Ready to learn the candle making basics? If you want to get started on being self-sufficient, candle making should be on your list. Stop buying candles and learn how to make them. It’s not really as hard as you think. You can even customize the color and scent. How fun is that? So let’s get started and find out how to make candles today!
Candle Making Basics | How To Make Candles
You’ve read a million articles on how to make the best homemade scented candles, and you still don’t understand the process? Here is a straightforward tutorial filled with tips and tricks to get you a homemade scented soy candle worthy of a gift! You won’t be sorry when you discover the simplicity of candle making.
It takes a bit of an initial investment, but if you’re looking for a fun hobby to pass the time, this is it! Check out all of our secrets on candle making by following this quick and easy tutorial! Fill your house with homemade candle this summer. Have fun and happy candle making!
Don’t forget to check out the lovely shop farrroutscents!
Supplies:
- For Pillar Candles: Aluminum molds are used to make pillar candles as well as wax tarts, to make either of these you can purchase them here.
- Molding Clay: Found at Jo-Anne Fabric
- For Container/Jar Candles: You can use recycled wine bottles if you have the knowledge of how to cut them (you can watch a video here) but takes some practice and patience to get right, I suggest starting with an old container of salsa or a mason jar both can be purchased at any Target or Jo Anne Fabrics for mason jars.
- Wick Bars: you can find these online as well at here or you can use pencils and wrap the wick around the pencil and wrap the wick around that.
- Wick Tabs: you can find these at Jo-Anne fabric
- Hot Glue Gun: again at any Jo-Anne Fabric
- DOZEN JAR VALUE PACK - Includes 12 refillable hex jars and 12 gold lids
- MULTI-USE - Use for wedding & party favors, spices, jams & jellies, baby food, candle jars and more.
- SIX-SIDED: Hexagon shape is elegant, functional & decorative.
For Both:
- Scale: you need a kitchen scale to weigh out your soy wax and fragrance oil
- Small Pan: This will be used along with the aluminum pour pot for the double boiler method
- Thermometer: Find this in any Target or Supermarket
- Aluminum Pour Pot: This is what you melt your wax in, it can be found in any Jo-Anne Fabric
- Soy Wax: You can find fantastic all natural pillar and soy wax online, the brand I use for my online candles shop is eco soya cb-excell and the eco soya pillar soy wax. You can find that here or you can go to any Jo-Ann’s Fabric, Michaels etc. and find soy wax there as well.
- Fragrance Oil: there is the big argument over whether or not to use fragrance oil vs. essential oils, in my opinion fragrance oils made by here are specifically designed to be safe for use in candles, using essential oils takes away from the world’s supply and can cause headaches when burned.
- Duct Tape
- Wick: There are many types of wicks, my recommendation and the only wick I will use at Farr Out Scents is hemp wick dipped in beeswax; it is sustainable and clean burning. You can get this on an Etsy shop here.
- These candle wick tabs are constructed from metal and are 19 mm (.75 inches) in diameter. The central hole is 0.19 inches (5 mm) which is suitable for medium sizes of candle wicks.
- A MUST HAVE for Homemade Candles
- These wick tabs are great for both wick stickers and wicks. You can pre-measure and cut your wicks. Then thread them through the wick tab, pinch the center with a pair of plyers, and tape to the bottom of your candle jar.
Step 1
Weigh out your soy wax using your kitchen scale and aluminum pour pot. Make sure you put the pour pot on the scale and zero it before pouring soy wax in. The equation for ounces to grams is 1oz=28g.
Step 2
Weigh out your fragrance oil- you will want to do 12% of your total wax amount used for a strong scent throw and 9% for a milder scent throw.
Step 3
Melt your wax using a double boiler method (this is when you use a small pan). Melt your soy wax to 180 degrees Fahrenheit and then turn of the burner right away to start the cooling process before you add your fragrance oil.
Step 4
Let your soy wax cool slightly about 60 seconds and then pour in your weighed fragrance oil.
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Step 5
Stir in the fragrance oil using a metal spoon for 2 minutes- this is important because the fragrance oil needs to be evenly displaced in your wax to make sure your oil doesn’t pool at the top of your candle once cooled and poured.
- Candle Wax Dye Pack - 5 vibrant colors that can be combined to create unlimited shades of candlemaking colors - Green, blue, red, yellow, red violet
- Each candle color dye block has 12 cubes - enough for 4-6 lbs of wax depending on your desired color intensity
- Better than candle dye chips, liquid gel or color chips - Easily dividable for 1lb of wax or smaller for less-intense colored wax to create the desired pigment
Step 6
At this point you want to turn on your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and put your glass containers or metal molds (in the picture shown we used recycled wine bottles that have been cut and sanded) in the oven while your wax cools. Your container and wax should be as close in temperature as possible to get a smooth candle.
Step 7
When your wax has cooled to 110-135 degrees Fahrenheit take each container out separately and string the hemp wick through the wick tab and using the hot glue to attach the wick tab to the container.
- Take this modeling clay back home and let your kids do some ornaments for decoration, isn't that interesting? Keep kids occupied with the clay and stay away from electronics, it is great for sensory development and play based learning!
- Non-toxic: strictly complies with the ASTM D-4236 and CE (EN-71) standards and requirements.
- This air dry modeling clay is very soft to the touch, non messy, and doesn't leave residue at all. Air dries completely in 24 hours.
You can then use your wick bar or pencil/pen hold to hold the wick(s) in place and use duck tape to hold the wick in place. Make sure to center wicks perfectly I use a wooden ruler to make sure that it is perfect.
Step 8
Time to begin pouring! You will want to pour very slowly so that your candle doesn’t have a caved in “hole” on top which affects the overall look. Make sure to leave an inch or so at the top of the candle and you need to let cool for two days before it is ready to be burned. You can also add a personal label using your own printer and sticker paper.
- •QUALITY: Candle molds are made of an engineered plastic. The material is resistant to high and low temperatures (from -4 to 248 °F). These are the ultimate quality for your candle making whether you are new at this or with a lot of experience.
- •CONSTRUCTION: The molds are divided into two parts: the body and the lid, to make it easier to comfortably take a candle out. Candle molds are for paraffin, wax, beeswax. The molds are extremely durable. Will last a lifetime.
- •Safety: We offer molds for candles of caprolon engineering. They are suitable for casting paraffin, wax, beeswax and other bases. Caprolon is very durable and the molds can be reused multiple times. The molds can withstand high and low temperatures without damage and/or cracking. There is no harm from the materials used.
You can find the finished product on my sustainable online candles shop (farroutscents.com)
Want to see another cool DIY candle? Then check out this cool DIY water candle from DIY bama:
Are you going to try making your own candles? Let me know how it went below in the comments!
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It’s duct tape not duck tape. I can’t let you go through life saying duck tape. One day you will thank me.
can you use paraffin. I dont use it anymore to can with. I have a lot to throw away or use somehow.
This is extremely helpful. Thank you!