3 Ways to Make Jet Black Concrete Candle Jars
If your black concrete candle jars are coming out patchy, gray, or just plain ugly… you’re not alone.
Many creators chase that deep, true black finish—but end up with something closer to storm cloud gray. It’s frustrating, especially when your vision is bold, sleek, and stylish.
The truth? Most people don’t realize there are a few key techniques that actually work. So if you’re tired of wasting pigment and time, let me walk you through three proven methods to get that bold black concrete jar look—no guesswork required.
Let’s go.
Coat It, Don’t Mix It
This one’s easy—and surprisingly effective.
Instead of trying to get the perfect black by mixing pigment into your concrete, just paint it.
Seriously. Brush it on or spray it. Boom—instantly black (Click here for the paint I use.)
The best part? You don’t need a new jar. In fact, this is a great way to rescue the jars you messed up. People always ask me what to do with mistakes. This is one of my go-to fixes.
Paint recommendation: Use black acrylic paint.
Why acrylic? Because other types of paint often come with strong, even toxic fumes—even the ones labeled “non-toxic.” You don’t want to inhale that stuff, and you definitely don’t want your customers breathing it in while burning a candle.
So use acrylic. It’s easy, effective, and safe when sealed properly.
Dye It Dark With Rit
Yep—Rit Dye. The same stuff you used in high school to tie-dye a t-shirt can give your concrete a rich, dark tone.
How to do it:
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Heat water until it’s hot (but not boiling)
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Pour it into a small bucket and stir in Rit Dye
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Dunk your concrete jar in the dye bath
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Let it sit for a few minutes
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Pull it out, let it dry completely
That’s it. (Click here for the Rit Dye I use.)
This method is simple and surprisingly effective. You won’t get jet black, but you will get a solid, rich dark tone that’s different from paint—and adds character.
Mix It to Fix It (With Supra Black)
If you’re looking for that true black concrete jar from the inside out, this is the way to go.
You’ll need a high-quality black pigment. Most pigments disappoint—but Supra Black from Globmarble delivers.
“So black, even Idris Elba would say, ‘Now that’s black.’”
Here’s how I do it:
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Add water to your mixing bowl
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Stir in Supra Black pigment (I use 3% pigment-to-powder ratio)
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Add in your Cement All or Hydrostone
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Mix until it’s a smooth, smoothie-like consistency
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Pour into your silicone mold
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Wait 3 hours, then demold
Pigment math:
If your mold takes 380g of Cement All, then 3% = 11.4g of pigment. Round up to 12g and you’re good to go.
This gives you a beautiful deep black jar—no paint, no dye—just black through and through. (Click here for Supra Black)
The Results: Which One Wins?
Let’s line them up:
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Painted
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Rit Dyed
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Pigmented (Supra Black)
Here’s what they look like raw. And here’s what they look like sealed.
Which one do you think looks best?
Which method gives the best value? The most vibrant finish? The most versatile option?
Let me know in the comments—I love hearing your thoughts, and who knows, you might help someone else figure out their next favorite method.
Bonus Tip:
Whichever method you choose—don’t forget to seal your jars. That final step protects your finish, boosts color vibrancy, and makes everything look more polished and professional.
Happy creating,
If you’d like to see the Youtube version of this blog post click here.
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