Gourmand candles win people over with their visual realism and the power of their scents. Genuine scented trompe-l’œil pieces, they have become original decorative items, often chosen to stand out from the crowd.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make a panna cotta-style candle, a perfect project to brighten up your home or to give as a personalised gift.
Please note
This candle is not intended for sale. The law sets strict rules for handmade creations that imitate food products. We’ll come back to these regulatory points a little further on.
For more creative DIY projects, take a look at our recipe “how to make a pumpkin candle”.
Panna cotta candle recipe
This project is designed for personal use only, as some of the decorative elements do not meet the standards required for sale.
What you’ll need
- A clear container that looks like a dessert glass
- Container candle wax (here, olive wax for its smooth, natural finish)
- Wax for moulded candles, for the strawberries
- 7 to 10% “strawberry” fragrance oil for a gourmand scent
- A wick suited to the diameter of the container
- Red liquid dye (strawberries and jelly)
- Paraffin gel for the translucent “coulis” effect
- Strawberry-shaped mould
- Beaker for melting and mixing the wax
- Wick centring tool for perfect positioning
Step by step
For the strawberry-shaped wax melts
1. Melt the wax for moulded candles until it reaches its working temperature.
2. Add the fragrance oil, then stir gently for 2 to 3 minutes so that it blends in thoroughly.
3. Add the red dye until you get the shade you want. Stir again for an even colour.
4. Pour the mixture into the strawberry mould and leave it to harden completely.
Tip: for an ultra-realistic finish, vary the intensity of the red on some of the strawberries by adding a little uncoloured wax for an ombré effect.
For the white panna cotta layer
1. Prepare your container by sticking the wick in the centre. A wick centring tool will help you keep it straight while you pour.
2. Melt the container candle wax, then add the fragrance oil as soon as the wax reaches the right working temperature. Stir for a few minutes to make sure the fragrance is fully incorporated into the wax.
3. Pour the melted wax slowly into the container to avoid air bubbles, then leave it to cool until it has set completely.
For the paraffin gel coulis
1. Melt the paraffin gel in a bain-marie at around 70°C.
2. Add a small amount of red dye to get a translucent shade that mimics a real fruit coulis.
3. Once the gel has cooled slightly, pour it carefully over the top, around and over the strawberries to create a glazed topping effect.
Leave everything to cool for several hours before lighting your candle. And there you have it: an original, mouth-watering candle!
Gourmand candles: a must-have trend
These creations are a real hit because they instantly conjure up the world of sweet treats. They borrow the visual codes of pastries, sweet drinks, cakes and fruity desserts.
The Iced Latte candle
Perfect for summer, this candle recreates the look of an iced coffee and gives off a fresh, energising scent.
The Cappuccino candle
In autumn or winter, nothing is more comforting than a candle reminiscent of a steaming cup of hot chocolate, wrapping your home in a cosy atmosphere.
Gourmand candles and selling: what you need to know
Making a gourmand candle for yourself or as a gift is no problem at all. Selling them, however, is subject to very strict safety rules designed to protect consumers.
The regulations to follow
- Decorations (wax fruit, chocolate bars, etc.) must be firmly embedded, with no risk of them coming loose.
- No element may pose an ingestion hazard for a child (anti-choking standard).
- Decorations must not protrude from the container, to rule out any risk.
If in doubt, the DDPP (Direction Départementale de la Protection des Populations, the French consumer protection authority) remains the reference body for checking that your creations comply.
Conclusion
The panna cotta version shown here is ideal for personal use and for gifting. If you plan to sell, it is essential to comply with the safety and labelling requirements that apply to candles imitating food products, to protect both your customers and your brand. To take things further and vary your creations, also discover our tutorial: Make a Christmas tree candle with a whipped wax snow effect.
