Ever wondered what happens when you mix a little heat with a lot of creativity? Say hello to bendy candles — the quirky, curvy twist on traditional taper candles that’s taking DIY decor by storm! These stylish candles are soft, sculptural, and so much fun to make.
With just a few supplies and some hot water magic, you can shape ordinary candles into playful squiggles, waves, or spirals that look like they came straight from a trendy home boutique!
This bendy candle tutorial is the perfect combo of simple and satisfying. Whether you’re crafting gifts, updating your home decor, or just checking out a fun TikTok trend, you’ll love how easy it is to get creative with colour, shape, and design. Ready to give your candles a glow-up? Let’s get bending!
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How to Make Bendy Candles
Materials:
- Long coloured taper candles (16 inches)
Equipment:
- Large plastic bin (or bucket)
- Hot water
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.All you need is candles, hot water, and a bin/bucket to place them in!
Step 2: Submerge the candles
- Choose a baking dish or plastic tub that your candles will fit in. Fill it with hot tap water (about 120F).
- Carefully place the candles in the water and allow them to soak for 10 minutes.
- As candles like to float, you may need to put a plate or something on top of them to keep them submerged.
Step 3: Bend the candles
- Once the water is cool enough to put your hands in, carefully bend one of the candles while it’s still in the water.The candle will start cooling once it’s removed from the water, making it liable to break if you try to bend it out of the water.
- Use firm pressure to shape the candle, but be aware of its natural resistance. Don’t bend it so much that it breaks.
- Remove the candle from the water once you’ve created the shape you want.
- Repeat with the rest of the candles, bending them in different ways and creating different designs.
- Your bendy candles are complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Do not use boiling water to make your bendy candles. Boiling water is too hot and can cause the candles to melt completely rather than soften for bending.
- If you can’t find taper candles in the colours you like, you can use a makeup sponge to paint them with alcohol ink after shaping them.
- We recommend having a spare candle on hand to test with before working on your final designs. This allows you to see how far, and in which direction, you can safely bend the candles.
- If you use shorter candles (10 inch tapers), you can soak your candles in a glass casserole dish.
What are the best candles to use for making bendy candles?
Non-coated paraffin candles tend to bend the best choice. Most inexpensive taper candles from the dollar store or craft store work well for this project.
We used the Ashland brand from Michaels, and they worked great. Look for candles that are long (around 14 to 16 inches), as the extra length gives you more room to create fun shapes and curves.
Can you burn DIY bendy candles?
Technically, yes — you can burn bendy candles. However, they won’t burn the same way as upright candles. The flame and melted wax may not flow evenly along horizontal sections, and the candle could drip unpredictably.
If you do light them, always have an adult present in the room and place the candle or candle holder on a washable tray to catch any drips.
Overall, we recommend keeping bendy candles as display decor rather than functional candles.
Where can I buy taper candles to make bendy candles?
You can usually find suitable candles at craft stores like Michaels or at home decor stores. You can also order candles online for a wider variety of colours and sizes.
There’s something so satisfying about turning a simple candle into a one-of-a-kind sculptural piece — no fancy tools or molds required. Whether you twist a few for a dinner table centerpiece or gift a wavy trio to a friend, these bendy candles add a playful, artsy vibe to any space. Once you make one, it’s hard to stop — so get ready to bend, twist, and totally fall in love with this easy DIY trend!
Here’s even more candle decorating ideas:
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