Candles are a great way to bring light and fragrance into a room, and making them yourself is a fun craft project. Making your own homemade candles is so much fun and a great project in your life.
To get started, all you’ll need is wax, a candle mold, a wick, and any candle fragrance oil or color you want your candle to have. Once you’ve made your candles, use them to decorate your home or give them to friends and family as gifts.
The first thing to consider for beginners when making homemade candles is the type of candle wax you want to use.
Paraffin wax has been the industry standard for candle-making for a long time. It works best for throwing smells, is inexpensive, and may be used for both molded and unmolded candles.
When solid, beeswax is golden, hard, and somewhat sweet. It works well to make natural, odorless, colorless candles that may be shaped into pillars or placed in jars. Some people think the flame is longer-lasting and brighter than soy wax.
On the other side, soy wax is a biodegradable, renewable, and healthy substance. It works best for colored and scented candles since it is white when solid, burns clear, and retains smells longer than beeswax. It also burns up to 50% longer than paraffin wax. However, it is softer than beeswax, so it is not as great for pillar candles without added paraffin wax.
The idea of a craft that involves heat can be a little intimidating, but candle-making can be as simple or as adventurous as you want it to be. You can follow the straightforward process, which consists of just a few steps, or add your flourish with scent, layering, multiple wicks, and more.
The process of making a candle is so simple and easy that even a DIY beginner can handle it. It's something you can enjoy doing even with older kids. Don't overthink it or try to perfect it the first time; that's what practice is for.
Only a few supplies are needed for homemade candles, and while they may not be regular household items, they're easy enough to find.
Heat-proof container: You’ll only need a few common supplies: a double boiler, a heatproof container, a thermometer, and a spatula. If there’s no double boiler, you can use a saucepan and a larger cooking pot as a double boiler.
Molds, containers, or jars: What type of candle do you want to make? For pillar candles, you’ll need molds. Silicone candle molds come in plenty of designs and shapes. Now, if you want to make container candles, you can use glass jars, metal tins, or any heatproof container.
Wax: Candle wax comes in a great variety: paraffin, soy wax, beeswax, coconut wax, etc. But whatever type of wax you use, always get a good-quality one so your DIY candle burns cleanly and slowly.
Thermometer: Use a thermometer to check the wax temperature.
Wicks: Pre-waxed candle wicks are the best, as they burn better. You’ll also need hot glue to attach the bottom of the wick if you’re making container candles.
Colors: If you want colored candles, use candle dye.
Candle fragrance oils or essential oils: You can add any essential oil or candle fragrance to the homemade candles. You can choose the scent depending on the situation and the occasion.
Measure out your wax. The easiest way to do this is to fill the container that will become your candle with the wax pellets. Then, use your scale to find the weight so you know how much fragrance oil to use.
In your melting pot, add the wax.
In your larger pot, add enough water so it will cover your melting pot at least halfway.
Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat. This is essentially a double boiler that you might use to melt chocolate. While you can melt the wax in the melting pot directly, using a double boiler ensures the wax doesn’t overheat.
Heat the wax up to 185°F. Use your thermometer to check.
Stir in the fragrance oil so it gets well distributed.
Turn off the heat and allow your wax mixture to cool to 125°F before pouring. You can add dried flowers to the melted wax, and you will have more original and beautiful homemade candles. If desired, add candle dye to the melted wax. Stir thoroughly to ensure an even distribution.
While the wax melts, add your wick to the container. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to stick the metal bottom of the wick to the bottom center of the container. Then, use a clothespin or stick to wrap the top of the wick around so it will stay centered once you pour in the wax.
Pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts around, fix it while the wax is still hot and very liquid.
Once your candle hardens, you’re ready to trim the wick and use it.
Remember to follow safety precautions when working with hot wax, and enjoy the creative process of making your homemade candles!
