You know the smell. It’s a mix of cold December air, slightly damp lawn, and that specific, plasticky scent of a 40-watt bulb heating up a hollow polyethylene shell. If you grew up in a neighborhood where every third house had a pair of glowing, five-foot-tall wax-lookalikes flanking the driveway, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Christmas candle blow molds are basically the soul of mid-century Americana, and honestly, they’re making a massive comeback that has nothing to do with "ironic" decorating.
People are tired of those inflatable lawn decorations that deflate into a sad, soggy pile of nylon every time the power goes out. They want something substantial. Something that clunks when you drop it.
The blow mold isn't just a decoration; it's a survivor. These things were manufactured by the millions between the 1960s and the early 2000s by companies like Union Products, Empire, and General Foam Plastics. While many of those companies have shuttered or changed hands—Union’s molds were famously saved by Cazenovia Equipment before being acquired by Bethany Lowe Designs and later Roseland—the secondary market for vintage pieces is absolutely exploding.
The Plastic Magic of the Mid-Century Porch
Why are we so obsessed with these hollow plastic pillars? It’s probably because they represent a time when things were built to be simple. A blow mold is created through a process called extrusion blow molding. Imagine a hot tube of plastic (a parison) being dropped into a metal mold, then air blasting it outward until it hits the sides. That’s it.
It’s efficient. It’s durable. It’s why a candle from 1974 can sit in a basement for three decades, get bitten by a squirrel, and still glow perfectly when you plug it in today.
Vintage Christmas candle blow molds come in a dizzying array of styles. You’ve got the classic "dripping wax" look, where the plastic is molded to look like melting tallow. Some have holly sprigs at the base. Others are mounted on faux-gold pedestals. The "Empire" brand was particularly known for its vibrant paint jobs, though if you find one today, the red has likely faded to a soft pink or "salmon" color due to UV exposure. That’s not a defect; collectors call that "patina," and it’s how you know you’ve got the real deal and not a modern reproduction.
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Most of these candles stand between 36 and 48 inches. They’re tall enough to be seen from the street but light enough that a toddler could carry one (though they shouldn't, because of the wiring).
Identifying the Legends: Empire vs. Union Products
If you’re hunting at a flea market or scrolling through eBay at 2:00 AM, you need to know who made what. Don’t just look at the price tag. Look at the bottom.
- Union Products: Don Featherstone is the name everyone knows—he’s the guy who designed the iconic pink flamingo. But Union’s Christmas line was just as legendary. Their candles often have a more "sculpted" feel.
- Empire Plastics: Based out of Tarboro, North Carolina, Empire was the king of the blow mold world for years. Their candles often feature more intricate bases. Look for the "Empire" stamp near the cord hole or on the very bottom.
- General Foam: When Empire went bankrupt in the early 2000s, General Foam Plastics picked up many of the molds. They kept the dream alive for a new generation before they, too, ceased production around 2017/2018.
Here’s a tip: check the light kit. Original vintage pieces used a C7 or C9 bulb—the same ones from old-school string lights. Modern replacements often use LEDs, which is safer and keeps the plastic from warping, but some purists swear the "warm" glow of an incandescent bulb is the only way to light a blow mold. Just don't put a 100-watt bulb in there. You'll literally melt the face off your Santa or the "wick" off your candle. Stick to 40 watts or lower.
Why the Market is Aggressive Right Now
It’s not just nostalgia. It’s supply and demand. For a few years in the late 2010s, it was almost impossible to find new blow molds in big-box stores. Everything was fabric or inflatable. This created a vacuum.
Collectors started hoarding. Then, companies like Vermont Country Store and Cracker Barrel realized people were hungry for the "old look" and started commissioned new runs using the original molds. But the "new" ones feel different. The plastic is sometimes thinner. The paint is often applied by machines with less "character" (read: mistakes) than the hand-painted versions from the 70s.
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A vintage 39-inch Empire candle might go for $50 to $80 at a garage sale, but on specialized collector forums, rare colorways or pristine "New Old Stock" (NOS) pieces can fetch double that. If you find a pair with the original boxes? That’s the jackpot.
Restoring Your Find (Don't Use Harsh Chemicals!)
So you found a pair of Christmas candle blow molds at an estate sale. They’re covered in dirt, spider webs, and maybe some mystery grime from a damp garage. Do not—I repeat, do not—hit them with a power washer or harsh bleach immediately.
The paint on vintage blow molds is notoriously "flaky." Over time, the bond between the paint and the slick plastic weakens. If you use a high-pressure hose, you will blast the "flame" right off your candle.
Instead, use a soft microfiber cloth and some warm, soapy water. Dawn dish soap is the gold standard here. If there are black scuffs from being moved around, a "Magic Eraser" can work, but be extremely gentle. You are basically performing surgery on a piece of plastic history.
For the electrical parts, honestly, just replace the cord. You can buy "blow mold replacement cords" at most hardware stores or online for about $7. It’s not worth risking a house fire over a 40-year-old socket that’s been chewed on by a mouse.
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The "Candle in the Window" Tradition vs. The Yard
There’s a weird sub-sect of blow mold fans who argue about placement. Some people think the large candles belong strictly on the porch. Others insist they need to be grouped in "clusters" of three or five to create a focal point in the yard.
Then you have the smaller, tabletop blow mold candles. These are usually 12 to 24 inches. They were designed to sit in windows, mimicking the old tradition of placing a real candle in the window to welcome travelers. Using a blow mold version meant you didn't burn your curtains down.
Where to Buy Without Getting Ripped Off
Honestly, the best deals are still found in the wild.
- Estate Sales: Look for houses that haven't been updated since 1985. Check the basement or the rafters in the garage.
- Facebook Marketplace: Use search terms like "plastic light up candle" or "vintage yard decor" instead of the specific "blow mold" keyword. People who don't know what they have will list them cheaper.
- Thrift Stores: It's rare now because employees often know to price them higher, but you can still get lucky in July. Nobody wants to buy a 4-foot plastic candle when it's 95 degrees out. Except you. You should buy it then.
The Future of the Hobby
We are seeing a massive resurgence. Companies like Union Products (under new ownership) are back in production, using the original molds to create "new vintage" pieces. This is great because it makes the hobby accessible again. You can go to a store and buy a brand-new candle for $40 rather than fighting someone on an auction site.
But for the purists, the hunt for the originals will never end. There’s something about the weight and the smell of the old plastic that just hits different.
If you're looking to start your collection, start with the candles. They are the "gateway drug" of the blow mold world. They’re symmetrical, they fit anywhere, and they look classy even if you’re not a "tacky" decorator. Just be warned: once you buy two, you'll suddenly find yourself needing a Santa, three reindeer, and a full nativity scene.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
- Inspect the base: Before buying, check for "crushing" at the bottom. Blow molds were often weighted with sand or water, and if that froze, it could split the plastic.
- Test the light: Always bring a spare C7 bulb to a flea market to test the socket if there's an outlet nearby.
- Storage matters: Never store your candles in a hot attic during the summer. The heat can cause the plastic to soften and sag, leading to "leaning" candles that look like they've had one too many eggnogs. Keep them in a cool, dry basement or a climate-controlled shed.
- Secure them: Since they are light and hollow, they act like sails in the wind. Use a rebar stake driven into the ground, and "thread" the candle over it through the hole in the bottom. This keeps them from blowing into the neighbor's yard during a blizzard.
The world of Christmas candle blow molds is a deep dive into nostalgia, but it's also a community of people who just want their holidays to glow a little brighter. Whether you're a hardcore collector or just someone who wants a bit of that childhood magic on your front step, there's no wrong way to do it. Just plug it in and let it glow.