Curious about how to make candles? Well, you are definitely not alone. Candle making is an activity that can be fun and also quite lucrative as a business.
Creating your own candles is cost-friendly and allows you to choose specific scents and colours so you aren’t exposed to a bunch of unknown chemicals.
Before you get started, make sure you have the following items ready in the right quantities:
- One pair of chopsticks (and pencils when necessary)
- One heat-proof container
- One package of wax
- One package of large candle wicks
- One container of fragrance oil
- One spatula
- One double boiler
- One thermometer
How To Make DIY Candles: 8-Step Tutorial
The task of acquiring, assembling and experimenting with how to make candles may seem daunting to a first-timer, but we are here to make the process a little less worrying. Just follow the instructions and recommendations.
Outlined and explained below are the steps of how to make candles:
Step 1: Measure the Wax You Will Use
Ensure that you have a clean and even surface to work on before you start the candle-creating process. With newspapers or paper towels, you could protect the area you are working on. If you don’t want wax getting on your personal belongings, move them away from the work area.
Double the amount of wax it would take to fill out your container. Keep in my that this is the amount of wax you will eventually need to meltdown.
Step 2: Melt the Wax
It is time to get your double boiler involved. Pour the wax into it and let it melt for 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure you stir it from time to time.
Step 3: Add Fragrance Oils
Done that? Good! Now, it is time to add fragrance oils. On your wax package, you will see directions on how much to put in it. Stir for a few seconds when pouring fragrance oils into your wax.
Step 4: Attach the Wick
At the bottom of your container, your wick needs to be attached. This should be done before pouring in the wax.
Quickly stick your wick to the bottom of the container after dipping it in melting wax. Allow the wax to stay for five minutes to get harder. Using glue is also an option if you are new to how to make candles.
Step 5: Pour the Wax
You’ve got to let the wax cool for about 5 minutes before pouring it into your container. Just keep checking your thermometer until the temperature reads 140 degrees.
Once that happens, slowly pour the wax into your container, taking care to hold the wick in place (but not pulling on it).
Add enough wax for your candle to be just about full, but leave a small amount of wax in the boiler for topping off your candle later.
Step 6: Secure the Wick in Place
While you can use a variety of different tools, you can use chopsticks for this step, as they are sturdy enough for the candle-making process and easily accessible.
To get started securing your wick, lay two chopsticks across the top of the container. Sandwich your wick in between so that it stays centred while the wax hardens. Give it four hours to harden at room temperature.
Step 7: Add More Wax
If the top of your candle is hardened with an unpleasant crack or hole, don’t sweat it. You can reheat the candle, add your remaining wax, and let it harden again.
Step 8: Cut the wick
Cut off a little of the wick if the fire of the candle flickers when it is lit or the flame is unusually long.
4 Candle Variations You Should Try Out Right Now.
Scented Candles
As pointed out already in this article, you can add scents when making your candles. However, we would recommend natural oils or fragrant oils that are specially made for candle making (this is to avoid the use of oils that could be flammable and potentially dangerous).
Also, people may be sensitive to certain elements of these oils, so do your research and make sure you’re sure that allergic reactions will not be triggered with your products, especially if you intend to sell the candles.
Colorful Candles
Chopped-up crayons are the way to go. All you have to do is put them in your melting wax during the second stage of our steps of making candles explained above.
About 15 crayons should do the trick per candle. Also, we recommend using colours within the same family if you are still learning how to make candles.
Floral Candles
If you like a little colour in your candles, adding petals is a great way to achieve it. Before pouring the wax into the jar, take a small amount and put it onto the side of the jar.
Then, with a paintbrush, gently press the petals to the site of the container with some wax. You can use just one flower type or mix several different ones. The flower petals you used can also have the fragrance of the candle to match.
Buried Treasure Candles
If you are one for setting up surprises, I bet you will find this one quite interesting.
If you want your candle to be a “buried treasure” candle, add a small modest treasure to the container before you pour in the wax. An example of such a “treasure” could be a small item like a pendant.
Pour wax on top to cover the treasure there. If you want to be able to see the treasure at the bottom of the candle, you can use gel wax instead of normal wax.
If you are newly learning how to make candles, it is important to note that when you put your treasure in the container before pouring in the wax, you might accidentally melt your treasure. We recommend a treasure that is durable and strong enough to withstand the heat of the wax.
Things to Keep in Mind Before and After Making Candles
Cleaning can be complicated after making your candle. We recommend using paper towels to wipe the remainder of the wax off the spoon for stirring, the thermometer, and the melting pot. You can proceed to wash it later.
Keep finished or unfinished candles away from children, pets, and flammable substances.
Never leave a burning candle with supervision.
Brief History of Making Candles
At a point in history, it wasn’t uncommon for a typical household to make its own candles. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to pioneer how to make candles by rubbing plants for wax residue and later by domesticating honeybees specifically for beeswax.
Making candles is one of the oldest crafts in the world. It’s been around for literally thousands of years, and people have made candles out of just about every material you can think of, from wax to fat to tallow to seaweed.
But as with so many other things, it changed with the advent of mass-produced candles in the 19th century. The advent of electricity also didn’t help its cause.
The bigger and more efficient industrialization got, the less need there was for handmade candles. However, it’s still a hobby to many and even a luxury good to some.
Conclusion
Candle making can be a lovely hobby if you are curious about it. And you never know, you might even make some money from those candles!
Ultimately, crafting your own candles allows you to experiment with scents, shapes and designs that are truly your own. So, don’t be afraid to try different things. Keep things innovative, fun, and creative when you are learning how to make candles!
We know you’re excited to make candles, but we also want you to stay safe. Adding scent is a fun way to customize your candle, but we highly encourage you to stick with natural or candle-specific oils, as many popular oils can be flammable and dangerous.
Also, do your research to make sure that none of the ingredients you use will trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitivities. This is even more important if you intend to put the products up for sale.
Happy candle-making!
FAQs on How To Make Candles
How Can I Price My Candles?
Pricing your candles does not have to give you a headache if you are new to how to make candles. Just put the following trio of factors into consideration:
- What market and demographics am I targeting?
- What is the cost of the supplies?
- What does the process of production and logistics cost?
- What will be my net profit?
There is no one way to determine the prices of candles, so you will have to work it out with your objectives and the resources you have at your disposal.
What If I Don’t Like How My Candles Turned Out?
Even the most experienced candle makers still have some unusually lumpy and lopsided candles. So, don’t beat yourself up about not getting it right the first time.
Practice makes perfect. As long as you’re getting commercial or personal value from the candles, enjoy the process and keep working on your craft of how to make candles.
