To make centering easier, mark the bottom of the holder with a red or black marker right in the center. The wick should then be placed on top of the mark. Leave the wick long enough to reach outside of the holder. You will trim it later. To melt the gel, cut it into small strips. For best results melt it in a double boiler at medium heat. Pillar candles are beautiful. The simple design fits well with the d cor in any room of your home. These candles make excellent gifts and center pieces. Pillar candles are easy to make and the supplies are inexpensive. This makes pillar candle making an excellent project, hobby, or money making project. The classic collection of Prairie candles come in 5 sizes and 36 fragrances. Choose from 4.5 ounces, 10 ounces, 10.5 ounces, 16 ounces, or 26 ounces. The fragrances include some classics such as cinnamon and vanilla. There are some very original scents as well including cucumber melon and orange sherbet. Too much heat will cause a column candle made of bees wax to ooze all over, creating a mess as well as a candle that isn t too pretty to look at. To ensure the design of your column candles is perfect, coat the inside of the molds with a special spray for them. You can also get the same results using a non-stick cooking spray. You will need a double boiler for the wax, quality wax, dye, and fragrances if you desire to use it. It is best to get wicks with tabs for making this type of candle. For container candles, you can use either paraffin wax or bees wax. Melt the wax in the double boiler to a temperature of about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The wider the candle jar, the wider you need your wick to be for the candle to burn evenly. Cooling candles is an area of trouble for many beginners. Don t rush the cooling process or you will damage the hardness of the candle. Forcing the candle to cool will also result in bubbles forming in the top and middle of the candle.