How to Dye Candles with Rit Dye | Vibes & Scribes

How to Dye Candles

Supplies Needed

  • Yarn
  • All-Purpose Powder or Liquid Rit Dye
  • Vinegar (for wool yarn)
  • Salt (for cotton yarn)
  • Plastic Container
  • Small Jars for Dyeing
  • Wire Rack
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Scissors
  • Tongs
  • Stove Pot or Kettle

Yes, Rit can dye candles! With our base powder colours and over 500 additional colour recipes, you’ll be able to customise your candles to match just about any colour. Customisation comes in handy especially for weddings or parties when you are trying to stay within a certain colour scheme. But dyed candles are also great for home décor, gifts and more! We’ve even been known to dip dye candles, which you can see here.

Five candles with a gradient from white to blue on a wooden surface.

Important Notes

This technique must be done with Rit All-Purpose Powder Dye.

If using a colour formula, please note that formulas are only listed with liquid dyes. Since you must use powder dye to dye candles, please refer to our chart on how to convert liquid formulas to powder ones here.

Instructions

  1. Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.

  2. Melt 240 mL of beeswax pellets into a mini slow cooker or a double boiler. Stir until melted.

    Person pouring sugar into a black and silver slow cooker.
  3. Add 7-15 mL of Rit All-Purpose Powder Dye. The more dye used, the more intense the colour will be.

    Person pouring Rit dye into a black container on a countertop.
  4. Stir well. You may notice that not all the dye will dissolve completely. That is okay! It should not impact your results.

    Hand holding a spoon with liquid dripping over a container.
  5. Using a spare candle, test the colour by dipping it directly into the dyebath until you achieve your desired colour. If colour is too light, add more dye; if it is too dark, add more beeswax to lighten the colour.

    Person pouring a substance from a container into a metal bowl.
  6. Once you are satisfied with the colour, dip candle into the dyed beeswax for 5 to 10 seconds.

  7. Remove candle carefully from dyebath and let it dry on paper towels.