FOOD OR FLAME? HYPER-REALISTIC CANDLES LOOK GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A wax artist has left fans second-guessing their eyes with her newest batch of hyper-realistic candles, shaped like sushi, pies, hearty dinners, and even a dolphin.
Kaylee Castleberry, 31, from South Texas, USA, has become known online for her uncanny candle creations that look more like mouthwatering meals than home décor.
Her latest works include a sushi roll candle, a cherry pie candle, a pecan pie candle, an oyster and sweetcorn candle, a waffle with cream and strawberry candle, a beef, rice and bean dinner candle, a curry and rice candle, and even a big fish candle that she’s considering transforming into a swordfish or baby dolphin.
The attention to detail is striking sushi rice made from gel wax pressed through a noodle maker, realistic “soy sauce” mixed from melted wax and dye, and tiny textured touches that make her work nearly indistinguishable from actual food.
Kaylee first began candle-making full-time after losing her job in 2021 and has since built her brand, Cravings for Candles, into a viral success.
She now has hundreds of thousands of followers across social media, captivated by her lifelike creations.
While some of her food-style candles can be made in just six hours, others take up to six days depending on the complexity. But every piece, she says, is worth it:
Viewers flooded the comments with admiration, many confessing they had to do a double-take before realizing the meals were wax.
Despite critics and copycats, Kaylee keeps pushing forward.
She told followers: “This isn’t for the ones who joke around and say they ‘hate’ my work, I love that satire. This is for the ones genuinely pressed that there isn’t just one wax creator in the world.
“I was stuck making dessert candles and wax melts for way too long.
“Something about Covid inspired me to push outside the box into hyper-realistic food and then animals. I’m so glad I did.
“Smells as good as it looks."
“Never ate sushi in my life but I did my best imitation.”
“I try to be original and not rely on molds. My freehand approach lets me mix textures, experiment, and make something people haven’t seen before. The little details are what fool the eye.
"Working with wax is liberating, therapeutic, and gives me pride in creating something that makes people smile.”
"Don’t compare yourself. Fail, try again, repeat. Talent is often created, not born.”
One fan wrote: “Wow this is insane! You are so good! My brain is like IS IT CANDLE? IS IT CAKE?”
Another joked: “I love your videos even though they make me so hungry .”
ENDS
