Communicate effective using candle terms
Candles are named for their shape or by the method used to make them. Please find a list of commonly used candle terms below and please let us know if we’ve missed one out.
Cast and Molded
These candles are made by pouring wax into a preformed mold or shape. Molds can be made of disposable materials such as milk cartons and sand, purchased in metal or plastic.
Container
Any candle that is poured into a container and intended to be burned in the container is a container candle. These candles are often made of soft wax and would not be able to stand on their own outside their enclosures.
Dipped
Scented candles are made by repeatedly dipping a piece of wick into melted wax in a container, or dipping can. The results are called tapers because this is the natural shape that occurs as a result of dipping.
Drawn
This an old method made new by modern technology. It involves pulling long lengths of wick through melted wax. This method works well for making small-diameter candles such as birthday candles, or the long waxed wicks used to light multiple candles called wax matches.
Extruded
This is a machine method that pushes wax out through a shaped template, much like making cookies with a cookie gun. Once they’re extruded, these very long candles are then sliced into their proper lengths.
Novelty
These are irregularly shaped candles made by molding, sculpting and pouring.
Poured
This term refers to an old-fashioned method of pouring wax repeatedly over a wick to build it up to candle size.
Pressed
This is a newer method of making commercial candles in which wax is atomized onto a cooling drum, forming wax beads or granules. These beads are then compressed into molds, where they bind to form a candle.
Rolled
These candles are made by rolling sheets of wax around a wick. Tapers, pillars and novelty candles can be made with this method.