It can be tricky to determine the color of your finished candles just by looking at the melted wax and dye in your pouring pitcher. The color of melted, dyed wax will always appear darker than the color of a finished, cooled candle. We recommend making a small wax sample before pouring a large batch to ensure you get the color you want. Here are a few quick steps on how you can quickly create a wax color sample.

1. Melt one pound of wax.
2. When the wax reaches 185°F, add the smallest amount of color recommended on the package and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour a small amount of the colored wax into a wax-lined paper cup (like a Dixie cup) or a tart mold if you have one.
4. Place in the refrigerator and observe the color when cooled.
5. Adjust the color by adding more dye to the pouring pot until you get the desired results. Be sure to keep detailed notes on the amount of dye you’re adding since you’ll want to be able to recreate the color easily!
6. You can pour the test samples back into the pot by tearing away the paper on the cup or putting the tart mold in the freezer for easy removal.

Want more tips on using candle dye? Check out the FAQ: How to use candle dye.