How do I add characteristics to my products?

I want to add some characteristics to my products, but it doesn't seem to work for me. This is what I do:
1- create the Characteristic: -> color
2- add values to it: -> red, white, blue
3- save the characteristic.

1- Create a product.
2- go to specifications
3- add the characteristic I need
4- set the value of the characteristics
5- save the product.

Now I go to the frontend, and look at the product.
I see a button options, but when I click I go to the product.
The characteristics aren't there.

How do I add this to the products?

Thanks for the very past reply!
Where can I find that "variants" tab? It's not on the product page.
In the documentation variants points to specifications: www.hikashop.com/support/support/documen...ct-form.html#variant
And specification points to variants: www.hikashop.com/support/support/documen....html#specifications