- 1). Start with any smooth-edged candle. You may either create your own candles by dipping or pouring into pillar molds, or purchase candles to turn into primitive candles. Ideally, purchase white, smooth-edged tapers or pillars.
- 2). Melt paraffin candle wax in a double boiler. The top of the double boiler must be taller than the candle; for example, if you are using a 6-inch-tall pillar candle, the top of the double boiler should be 8 inches tall. A coffee can placed in an old pot makes a good double boiler, you may also purchase wax melting pots to use as the top of a double boiler. Wax melting pots are taller than coffee cans.
- 3). Melt the paraffin wax. Add a little candle scent, if desired. When liquid, turn off stove and remove the wax pot from the hot water. Set wax pot on newspapers on the counter.
- 4). Whip the wax gently with an old fork as it cools. Wait for a skin to form on top of the wax, and scrape and push the cooling wax to the sides of the pot. Wait for another skin to form, and repeat. As the wax continues to cool, stir the skins back into the pot. Eventually, you will have a pot of soft wax with lumps in it, similar to lumpy oatmeal.
- 5). Dip the candle into the lumpy wax and remove. To get the consistency you desire, use a wooden spoon or ladle to pour lumpy wax over the sides and top of the candle.
- 6). Spread wax paper or baking parchment paper on the counter and roll the coated candle on the paper if you want a smoother primitive candle. This step is optional.
- 7). Reheat the paraffin wax in the double boiler. Stir with wooden spoon and bring the wax up to 180 degrees F. Take the wax's temperature with a candy thermometer. Add any color you desire. Primitive and grubby candles have extra candle color in their coatings, so add more color than the directions suggest.
- 8). Dip the candle for three seconds, then remove. Each time you dip the candle for three seconds, the coating will become smoother and darker. You may dip only once or as many times as you desire.
- 9). Hang taper candles to dry. Set pillar candles on wax paper or parchment paper and press gently so that the bottom will cool flat.
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