How long does it take to make a candle from start to finish?Updated 21 hours ago

The full process from sculpting to a fully finished candle can take several days, mainly because of drying and curing times. The active hands-on time is around 2 to 3 hours (sculpting, painting, varnishing, melting, pouring), but you need to plan for drying times that add up to 2 or more days before your candle is completely ready.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each step and the typical time involved:

• Sculpting the vessel – up to 1 hour (depends on your design)
• Drying the clay vessel – 24 to 48 hours or longer, depending on thickness and environment
• Painting (optional) – about 1 hour
• Paint drying – 1 hour per layer
• Applying candle varnish – 1 hour per coat
• Varnish drying – overnight to 24 hours for the final coat
• Melting wax
  • Microwave: 5 to 10 minutes
  • Double boiler: 15 to 20 minutes
• Adding fragrance – just a few minutes
• Prepping wick, centering tool, etc. – about 5 minutes
• Pouring wax into vessel – quick, just a few minutes
• Setting the candle – a few hours to overnight