Jessie Taylor
Making candles with essential oils is a fun and easy DIY project that can be done at home. You can use natural ingredients like soy wax, beeswax, or coconut wax, and choose from a variety of essential oils like lavender, grapefruit, eucalyptus, rosemary, or sweet orange to create your desired scent. To make these candles, you'll need a heat source, a pot, wicks, jars, and a stirring device. The process involves melting the wax, adding essential oils, securing the wicks, pouring the mixture into jars, and letting it cool. It's important to note that the quality of essential oils should be high, and checking their burning point is crucial. These candles make great gifts and offer aromatherapy benefits, but caution should be exercised around pets, especially cats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Wax, wicks, essential oils |
| Wax | Soy wax flakes, beeswax, coconut wax |
| Wick | Natural, hemp-based, unwaxed cotton, wood |
| Essential oils | Lavender, grapefruit, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon-lavender, cypress-clove, patchouli |
| Equipment | Double boiler, crock pot, pot for boiling water, candy thermometer, weighing scales, spatula, jars |
| Tips | Melt wax first, add 80-100 drops of essential oil, secure wicks with wax, cut wick to desired length, let stand for an hour, cure for 2 weeks |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right wax for your candle
Choosing the right wax is essential for making candles with essential oils. Soy wax is a popular choice for candle-making with essential oils. Soy wax flakes burn cleaner than other waxes, releasing little soot, and are non-toxic, so they won't release toxins as they burn. Soy wax is also a good carrier of scent, allowing your candle to have a stronger fragrance.
Beeswax is another option, and it has a beautiful glow, but it doesn't hold scents from essential oils as well as soy wax. Paraffin wax holds the most scent as the candle burns, but it doesn't burn as cleanly as beeswax or soy wax. Coconut wax is also an option, but some find it has an unpleasant chemical smell.
When choosing wax, it's also important to consider the melting point. Soy wax melts fairly easily over low to medium heat. Beeswax can be melted in a double boiler or crockpot. It's also important to let the wax cool before adding essential oils; the ideal temperature range is between 130°F and 150°F.
The quality of the essential oils is also crucial. Pure essential oils are recommended to avoid producing toxins when burnt. Some essential oils have a better scent throw than others; for example, lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus have strong scents. It's also important to consider the burning point of each essential oil, as this can vary.
Lastly, it's worth noting that making candles with essential oils can be more challenging and expensive than using fragrance oils, as essential oils are lighter and require more oil per ounce of wax to achieve a noticeable scent. However, fragrance oils are manufactured with synthetic compounds, while essential oils offer aromatherapy benefits.
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Selecting the best essential oils
Purity and Quality
It is important to choose pure essential oils that are free from artificial additives or fragrance oils. Ensure that the oils are of high quality and do not produce toxins when burnt. Check the burning point of each essential oil, as it varies; for example, lavender burns at a lower temperature than sweet orange.
Scent and Potency
Select essential oils with scents that appeal to you and are suitable for the purpose of the candle. Some common scent profiles include citrus, floral, herbal, and festive spice notes. Consider the potency of the oils; stronger oils like lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus have better scent throw, while more subtle floral or herbal oils may require more drops.
Aromatherapy Benefits
Essential oils are often associated with aromatherapy and wellness. Choose oils with desired therapeutic benefits such as invigorating and healing properties (e.g., mint and eucalyptus) or relaxing and calming effects (e.g., lavender).
Cost and Availability
Essential oils can be expensive, especially if you require a large quantity for a strong scent. Compare prices and look for affordable options, such as box sets or individual bottles from specific brands. You can also opt for fragrance oils, which are cheaper and designed for candles, but they may contain synthetic compounds.
Safety Considerations
If you have pets, especially cats, be cautious when using essential oils. Straight, concentrated essential oils can be dangerous to cats if inhaled as they can build up to toxic levels due to their unique physiology. Always use essential oils in a well-ventilated area and follow safety guidelines.
When selecting essential oils, consider the scent, therapeutic benefits, cost, and safety. By choosing pure and high-quality oils with desirable scents and therapeutic properties, you can create scented candles that are both enjoyable and beneficial for your well-being.
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Blending essential oils for scent
When blending essential oils, it is important to understand the health benefits of each oil and the sensation they bring to the mind and body. For instance, mint and eucalyptus are invigorating and healing, while cinnamon and orange bring festive scents.
It is also important to note that essential oils are very dangerous to cats if inhaled. Cats lack the ability to filter inhaled essential oils from their kidneys and liver, which can rapidly build up to toxic levels.
When creating your own blends, it is recommended to start with fragrances with which you are already familiar. Having knowledge of how a standalone scent performs regarding cold and hot throws will help you perfect your desired blend more easily.
Some unique blend ideas from fellow candle makers include orange blossom and hydrangea, leather and Egyptian amber, oakmoss and amber, watermelon and fresh-picked cucumber, and many more.
When it comes to blending fragrances, there is no right or wrong. As you begin working with scents regularly, your nose for fragrance will become more refined, and you will be able to tweak fragrances to your own tastes and create your own candle scents.
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Preparing wicks and jars
Firstly, ensure you have the right wicks and jars. Natural wicks made from hemp or wood are recommended as traditional wicks can release butane gas when burned. You can purchase a pack of 100 wicks, which often come with stickers and a wick holder. For jars, you can repurpose any glass jar with a wide enough mouth. Old mason jars are a perfect option, but be sure to clean and dry them before use.
Next, prepare your wicks by anchoring them to the bottom of your jars. You can use a bit of melted wax or glue to secure the wicks in place. Center and glue the wicks to the inside bottom of the jars, using wick stickers or a glue gun. Alternatively, you can use a chopstick or pencil to anchor the wick by taping it upright to the chopstick, ensuring it remains straight.
Once your wicks are secured, you can prepare your jars for pouring the wax. A helpful tip is to add the wax pellets directly into the jar and place the jar in simmering water to melt the wax. This method simplifies the process and reduces cleanup. However, if you prefer to melt the wax separately, you can do so in a double boiler or crockpot.
After your wax is melted, ensure it cools to the recommended temperature range of 130°F to 150°F before adding your essential oils. This temperature range is crucial to ensure the oils blend properly with the wax.
Finally, carefully pour the wax into your prepared jars. Fill each jar to the desired level, leaving some space at the top. Allow the wax to cool completely before trimming the wicks to the appropriate length.
By following these steps for preparing wicks and jars, you'll be well on your way to creating beautiful and fragrant essential oil candles.
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Melting wax and adding oils
Melting wax and adding essential oils is a crucial step in making scented candles. The process involves heating the wax, adding the desired number of essential oil drops, stirring the mixture, and then pouring it into containers. Here is a detailed breakdown of the steps:
Melting the Wax
Start by melting the wax in a pot or double boiler over low to medium heat. Soy wax is a popular choice due to its clean-burning properties and ability to hold scents well. However, you can also use beeswax or coconut wax. If using a pot, stir the wax with a wooden or disposable stirring device, as candle wax tends to stick to most materials. A silicone spatula can also be used, but wood is preferable as silicone is porous and may absorb some of the oils.
Adding Essential Oils
Once the wax has melted, it's time to add your chosen essential oils. Allow the wax to cool slightly before adding the oils. The ideal temperature range is between 130°F and 150°F (57.2°C to 85°C). The number of drops of essential oil needed can vary from 80 to 240 drops per candle, depending on the type of oil and its potency. For example, strong-scented oils like lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus will require fewer drops compared to more subtle floral or herbal oils. Always check the recommended usage percentage on the candle-approved essential oil product page and start with low percentages to avoid unpleasant results. It is important to note that essential oils vary in density, so measuring by weight is more accurate than measuring by drops.
Stirring and Pouring
After adding the essential oils, gently stir the mixture for about 2 minutes to ensure the oil is fully incorporated into the wax. Then, carefully pour the scented wax into your chosen containers, such as mason jars or upcycled glass jars. Center and secure the wicks to the bottom of the jars using a bit of wax or glue before pouring in the wax. Tape the wicks upright to a horizontal chopstick or pen/pencil to keep them in place while the wax sets.
Setting and Curing
Let the candles stand until the wax solidifies, which typically takes about an hour. Finally, trim the wicks to the desired length, being careful not to cut them too short. Allow your candles to cure for at least two weeks before burning to ensure optimal performance and scent throw.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need wax, wicks, a disposable stirring device, a chopstick or pencil, and essential oils. You can use soy wax flakes, which burn cleaner with little soot and are non-toxic. For wicks, opt for natural, hemp-based wicks. You can use essential oils like lavender, grapefruit, and eucalyptus.
You will need a pot for melting the wax, a candy thermometer, weighing scales, a silicone spatula, glass jars, and a hot plate or double boiler.
First, melt the wax in a pot over low-medium heat. Once melted, add 80-102 drops of essential oil and stir. Let the wax cool to 150°F before adding essential oils. Then, anchor the wicks to the bottom of the jars using wax or purchased anchors. Tape the wicks upright to a horizontal chopstick or pen. Finally, pour the wax into the jars and let them stand until solid.
Essential oils offer aromatherapy benefits, whereas fragrance oils often contain synthetic compounds. Essential oils are natural and can provide health benefits such as invigorating and healing properties. They also allow for customisation as you can substitute different essential oils to create your desired scent profile.
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