Candle Making Dye

Lime Green

Usage Guidelines for Dye Blocks in Candles

Welcome to our unique dye block system for coloring candles. The exact amount of dye has been calculated into each block to make each color in the color chart. You can make several colors and shades with the same block just by varying the volume of wax with a single dye block.

The versatile system is easy to use!

• Choose the color you would like your candle to look like from the Dye Block Color Chart. Follow the directions / recommendations under each color patch.
• There are 27 color blocks to choose from. Whitener Block #28 produces White under certain conditions. The last two blocks, #29 and #30 are additives that prevent the dyes from fading.
• Each of the 27 dye blocks produces several colors or shades by increasing or decreasing the ratio of color in wax. In all, more than 75 colors can be made with only the 27 dye blocks in the color chart.
• Virtually all the candles in the marketplace are represented in this color chart.
• Endless more unique colors, however, can be achieved by mixing parts of one dye block with another dye block in wax.
• All these dye color blocks are compatible with each other in wax.
• The dye blocks work well in all kinds of paraffin or naturally derived waxes. They may look somewhat different in different kinds of wax.
• Look at each dye block in the color chart and see how the colors change with different dye concentrations in wax. For example; Red Block #1 looks like a deep Ruby Red Color with 1 block in 5 lbs of wax under the heading of “Dilution 1.” When you use less dye in the wax by doubling the wax ratio to one Red Block #1 in 10 lbs of wax instead of 5 lbs of wax in the “Dilution 2” heading, the color becomes Scarlet Red. Upon further dilution in the “Dilution 3” heading using only ½ block in an even larger amount of 15 lbs of wax the color becomes a typical Christmas Red color. Suppose you want to make only 5 lbs of Scarlet red under “Dilution 2” instead of 10 lbs. Cut the block in half at the score mark on the block and use only half of the block in 5 lbs of wax to achieve “Scarlet Red,” and so on.
• Looking for a darker or dirtier color? Add a small piece of Black Block #27 to your dyed wax.
• Most people add ivory (see Block #24) or vanilla color (see Block #26) to their vanilla, or French vanilla fragranced candles.
• Whitener Block #28 produces Snow White candles made from fully refined paraffin wax and NO fragrance. Sometimes you can achieve a whitening effect with fully refined paraffin wax that contains a water white fragrance. Testing is required. Fragrances that have color in the wax completely lose the whitening effect.
• ALL DYES FADE over a period of time. Light color shades appear to fade faster than strong dark color shades. Sometimes light colors fade in only a few hours when they are sitting in the sun.
• If you use ultraviolet light absorber Blocks #29 or #30 as directed, you will extend the light fastness of your candles dramatically - perhaps to several months vs. several hours or days.
• UV Absorber Block #29 and #30 both prevent fading of all candle colors. Keep in mind that Block #29 is particularly effective with candles containing blue dye and Block #30 is particularly effective with candles containing red and/or yellow dye.
• Want even better light stability? Use 2 or even 3 blocks in 5 lbs of wax.
• We recommend not over-heating dyes in wax. Excessive heat can oxidize the wax (turn it yellow) and have a deteriorating effect on dyes. Most candle makers work at temperatures under 180 to 200 degrees F.
• Color representations in the color chart are meant to be a guideline only.
• Colors may vary depending on the type of wax and/or fragrance used.