designs are available. These are a great choice for fans of rustic looking candles.
Floating
Floating candle molds are made from a variety of materials including metal and polycarbonate. The designs are usually wide and flat, with a small build so that the candle floats well. Manufacturers get pretty creative with these types of molds, producing fun flower and animal shapes.
Clamshell
Clamshell molds are also known as ‘melts’ seeing as they’re used to create small cubes of scented wax that meltdown and release a fragrance. Clamshell molds are usually made from flexible PVC that resembles an ice cube tray.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane candle molds are a popular option thanks to their durable build and flexibility. These designs come in different shapes and sizes, often featuring intricate patterns that enhance the candle’s final aesthetic. That said, polyurethane molds also come in standard, cylinder, and tapered shapes too.
Tapered
Tapered molds produce long, thin candles that you see in holders at a dinner party. They often feature slightly different designs with varying widths and wick-ends, so you can create specific candles to fit your holder.
Tea-Light
Tea-light molds are often made from a flexible polyurethane tray with six to fifteen individual molds indented into the material. They should also come with metal pins that carve out a tunnel for the wick to feed through. This design gives you the classic, small cylinder-shaped candles folks use on a daily basis.
Design
Candle molds come in all shapes and sizes, including crystal, pyramid, and beehive designs, to name just a few! Some even have patterned or textured surfaces, so make sure to take a close look at the product’s description and any pictures of the resulting candles if you’re after something specific.
Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Right Molds
Purpose
It’s best to consider what you’re going to use your candle for before buying tons of different molds. For example, if you’ve got a specific candle holder it’s worth measuring up the width of the candle it will hold before buying a mold that’s too large.
If you want to make floating candles for the bath, make sure you get specific floating molds as you need the right surface area to get the candle to sit on water properly.
Material
Candle molds are made from different materials including glass, plastic, rubber, stainless steel, and silicone. Steel and aluminum are the toughest option, however, most people tend to prefer the silicone molds as they are easy to manipulate and clean.
Type of Mold Sealer
Sealers are used to close off the mold and prevent any wax leaking. They come as putty, magnetic or rubber mold plugs. Putty is very flexible making it a good all-round option if you’re going to be making different shaped candles. Magnetic and rubber plugs will only fit specific molds.
Most Popular?
Tealight and clamshell molds are a favorite among beginners seeing as they’re straightforward to use. Experienced folks seem to prefer more unique silicone or polyurethane molds for their interesting aesthetic.
Product Round-up and Reviews – Best Candle Molds
Candle Shop’s 4 Pack
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Candle Shop’s 4 pack is an affordable option for any creatives out there. The molds are made from a tough material using capralon engineering, which is designed to withstand high and low temperatures without damage or cracking.
You get four of the most popular shapes: taper, pyramid, cylinder, and sphere, and they can be used with paraffin, wax, beeswax, and other materials.
All the molds are divided into two parts consisting of the body and the lid. This makes it simpler to comfortably take a finished candle out.
Features:
- Great value for 4 molds
- Made using capralon engineering so can withstand plenty of use and different materials.
- Unique – You don’t find pyramid candle molds very often.
Milivixay Plastic Candle Molds
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Milivixay’s four-piece candle mold kit is an affordable option with some great features. Here you get a pillar, cylinder, sphere, and rectangle mold made from durable polycarbonate. The material itself can withstand high and low temperatures, so will cope with plenty of use. The molds are compatible with paraffin as well as wax, making it a handy option if you use different materials.
The disadvantage is that the wax tends to stick to the mold unless you apply a lubricant first. That said, Milivixay do mention you can freeze the candle which helps remove it. Overall, we’d recommend this mold set to anyone shopping on a budget looking to try out different candle shapes and materials, for the price the durability is pretty good.
PROS
- Affordable – This set won’t break your bank.
- These molds can be frozen and will handle very hot wax.
- You can use this kit to create four different shaped candles.
Candle Shop 12 Pack Mold Set
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Candle Shop’s Mold Set offers lots of variety. In total, there are twelve different shapes that allow you to create cylinder, pillar, tapered, patterned, and circular candles. Versatility is definitely the best aspect here. The molds are made using caprolon engineering to make them super durable. They are compatible with paraffin, wax, and other candle materials, so you’ll have plenty of creative options.
PROS
- There’s plenty of different shapes of candle to make with this kit.
- Works with different materials including paraffin, wax, and other candle liquids.
EricX Light Candle Set
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EricX’s Light Candle set is selling for a mid-range price and offers some quality design for your dollar. There are 24 small, cylindrical aluminum tins included in the kit and each comes with its own lid, so you can burn the candle without removing it. The best aspect has to be the metal casing’s durability and lightweight feel – you’ll have no problem transporting your candles here!
Another great feature is the modern aesthetic. The tins have a raw, silver finish which is pretty hip. The downside is that the lids seem to vary in size slightly, so some are very tight, whereas others feel a little loose. Overall, we’d recommend EricX’s candle tin set to anyone that sells and posts tealight candles. The metal casing will survive any knocks along the way and allows the wax to burn well.
Features:
- Nice finish – The silver metal case looks very modern.
- Durable – The tins will survive being knocked around easily, without becoming dented.
- Lightweight and portable.
HiParty 3D Bee Honeycomb Set
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Next up is HiParty’s 3D Bee Honeycomb Candle Mold set, which is selling for a mid-range price. The best aspect here has to be the durability of the molds. Because they are made from silicone, the molds can survive being microwaved or kept at below-freezing temperatures without warping. So, using hot wax will not cause poor results and you could even bake cakes with them! The other cool feature is that the molds produce really cute candles. One is a pillar shape, with a honeycomb texture and the other is rounded like a beehive.
The downside is that you only get two molds included for the price. So although HiParty’s kit is high-quality, you don’t get as much choice on offer as some other kits. In summary, we’d recommend this kit to anyone that wants a couple of durable molds that can be used to bake with, as well as sculpt candles.
Features:
- Durable – Will survive freezing and high temperatures, so you can use them to cook with.
- Nice aesthetic – These molds produce really cute bee-inspired candle designs.
Doyolla Diamond Stone Jewelry Molds (3 Pieces)
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This next three-piece set is actually marketed as more of a soap or jewelry making tool but is great for designing candles too. The best aspect has to be the unique crystal shape the molds create, which is guaranteed to get your candles noticed. The units themselves are also pretty durable, thanks to being made from flexible silicone that can twist to make it easier to remove your creation.
The only disadvantage is that you don’t get any standard shapes, so Doyolla’s kit will only suit folks that want to use a rather ‘out-there’ design. For the price however, we think the quality of the molds is great seeing as you can use them with other materials.
Features:
- Eye-catching – The candles this kit produces are unique and crystal shaped.
- Silicone molds – This material is flexible and works with different materials.
- Versatile – You can use the molds to make soap and jewelry as well as candles.
Summary
When it comes to choosing the perfect candle mold there’s no completely right or wrong choice, it simply depends on your budget and what style product you want to create.
If you’re shopping on a low budget then we’d recommend the pack from Milivixay. For the money, it’s hard to beat.
If you want better quality, go with Candle Shop’s 4 pack.
If you’re after quantity, go with Candle Shop’s 12 pack.
Finally, if you want something a bit different, try the 3D Bee’s Honeycomb Candle Molds. These produce really cute honeycomb and beehive-shaped candles and can be used with different materials too.
Good luck!
Image Credits:
Featured Image Source: Susanne Nilsson / CC BY-SA 2.0