Maddie James
Making candles is a fun and therapeutic activity that can be done at home with a few basic supplies. You'll need a stovetop or something similar to melt the wax, a pot and bowl for a double boiler, a spoon for stirring, a thermometer, and popsicle sticks or pencils to centre and stabilise the wick. Common waxes for candle-making include soy, coconut, paraffin, and beeswax, and you can add essential oils or fragrance oils to create scented candles. Once you've gathered your supplies and decided on your desired scent, you're ready to start melting the wax and creating your own customised candle!
How to Make Candles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | 20 minutes |
| Supplies | Jar, wax (beeswax, soy, coconut, paraffin, or a blend), wick, pot, essential or fragrance oil, stovetop or slow cooker, spoon, thermometer, wick stickers, popsicle sticks or pencils, food-grade scale |
| Steps | Melt wax in a double boiler, stir in oil, pour into vessel, centre wick with a straight object, trim wick, cure for 24 hours to several weeks |
| Notes | The ratio of wax to oil should be 93:7, too much oil can cause beading and black soot, natural oils are weaker than fragrance oils, dried herbs can be used but provide little fragrance |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right wax
The type of wax you choose for your candles will depend on your preferences for naturalness, cost, and scent. Common waxes for candle-making include soy, coconut, paraffin, beeswax, or a hybrid blend. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right wax for your candles:
Naturalness
If you prefer a more natural option, soy wax and beeswax are good choices. Soy wax is natural but often comes in blends, so be sure to check the label. Beeswax is also natural and has a subtle sweet fragrance, but it can be more expensive.
Cost
In terms of cost, paraffin wax is the most economical option, but it is derived from petroleum and is less natural. Soy wax is usually more affordable than beeswax, so it can be a good middle ground between cost and naturalness.
Scent
The type of wax you choose can also affect the scent of your candle. Beeswax has a subtle sweet fragrance, so if you want a stronger scent, you may want to choose a different type of wax or add fragrance oils. Keep in mind that the hotter the melting point of the wax, the smaller the scent throw will be.
Availability and ease of use
Paraffin wax is commonly used in candle-making and is widely available. Soy wax is also a popular choice and is recommended for beginners. Both paraffin and soy wax are easy to work with and can be purchased in kits or individually.
When choosing the right wax, consider your priorities for naturalness, cost, scent, and ease of use. You can also experiment with different types of wax to find the best option for your specific candle-making project.
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Preparing the wick
Firstly, choose the right type of wick for your candle. Wicks come in different materials, such as paper, cotton, zinc, or wood. The size of the wick will depend on the size of your candle vessel and the amount of wax you are using. If you're using a larger vessel with more wax, you'll need a bigger wick to ensure that the candle burns effectively. On the other hand, if you're making a smaller candle, opt for a thinner wick.
Once you've selected the appropriate wick, use wick stickers to secure it to the base of your vessel. This will ensure that the wick stays in place while you pour the wax and as the candle burns. Center the wick using a straight object like a pencil or popsicle stick. It's important to get the wick as centered as possible to ensure even burning.
If you're making scented candles, consider the fragrance when preparing the wick. Heavier fragrances and darker colours may require a larger wick to release the scent effectively. Test the wick by burning the candle and observing if the fragrance is being released as desired. If not, you may need to adjust the wick size or type.
After pouring the wax into your vessel, allow it to cool completely. This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the temperature and type of wax used. During this time, the wax will harden, and you can then trim the wick to the desired length, usually about 1 inch. Trimming the wick ensures a clean and even burn when you light the candle.
Finally, cure your candle by letting it rest for at least 24 hours before use. Curing allows the fragrance oils and wax to marinate together, enhancing the scent throw. This process also ensures that the wax is fully hardened, resulting in a longer-lasting candle.
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Adding scent
Adding a scent to your candle is one of the most important steps in candle-making. The type of fragrance you choose can significantly impact the overall experience your candle provides. Fragrance oils and essential oils are the most commonly used options for candle-making.
Fragrance oils are designed specifically for candle-making and can be found in a wide variety of scents. When using fragrance oils, the recommended ratio is 1 ounce of fragrance oil per 1 pound of wax. This ratio is important to ensure your candle has a strong, clean-burning scent.
Essential oils are another popular choice for candle scenting. Common essential oils used for candles include lavender, grapefruit, and eucalyptus. Essential oils can be trickier to work with than fragrance oils, as their properties vary from oil to oil. It is recommended to use 80-100 drops of essential oil, depending on the type and potency of the oil.
When adding scent to your candle, it is important to allow the wax and fragrance to cure together. This process improves the strength of the scent. It is recommended to cure your candles for at least seven days before lighting them.
Soy wax is a popular choice for candle-making as it transmits the scent of essential oils extremely well, providing many options for personalizing your candles.
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Curing the candle
Curing a candle is the process of allowing it to cool, harden, and condense after it has been made. This process ensures that the fragrance molecules are evenly distributed throughout the candle, enhancing its scent throw. The length of time required for curing depends on the type of wax used and can range from a minimum of 48 hours to up to two weeks or more.
During the curing process, candles go through a two-stage crystallization process. In the first stage, the liquid wax turns into a solid. The second stage is more subtle and involves the formation of a crystalline lattice that traps the fragrance molecules. This process usually takes 48 hours to complete, after which the lattice structure remains stable.
For vegetable waxes, it is recommended to cure for 10 to 14 days to achieve optimal scent throw performance. These types of waxes continue to harden over time, and the candle-making community believes that most of the hardening occurs within the first 14 days. However, changes can continue for weeks to months after pouring.
The curing environment is crucial. Candles should be cured at room temperature, away from windows and drafts that can cause rapid cooling. Using a wire rack instead of a solid surface is recommended, as solid surfaces can absorb heat and cause uneven cooling. Additionally, ensuring a consistent warm temperature in the curing room can help slow down the setting process. Preheating glassware in a warm oven or with a heat gun can also prevent poor glass adhesion.
While curing is essential for optimal candle performance, it is a subjective process that varies among candle makers. The fragrance and strength of a candle are challenging to quantify, and smaller candle-making operations often rely on subjective rating scales from various people to determine the scent's strength.
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Troubleshooting
Frosting
Frosting is a natural occurrence in soy wax, caused by crystals forming in the wax due to temperature fluctuations. While it doesn't affect how the candle works, you may not like the look. To reduce the appearance of frosting, try the following:
- Experiment with pouring the wax at slightly higher or lower temperatures.
- Preheat the glassware before pouring the wax.
- Keep the candles in a draft-free area on a wire cooling rack to cool slowly and evenly.
- Leave your candles their natural colour, as dyes can make frosting more noticeable.
- Modify your wax by adding paraffin or coconut wax to reduce the chance of crystals forming.
Cracks
Cracks are caused by the candle wax cooling down too quickly once poured. To avoid this, cool the candles at a steady room temperature of around 18°C-20°C.
Tunneling
When your wick burns a hole down into the candle and the melt pool never reaches the edge, this is known as tunneling. This is caused by a wick that is too small, not creating enough heat to melt the wax to the edge of the candle. To fix this, make another candle using a bigger wick and keep increasing the size until the candle burns to the edge of the vessel. It's recommended to burn your candle for around 3-4 hours on the first burn so that the wax can reach as close to the edges as possible.
Wick goes out
If your wick goes out shortly after lighting, this is likely because you've cut the wick too short. To fix this, light the wick again and gently tip the molten wax around the rest of the candle.
Wet spots
Wet spots are where the wax hasn't adhered to the glass properly. To reduce the likelihood of wet spots, pre-heat your glasses before pouring the wax.
Jump lines
Jump lines are visible lines on the outside of your candles or through the glass of container candles. This is caused by pouring the wax too hot and can be avoided by warming up your candle container before pouring.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need wax, a double boiler, a container, a wick, and fragrance oils.
Soy wax is a popular option for candle-making because it is eco-friendly, holds fragrance well, and has a long burn time. Beeswax is another natural option, but it is not vegan-friendly. Paraffin wax is cheap and holds scent and colour well, but it releases harmful fumes and is not eco-friendly.
You can use old jars, teacups, tins, coconut shells, or small glasses. Avoid using plastic, terracotta, or wood.
You can add fragrance oils or essential oils to your melted wax. You can also add dried flowers or dried petals from your favourite bouquet to the side of the container.
You should let your candle set for at least four hours, but preferably 24 hours, before trimming the wick and lighting it.
