you can carve a design or scratch the candle with different things, i tried a grill brush, then rubbed with brown cake shoe polish back in january. rubbing with liquid dye works well too, but will stink for a few days. then the scent comes back. cinnamon or spices work, but they don't always stick as well. you can dip a candle in hot wax, then quickly roll in ground spices, then overdip again for a nice rustic primitive look too. i just got in my order of taper candles this week for this look. i wiped off the escess shoe polishon this one, but you can get a grungier look bu leaving more polish on. i know there is a walnut brown ink powder that i have heard of for prim crafts, i wonder if that might work too.