Brooke Martin
Making your own candles is a fun and simple DIY project that can be taken up by beginners. You can use natural ingredients like beeswax, soy wax, or paraffin wax, and add essential oils or fragrance oils to make scented candles. The process is straightforward: melt the wax, add the fragrance, and pour the mixture into a heat-proof container with a wick. You can use a stovetop, oven, or slow cooker to melt the wax, and the whole process should take around 20 minutes. Once the candle has hardened, trim the wick and it's ready to use!
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right wax
When it comes to choosing the right wax for candle-making, there are a few common types to consider:
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural option that has a subtle sweet fragrance without the need for added oils. However, it tends to be more expensive than other types of wax.
Soy Wax
Soy wax is another natural choice and is usually more affordable than beeswax. It's important to check the label, as it often comes in a blend.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is the most economical option but is the least natural of the three.
Coconut Wax
Coconut wax is also an option, though less commonly mentioned than the others.
The type of wax you choose will depend on your preferences for cost, natural ingredients, and fragrance. It's worth noting that the hotter the melting point of the wax, the smaller the scent throw, or the radius around the candle where the scent can be detected.
When measuring out your wax, it's recommended to fill your chosen container with wax pellets and then use a kitchen scale to find the weight. This will help you determine the appropriate amount of scent oil to add. The standard ratio is 93% wax to 7% fragrance oil, as adding too much oil can lead to issues like liquid beads of oil pooling on the candle's surface and increased black soot production.
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Picking a container
There are a few things to consider when choosing a container for your candle:
- Size: The container should be large enough to hold the desired amount of wax. A standard candle size is 8 ounces, but you can also find smaller jars in 4-ounce sizes or larger jars in 12-ounce sizes.
- Material: The container should be made of heat-proof material, such as tempered glass or metal. It should also be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the wax and withstand the heat of the melted wax.
- Shape: The container should have a wide enough opening to easily pour in the wax and insert the wick. A narrower container will create a taller, thinner candle, while a wider container will create a shorter, wider candle.
- Colour and design: The container can be clear or coloured, plain or decorated. This is a matter of personal preference and can be chosen to match the fragrance or aesthetic of the candle.
Some popular options for candle containers include mason jars, jelly jars, and tins. You can also recycle heat-proof containers from your home, such as glass jars or metal cans. If you plan to sell your candles, you may want to consider purchasing containers from a supplier that match your brand or aesthetic.
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Adding fragrance
The most popular choice is fragrance oil, which is designed specifically for candle-making. You can find almost any type of fragrance oil, from lavender to cotton candy. The ratio of wax to fragrance oil is important if you want to make a strong-scented and clean-burning candle. Most candles perform best when the wax accounts for 93% of the candle and the fragrance oil accounts for the remaining 7%. If you add too much oil, you may see liquid beads of oil pool on top of the candle, and the candle may produce black soot. It's best to follow the brand's recommended dosage on the package.
You can also use essential oils to add fragrance to your candle. These are a more natural option and can be used in the same way as fragrance oils.
Another option is to use dried herbs such as crushed roses, lavender, or rosemary. However, these don't provide much fragrance, and you'll need to be careful when burning the candle.
Finally, you can use scented wax, such as beeswax, which has a subtle sweet fragrance without adding oil.
Once you've added your chosen fragrance, it's best to let the candle "cure" for at least 24 hours or up to 7 days before use, to improve the strength of the scent.
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Centering the wick
Using Metal Wick Tabs or Double-Sided Tape:
Place metal wick tabs at the bottom of your jar or container. These add weight to the bottom of the wick and provide a larger surface to centre the wick accurately. You can use double-sided tape to secure the wick tab to the centre of the jar.
Glue Dots or Wax:
Apply a small amount of glue or a few drops of wax to fix the wick tab at the centre of the jar's bottom before filling it with wax. This ensures the wick stays in place.
Wick Pin or Oblong Clip:
Use a wick pin, especially if you're working with wicks like cotton, flat braided, or round wicks. This ensures the wick is centred in the candle. Alternatively, for votives, try the 33mm oblong clip, which fits perfectly at the bottom to keep the wick centred.
Paper Cutout:
Create a paper cutout of the bottom of your jar. This helps you visualise and mark the centre accurately. You can also use tape to attach the wick to the paper cutout, making it easier to position the wick centrally and hold it in place while you pour the wax.
Tweezers and Melted Wax:
If you notice your wick is off-centre after burning the candle, extinguish the flame immediately. Dip long tweezers into melted wax about 1/4" to 1/2" deep, then gently guide the wick towards the centre. Allow the wax to solidify completely before lighting the candle again.
EZ Wick Setter:
If you're working with multiple wicks, the EZ Wick Setter is a useful tool. It comes in 1- and 3-wick varieties and can be modified for multiple wicks, making it easier to centre them accurately.
Remember, centering the wick is crucial for the candle's performance and safety. An off-centred wick can cause uneven burning, excessive soot, and even cracking of the glass container due to intense heat.
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Trimming the wick
Firstly, always trim the wick to about 1/4 of an inch. This is the ideal length for the wick to draw up the wax and produce a steady flame without burning too hot. If the wick is too long, it can cause the candle to burn too quickly, produce black soot, and even be a fire hazard.
You should trim the wick when the candle is hardened and before each time you light it. By trimming the wick before each burn, you remove any carbon build-up from the previous burn, which helps to reduce soot and improve the quality of the flame.
When trimming, use a straight object like a pencil or a ruler to measure the correct length, and a sharp pair of scissors or wick trimmer to cut the wick cleanly. Be careful not to cut the wick too short, as this can cause the candle to tunnel straight down the middle without creating a proper melt pool.
If you're using a container candle, such as a candle in a mason jar, be mindful of the size of the wick. A wick that's too big can cause the candle to burn too hot, wasting wax and burning off the fragrance before it can be enjoyed. Similarly, if the wick is too small, it may not create a large enough melt pool to release the fragrance effectively.
Finally, always allow your candle to cure for at least 24 hours, or even up to 7 days, before lighting it for the first time. This curing process allows the fragrance oils and wax to fully blend and intensify in scent.
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