DIY Candles: Create Your Own Soothing Home Aromas with Simple Steps

Making your own candles can be immensely satisfying and fairly easy. It’s also a great way to make gifts for friends, family members or even as favors at special events. Candles come in all colors, scents and sizes, so you can customize them to fit any kind of occasion. There are three primary ingredients necessary for candle making – wax, wick and color or scent.

To begin, decide what type of wax you want for your candle. Paraffin is the most common choice, but is petroleum based, so if that is a deal breaker for you, then there are plenty of other options, such as beeswax and soy-based wax. Most of these candles are available in pellet form, which you can find at craft stores. Unexpected things happen when you start to melt wax, so make sure you cover a large area with craft paper, newspaper or a drop cloth for when the mess starts to accumulate.

To melt the wax, use a classic double-boiler method. To do this, place a large pot of water on the stove and a smaller pot of water with the wax inside the larger pot. As the water boils, the wax will start melting. Pour the melted wax into mason jars or decorative glass jars, remove the lid and then prepare the wicks. Take the metal wick holder and attach the wick. Cut it so the wick will be around 3 inches longer than the height of the glass jar, and then dip the holder in melted wax and place it on the inside bottom of the glass jar. Once the wick is in position, you can add a few drops of your favorite scent or color. Be sure to add it slowly, as you can always add more.

After the wax has cooled off slightly, it’s time to pour it into the jar. Do this slowly and carefully to prevent splashing onto yourself or other areas. You can use a writing utensil or something that is thin and not too long to wrap the top end of the wick around it, before placing it across the top of the jar. This will help keep the wick upright, so that the candle can cool and harden around it properly.

Once your candle cools, it may shrink and it is a good idea to top it up a little. Allow it to cool again. If you are making pillar candles, it’s time to remove the candle from the mold and this can be a tricky process. Go slowly and carefully and you should have no problems.

Now you have a great-smelling, amazing looking candle. That you can display with pride and use for special events, or even give away as gifts. Making your own candles is a lot of fun and what could be more satisfying than being able to show off your handmade creation. Plus, you can make them exactly the way you want them and they will turn out beautifully.
Making your own candles is an incredibly satisfying and fulfilling activity—not to mention it’s also a great way to give unique and eye-catching gifts. It doesn’t have to be difficult either. All you need are some basic supplies, a little bit of knowledge, and a bit of patience to make your own candles.

Let’s start by considering what kind of candle maker you want to be—that means choosing your wax base. Paraffin wax is the most commonly used and is still what most commercial candles are made of, but it is made from petroleum, which is a major drawback for some. Beeswax is an alternative to the standard paraffin and it is easy to work with, although it is an animal by-product so it might not suit everyone’s tastes. Soy wax is a third and increasingly popular option that has gained popularity in recent years. All these different wax materials can be purchased in pellet form at craft stores, specifically designed for people who make their own candles.

To get started, clear off an area for a dedicated workspace and cover the surface with craft paper, newspaper or a drop cloth. You’ll need a double-boiler set up to melt the wax—this means placing a large pot of water over the stove and a smaller pot of wax pellets inside this first pot. As the water boils, the wax will melt.

Once the wax is melted, it’s time to pour it into mason jars or decorative glass containers. Make sure the lids are off so the wax can easily be poured in. You’ll also need your wick ready by this point. Attach the wick to the metal wick holder and cut it so it’s three inches longer than the height of the container. Dip the holder into your melted wax and place it in the center at the bottom of the glass jar.

Now it’s time to add some fragrance and color. Add fragrance oil slowly until you reach your desired aroma. For anyone who wants to add color, you can easily do so with both liquid color and wax-based color, slowly adding to the melted wax until you reach your desired color. If you don’t want to use liquid or wax color, you can always try shredding wax-based crayons into the wax to give it more colorful hues.

At this stage, you’ll want to move the wax away from the heat to cool slightly, before pouring it into the jars. As you pour the wax, be sure to do it slowly and carefully to avoid any splashing of hot wax as it’s being poured.

Once the jars are filled, you’ll need to wrap the wick around a writing utensil, then place it across the top of the jar. This will keep the wick upright and will allow the candle to cool and harden around it with the wick rising from the center.

Finally, wait until the wax has cooled down and hardened sufficiently, and then you have your own handmade candle. If you’re making pillar candles, wait for them to cool until the candle can be removed easily from the mold.

Making candles is fun and rewarding. The best thing is you can customize it to your own tastes and preferences in terms of color, fragrance, and shapes. Once you’ve got used to the process, you can make as many candles as you like and give them away as unique gifts or keep them for yourself.