Chloe Adams
Candles are a great way to add a cosy ambiance and scent to your home. Making your own candles is a fun and therapeutic craft that can be as simple or complex as you like. You can make candles in a variety of shapes, colours, and scents, or even create your own unique designs using moulds. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, there are many different ways to make candles at home. You can use a variety of waxes, such as soy, beeswax, or paraffin, and add essential oils or fragrance oils to create scented candles. You can also decorate your candles with dried herbs, crushed flowers, or coffee beans to make them look and smell even better. Candle-making is a great way to get creative and make personalised gifts for your loved ones.
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What You'll Learn
Candle-making supplies
To make candles, you will need a few basic supplies. Firstly, you will need wax. Common types of wax include soy wax, paraffin wax, beeswax, coconut apricot wax, and coconut blend wax. You can purchase wax from candle-making suppliers, either in bulk or smaller quantities.
Next, you will need a heat source to melt the wax, such as a stovetop, oven, or melting pot. If using a melting pot, you will also need a larger pot to create a double boiler. You can also use the container that the candle will be poured into as your melting pot.
You will also need a container for your candle. Glass jars are a popular option, but you can also use moulds to create shaped candles. Candle moulds can be purchased from candle-making suppliers or created at home using items found around the house.
Fragrance oils can be added to your candles to make them smell wonderful. These can be purchased from candle-making suppliers, and the amount you need can be calculated based on the weight of your wax.
Finally, you will need wicks for your candles. These can be purchased from candle-making suppliers, and you may also need to trim them after your candle has hardened.
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Choosing a wax
When choosing a wax for your ephemeral candle, there are several factors to consider. These include the type of candle you want to make, your budget, the strength of the fragrance, and how eco-conscious you want your candle to be.
Paraffin wax is the most common type of candle wax and is often used in luxury candles due to its excellent colour and fragrance retention. It is also the least expensive option in most cases. Paraffin wax is versatile and can be used to make many types of candles, including pillars, containers, votives, tealights, tapers, and tarts. It has a relatively low melting point, which allows the candle to melt efficiently. However, it is not the most eco-friendly option, as it is derived from the oil industry byproducts, and it tends to produce more soot.
Soy wax is a natural wax made from soybeans, a renewable and eco-friendly source. It offers a slow, steady burn and is great for container candles such as jars, tins, or teacup candles. Soy wax is generally more budget-friendly than paraffin wax, but it may be more difficult to work with as it is temperamental with temperature changes and can shrink and 'frost'. It also doesn't hold fragrance and colour as well as paraffin wax. However, it is a good option for wax melts as it has a slower melting point and burns more slowly.
Beeswax is one of the oldest forms of candle wax and has been popular for centuries. It is made by bees during the honey-making process, so it is natural but not vegan. Beeswax has a subtly sweet natural scent and a tougher, more solid nature. It has the longest burn time and produces a warm-toned flame that doesn't give off any smoke, making it ideal for pillar and taper candles as it doesn't drip much.
Other types of wax include coconut wax, palm wax, rapeseed wax, gel wax, and blended wax. Coconut wax is often blended with soy wax to produce high-quality candles with excellent scent throw and a smooth finish. Rapeseed wax is another eco-friendly option with excellent burn time and fragrance retention. Gel wax is made from mineral oil and a polymer resin and is used to make translucent container candles.
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Preparing the wick
To prepare the wick for your candle, you will need to decide on the type of wick and wick size. The type of wick you choose will depend on the type of wax you are using and the size of your candle.
There are many different types of wicks available, and the right one for your candle will depend on the type of wax you are using. For example, if you are using beeswax, you will need a different type of wick than if you are using soy wax. You can consult a wick guide to help you choose the right type of wick for your candle.
The size of the wick is also important. The wick needs to be thick enough to burn the wax effectively, but not so thick that it produces smoke. As a general rule, the thicker the wick, the larger the flame and the faster the wax will burn.
Once you have chosen the type and size of the wick, you will need to prepare it for use. This involves cutting the wick to the correct length and then securing it in place in your mould or container. If you are using a mould, you will need to thread the wick through a small hole in the bottom of the mould and secure it with a knot or a small amount of wax. If you are using a container, you can simply glue or tape the wick to the bottom of the container.
It is important to ensure that the wick is centred and secure before pouring in the wax. This will help to ensure that your candle burns evenly and that the wick does not shift around as you are pouring the wax.
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Adding scent
To add a scent to an ephemeral candle, you can use fragrance oils or essential oils. Fragrance oils are synthetically created and can be purchased from most major home décor or candle retailers. Essential oils can be purchased from craft stores.
When adding fragrance oils, light your candle and let it burn until about an inch-deep pool of wax has formed around the wick. Blow out the candle and add 3-4 drops of fragrance oil for a light scent. If you want a stronger scent, add several more drops. Stir the wax with a toothpick, then let it cool and harden.
If you are using essential oils, the process is slightly different. First, attach a wick to the bottom of a heatproof container. Then, add twice the container's volume of wax flakes to a double boiler over high heat. When the wax reaches 185°F (85°C), stir in your chosen essential oil. Take the double boiler off the heat and let the wax cool down to the same temperature. Once it has cooled, pour the wax into your container, leaving a space of about 1/2-1 inch between the wax and the lip.
You can also add natural scented ingredients to your candle, such as dried flowers, crushed herbs, cinnamon sticks, or cloves. These ingredients will not only add a pleasant scent but also decorate your candle.
It is important to note that different types of wax have different maximum fragrance capacities. In general, most waxes will not hold more than 12% fragrance. Soy wax, for example, can hold up to 10% fragrance, while beeswax has a lower capacity due to its natural honey scent. Paraffin wax holds scent the best but is made from petroleum and can release chemicals and soot. Therefore, it is important to read the instructions for your chosen wax to ensure optimal scent throw and candle stability.
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Pouring and curing
Once you have gathered your candle-making supplies, including wax, a wick, a melting pot, a larger pot, and a container, you are ready to start pouring your candle. The amount of wax you will need can be measured by filling your container with wax pellets and then using a kitchen scale to find the weight. This will tell you how much scent oil to use.
Place your wax in the melting pot and add enough water to your larger pot so that it will cover the melting pot halfway. Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat to create a double boiler. Stir the wax with a heat-resistant spatula to ensure even melting.
If you are using soy wax, be aware that it has a slower burn time than other types of wax, so your candles will last longer. It is also biodegradable and renewable, producing very little soot when burned. Beeswax, on the other hand, has a higher pouring temperature and can shrink slightly as it cools. It is harder than soy wax, making it ideal for pillar candles and taper candles.
When your wax is melted, you can begin pouring it into your chosen container. Remember that larger containers will yield bigger candles with longer burn times. You can repurpose old jars, teacups, or tins to reduce waste and give your candles a unique, vintage charm.
After pouring your candle, it will need to cure. Allow the candle to harden, and then trim the wick before burning. The curing process may vary depending on the type of wax and the size of your candle, but it typically takes several hours to a few days for the wax to fully harden.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a stovetop or something similar to melt the wax, a jar, wax (soy wax or beeswax), a wick, essential oil or fragrance oil for scent, and a pot.
First, measure out your wax by filling your container with wax pellets. Then, add the wax to your melting pot. Next, pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts, fix it while the wax is still hot. Once the candle hardens, trim the wick and it's ready to use.
Fragrance oils are the strongest scent option. Dried herbs like crushed roses, lavender, or rosemary may also be used, but they don't provide much fragrance.
