Case Study: Turning a Designer Bag into a Sculptural Candle

Custom molded candles · bespoke silicone molds · sculptural soy candles — made in Croatia, shipped worldwide.

When a fashion house asked us to translate their new designer bag into a limited-edition sculptural candle, we set out to do more than copy a shape—we aimed to capture feeling: the soft leather grain, the confident silhouette, the way the light rolls over its curves. Below is the full process—from brief to burn test—plus practical takeaways if you’re considering a similar custom candle project.

The Brief

Goal: Create a giftable, photogenic bag-shaped candle for a product launch and influencer PR kits.
Constraints: Iconic silhouette with handle/strap details; compact enough for desks and shelves; clean burn for staged photos; brand-matched color.
Targets: 9–12 cm wide, 7–10 cm high (handle included), 250–400 g finished weight, soft matte finish, optional subtle scent.

Assets received: Front/side reference photos and logo vector; later, a simplified STL of the bag.

IP & Approvals (Important)

We obtain written permission to reproduce the product’s design and any brand marks. If you’re a brand or agency, include this in your brief. If you’re a private client, we’ll guide you on what’s feasible without infringing on protected trade dress.

1) Discovery & Feasibility

We confirm:

  • Size & weight (affects wick choice and cooling cycles)

  • Undercuts (handles/straps), plan for a multi-part mold

  • Finish (smooth matte vs. subtle leather texture)

  • Color (brand PMS-adjacent in wax-safe pigments)

  • Quantity & deadline (launch date drives mold count and shift planning)

  • Packaging (belly band vs. rigid box, tissue, care card)

2) Digital Development: CAD + Sculpt

Because the bag had crisp geometry and soft organic transitions, we used a hybrid approach:

  • CAD (NURBS) to lock clean planes, edges, and symmetry

  • Digital sculpt to add softened fillets and material feel (subtle leather grain)

  • Candle engineering baked in: stable base, wall thickness for even melt, hidden wick channel and ideal center of mass

We slightly exaggerated certain radii so details would read in wax under ambient light.

3) Master Making: Print, Prep, Perfect

We 3D-printed a high-resolution master, then hand-finished:

  • Progressive sanding & sealing to remove print lines

  • Edge crisping where light catch was essential

  • Micro-texture tests (too much = visual noise; too little = flat on camera)

4) Mold Engineering: Platinum-Cure Silicone

Handles create undercuts, so a multi-part platinum-cure silicone mold was essential:

  • Registration keys for repeatable alignment

  • Integrated funnel + micro-vents to eliminate trapped air at the handle roots

  • A rigid mother-mold shell to keep geometry true during casting

  • Seam placement mapped to natural shadow lines for easier finishing

Result: a production-ready mold that demolds cleanly and preserves fine detail.

5) Wax, Wick & Color: Built for a Beautiful Burn

We chose a soy-forward blend for matte elegance and structural integrity, tuned to the bag’s volume.

  • Wick: matched via test burns to prevent tunneling or sooting

  • Color: brand-adjacent hue mixed with wax-safe pigments (accounting for wax’s natural opacity)

  • Finish: soft matte; optional scent kept low to protect color fidelity

6) Prototyping & Burn Tests

We cast test pieces and ran 2–3 burn cycles:

  • Checked flame height and melt pool spread

  • Verified handle regions remain visually intact longer (staged-photo window)

  • Tuned cooldown to minimize surface bloom and frosting

  • Confirmed seam lines finish to a “gallery-clean” surface in minutes

7) Production & Quality Control

To hit the deadline without rushing cool cycles, we increased mold count and staggered pours.

  • Cycle time per unit tracked (pour → cool → demold → trim)

  • Every piece inspected against a QC light rig for micro blemishes

  • Final polish: seam refinement, base flattening, dust-free packing

8) Packaging & Unboxing

We proposed two routes:

  1. Minimal kraft box with embossed sticker, tissue, and care card

  2. Rigid gift box with custom insert, foil-stamped sleeve, and QR to campaign landing page

Both options photograph beautifully and protect the candle in transit.

Outcome

  • Launch-day photos and PR kits showcased a recognizable, luxurious silhouette that read as “the bag” even at candle scale.

  • Influencer unboxings highlighted the tactile matte finish and surprise factor.

  • The client retained molds for future small runs (VIP gifting & boutique retail).

Want this for your campaign? We’ll scope your design, share early feasibility notes, and quote good / better / best options to fit budget and timeline.

What We Learned (Tips for Brands/Designers)

  • Keep thin elements compact. Very fine straps should be merged into the body or supported to avoid breakage.

  • Mind the base. A wider, subtly weighted base improves stability and burn profile.

  • Color tests are crucial. Wax shifts color; always prototype the exact hue under daylight and warm indoor light.

  • Plan photography windows. If you need the object to look pristine for hours, we’ll tune wick/volume for slower visual change.

  • Start early. Extra time = better texture mapping, cleaner seams, and smoother logistics.

Commission Your Custom Candle

Share your brief via our Contact page:

  • Size (L×W×H) & target weight

  • Photos or STL/OBJ

  • Quantity & deadline

  • Color/scent & packaging prefs

We’ll confirm feasibility, pricing, and a production schedule.
Based in Kastav, Croatia. Small-batch craftsmanship. Worldwide shipping.

Suggested Images & Alt Text

  • Hero: “Designer bag sculptural candle—matte soy wax, brand color.”

  • Detail: “Multi-part platinum-cure silicone mold with integrated funnel and vents.”

  • Process: “3D printed master for custom candle—edge refinement in progress.”

  • Lifestyle: “Bag-shaped candle on desk—launch PR gift for brand activation.”

  • Packaging: “Rigid gift box with foil sleeve and custom insert—custom molded candle.”

FAQ (for this project type)

Can you replicate my product exactly?
Yes—with rights holder permission. We’ll optimize features for wax so it looks faithful and burns cleanly.

What file formats do you accept?
STL/OBJ for 3D, and SVG/AI/PDF for logos or embossed details.

Typical lead time?
Depends on complexity and quantity; many projects land in 3–6 weeks from approved design. Tight launches are possible with added molds and staggered shifts.

Minimum order?
We quote low MOQs for launches and larger runs for retail/corporate gifting.

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