Making your own candles is very fun, easy, and cost efficient. Here are instructions on how to make your own scented or non-scented candles! These make a great gift idea, and I’ve received some lovely candles from nurses on my floor around the holidays. Candles are fairly inexpensive, and yet can add so much charm or fragrance to a room.
Ingredients for Candles & Wax
- Wax- Paraffin wax or Bee’s wax which can be found at any hobby store, such as Michaels®, Wal-mart®, or online. (if you plan on making many candles you will probably want to check out eBay® or a local suppliers for wholesale lots.
- Pouring Pot- this is a regular metal cooking pot with a handle that is used to melt the wax.
- Thermometer- Wax or Candy thermometer which can also be found at any type of hobby store.
- Heating source- household stove will work just fine
- Candle Wick- this can also be found at any type of hobby store.
- Color Chips- this can be liquid or solid chips. Types of scent if desired- this can be bought in liquid (potpourri) or solid form. Note that liquid scents last longer but are sometimes harder to use.
- Container-Choose a type of mold or a jar for your candle type. You can use just about any kind of glass or metal jar. Just make sure that the container will not melt or catch fire when you pour in the hot wax. Canning jars (such as mason or ball jars) are frequently used by candle makers.
Instructions on How to Make Candles
Gather everything together so it will be handy when you need it. Think about the mold type or jar size you are going to use so you will know how much wax to melt. Typically a pound or 1/2 pound of wax will work for a regular sized jar.
Place your wax into the melting pot with the stove temperature on medium to medium-high. Then clip the thermometer onto the side of the pot.
Then let the wax melt in the pot but don’t let the thermometer get past 300’F because wax can catch fire.
While the wax is in liquid form stir in your color chips. Add however much color you would like. Remember the more color you add the darker it will become because as the wax cools it becomes darker. So add the color little by little until you achieve the desired look.
If you are making scented candles it is time to add your scent. If you want a strong scented candle add about an ounce of scent and for a more subtle scent add less than an ounce. Do this by stirring it into the liquid wax.
Now it is time to add your wick. If you are using a jar hold your wick into the jar while slowly pouring the wax into it. Make sure your wick is about 2-3 inches longer than your jar size (if it is too long you can always cut it when the wax has cooled). When pouring the wax into the jar be sure to do it very slowly to avoid air bubbles. If you choose to do a mold follow the instructions that came with the mold.
Time to let your candle cool! It might take up to a day for your candle to be completely cooled, depending on your candle size. Sometimes while the candle is cooling it will sink in the middle because the wax is settling. If this happens just keep adding wax to it. You might have to do this several times with larger candles.