Taper candles

What you’ll need

• Beeswax Waxes Buy
• Cotton candle wicks Wicks Buy
• Taper candle molds Molds Buy
• Candle dye chips Dyes Buy
• Candle pouring pitcher Tools Buy
• Candle thermometer Tools Buy
• Digital scale for candle making Tools Buy
• Wick trimmer Tools Buy

What you need

A taper is long and slender, so it needs a hard wax that won't bend in the heat or drip. Pure beeswax is the top choice; it burns clean and slow. Paraffin or a pillar wax also work, ideally with a little stearic acid added to harden them. Soft container waxes won't cut it.

You'll also need taper candle molds (silicone, polycarbonate or metal), untabbed braided cotton wick in the right size, mold sealer putty for the tip hole, rods or skewers to center the wick and, for color, dye chips. Tools: a pouring pitcher, thermometer, scale and wick trimmer.

Tapers are made unscented: on the dinner table they'd compete with the food, and fragrance softens the wax and makes dripping more likely.

Mold (base diameter × height)	Wax per taper	Suggested wick
3/4 × 8 in (2 × 20 cm)	50–55 g (about 1.9 oz)	Small
7/8 × 10 in (2.2 × 25 cm)	70–80 g (about 2.6 oz)	Small to medium
1 × 12 in (2.5 × 30 cm)	110–120 g (about 4 oz)	Medium

For a batch of four 10 inch tapers, plan on about 320 g (11.3 oz) of wax plus 10% extra for topping off.

Preparation

Cut the wick about 4 inches (10 cm) longer than the mold. Thread it through the hole in the tip with a long needle, pull it taut and secure it at the base with a rod laid across the opening. Seal the tip hole from the outside with putty. Look down from above to make sure the wick sits dead center: in a candle this slim, a few millimeters off means it'll burn lopsided and drip.

Stand the molds upright, held firmly in a rack or in a tall glass filled with sand, and perfectly vertical. If they're metal, warm them with a heat gun or in hot water so the wax doesn't cool suddenly when it hits the sides.

Process

Melt the wax in a double boiler. Bring beeswax to 75–85 °C (167–185 °F); paraffin or pillar wax to 80–90 °C (176–194 °F). Add dye if you're using it and stir until dissolved.

Pour slowly in a thin stream, at 70–80 °C (158–176 °F) for beeswax or 75–85 °C (167–185 °F) for paraffin, so air can escape. Tap the molds gently with your fingers to release bubbles. Keep some wax in the pitcher.

As it cools, the wax drops at the wide end of the mold, which becomes the base of the candle. Once the surface is firm, poke near the wick and top off with wax reheated 10–20 °F (5–10 °C) hotter. Repeat if needed.

Let the tapers cool completely at room temperature for at least 6–8 hours. Remove the putty and the rod, then unmold by gently pulling the wick at the base. Ease silicone molds open carefully; in rigid molds, the candle should slide out on its own once fully cool.

Finally, trim the wick at the tip to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) and cut the base wick flush. Level the base on a warm skillet so it's flat and straight.

Curing

Since there's no fragrance, tapers don't need a long cure. Let them rest for about 2 days lying flat on a level surface so the wax finishes hardening. They'll be stiffer and drip less. More in the curing guide.

First burn

Fit the taper into its holder. If the base is too thick, dip it in hot water for a few seconds and press it in, or shave a little off with a knife. If it's loose, use candle adhesive putty. The candle needs to stand perfectly vertical.

Light it away from drafts, fans and open windows; they're the number one cause of dripping. Never leave it unattended, and blow it out when about 2 inches (5 cm) remain so it doesn't damage the holder. Test burn one taper from every batch before using them at a dinner.

Variations and ideas

• Traditional hand-dipping: dip a wick into melted wax at about 158–167 °F (70–75 °C) over and over, letting it cool between dips, until it's as thick as you want. It's slower but incredibly satisfying.
• Deep colors: tapers in forest green, burgundy or midnight blue are seasonal classics.
• Rolled: for something quick, try rolled beeswax candles.
• Matching sets: pair them with pillar candles in the same color.

Troubleshooting

Lots of dripping

Drafts, a tilted candle, an oversized wick or soft wax. Check each one and use beeswax or paraffin with stearic acid.

The taper comes out crooked

The mold wasn't vertical or you unmolded too soon. Let it cool longer and use a sturdy rack.

It burns down one side

The wick isn't centered. Double-check before pouring.

Bubbles or voids

You poured too fast or too cool. Pour in a thin stream and tap the mold. More help in the troubleshooting guide.

Step by step

1. 1 Thread the wick through the mold tip, pull it taut and secure it with a rod at the base.
2. 2 Seal the tip hole with putty and check that the wick is centered.
3. 3 Stand the molds upright in a sturdy rack and warm metal molds.
4. 4 Weigh out the wax: about 350 g (12.3 oz) for four 10 inch tapers.
5. 5 Melt the wax in a double boiler: 75–85 °C (167–185 °F) for beeswax or 80–90 °C (176–194 °F) for paraffin.
6. 6 Add dye if using and stir until dissolved.
7. 7 Pour in a thin stream at 70–80 °C (158–176 °F) for beeswax or 75–85 °C (167–185 °F) for paraffin, tapping the mold.
8. 8 When the surface is firm, poke near the wick and top off with hotter wax.
9. 9 Let the tapers cool completely for at least 6–8 hours.
10. 10 Unmold, trim the top wick to 1/4 inch and level the base.
11. 11 Let them rest flat for 2 days, then test burn in a candleholder.

Tips

• Pure beeswax is your best friend against dripping.
• A perfectly centered wick matters more here than in any other candle.
• Store tapers lying flat and away from heat so they don't bend.
• If the base won't fit the holder, soften it in hot water instead of forcing it.
• Burning in a draft-free spot cuts down dripping dramatically.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using soft container wax: the taper bends and drips.
• Adding fragrance: it softens the wax and encourages drips.
• Unmolding before it's completely cool: it bends or breaks.
• Leaving the wick off-center: it burns down one side and runs.
• Forcing the taper into the holder: it cracks or ends up leaning.

⚡ Our top picks: beeswax

Stock checked on October 6, 2026

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