What if your candle started to bleed for Halloween? With its blood-stain effects on the surface, this creation turns a simple candle into a truly spine-chilling decoration.
Discover in this tutorial how to recreate this bloody effect easily using coloured wax, a pipette and a heat gun. A few simple steps are all it takes to give your candle a macabre finish, perfectly in the spirit of Halloween.
The equipment you need to make your bleeding candle
Before you start, gather all the equipment you need. Preparing the red wax and applying it to the sides of the container calls for precision: having all your accessories within reach will let you move smoothly from one step to the next.
Raw materials
- Soy wax suitable for container pouring
- Candle fragrance, used at 7% to 10%
- Red liquid candle dye
Accessories
- A container suitable for making your candle
- A wick suited to the diameter of the container
- A wick sticker
- A wick centring device
- A pipette
- A beaker or container suitable for melting wax
- A thermometer
- A wooden skewer or a spatula for stirring
- A heat gun
To complete your kit, browse our selection of candle-making equipment and accessories.
Steps to make your Halloween candle
Step 1: fit the wick in the container
- Start by preparing your container before working the wax. Make sure the container is clean, completely dry and free from any dust or impurities.
- Attach the wick to a wick sticker, then position it precisely in the centre of the container.
- Next, place a wick centring device on top to keep the wick perfectly straight throughout the different making stages.
A properly centred wick is essential for your candle to burn evenly.
Step 2: prepare the red wax to create the drips
This is the step that gives your candle its bloody look. The coloured wax is applied directly to the sides of the container to form irregular drips.
- Melt a small amount of wax in a beaker or suitable container. The quantity needed depends on how many drips you want to create and how long you want them to be.
- Once the wax has melted, add a few drops of red liquid dye and stir carefully until you obtain an even colour that is intense enough to create a strong contrast with the wax that will later be poured into the container.
- Then add 7% to 10% of the fragrance of your choice and stir to blend the mixture thoroughly.
Adding fragrance to this small amount of wax keeps the dosage consistent throughout the whole candle.
Step 3: create the blood drips
Now for the most creative part of the recipe: recreating the look of blood running down the container.
- Using a pipette, draw up a small amount of red wax while it is still liquid.
Gently deposit the wax against the inside wall of the container, near the top edge. Then let it run down naturally. - Repeat in different places around the container, varying the amount of wax and the length of the drips. Some can be short and thick, while others can run further down the wall.
- For a more natural result, avoid making drips that are identical or evenly spaced. Alternate sizes and shapes to create a more irregular effect. You can also slightly overlap some drips to give your decoration more depth. Once the drips are done, leave the container to rest without moving it.
The aim is not to cover the sides evenly, but to create the effect of red wax that seems to have run down at random.
Step 4: prepare the filling wax
- Melt the amount of wax needed to fill your container. Once the wax has completely melted, add the fragrance of your choice at a rate of 7% to 10%, according to the recommendations for the fragrance and the wax used.
- Stir carefully to distribute the fragrance evenly throughout the wax.
- Then let the wax cool to around 75 °C before pouring.
The pouring temperature may vary depending on the wax used. Always refer to the specific recommendations for your wax to adjust this temperature if necessary.
Step 5: pour the candle
When your fragranced wax reaches around 75 °C, you can fill the container.
- Pour the wax slowly into the centre of the container, around the wick. Pour gradually so as not to move the wick and to limit the risk of dislodging or damaging the red drips on the sides.
- Fill the container to the desired level, leaving enough space at the top.
- Check one last time that the wick is still centred.
Then leave the candle to cool and harden completely, without moving it during this stage.
Step 6: create the blood-stain effect on the surface
To finish the decoration, add a few touches of red to the surface of the candle. This final step creates stains and shades that complement the drips on the sides. You will find this way of working wax to create a decorative effect in our tropical Monoi flower candle too, where the wax takes a completely different shape to bring a floral decoration to life.
- Once the wax has completely cooled and set, place 2 to 3 drops of red liquid dye on different areas of the surface.
- Then take a heat gun and use it carefully to warm the surface of the wax slightly. Pass the hot air gradually over the drops of dye. As it heats, the wax softens slightly and lets the red spread around the areas you are working on.
- Keep the heat gun moving so as not to heat the same area for too long. The goal is to create irregular shades and marks rather than to melt the surface completely. Repeat in different places until you achieve the effect you want.
This technique gives a deliberately irregular finish, like small splashes or dried blood stains.
Storage tips
Keep your candle away from heat and direct sunlight to preserve its fragrance, its red colour and the look of its drips.
To limit dust settling on the surface and preserve its decorative look, protect your creation with a glass cloche when it is not in use.
Discover all our candle recipes and find your next DIY creation.
