Simple Steps to Candle Making

Candles are a soothing item you can have in your home that give off wonderful scents and are super simple to make!! A few simple supplies are all you need to get starting making your own candles. Check below for all the fun tips, ideas, and variety of methods you can use to make your own candles at home today.

Tips and Tricks to Making Candles

Candle making is fun, easy, and a great way to give a personal gift to someone, and the best part is that there are endless scents, colors, containers, additives, waxes, and sizes that you can use to personalize every candle you make. Burning a candle gives a soothing effect that everyone can enjoy, plus they are a great item to have on hand if you lose power, since candles have been around since way before the invention of electricity. Now it’s your turn to make your own candle, just like it has been done for centuries and centuries all over the world! Below are some great tips and ideas for a variety of different types of candles you can make and keep, or pass along for a gift.

See post: Erin Reed Makes|How to Make Candles with Paprika and Fresh Flowers

Step 1: Gather the Supplies

There are a variety of different supplies you can use to make candles, but there are a few basics that are needed for any candle. First is a container or mold to set your wax in. You can use a glass jar, votive, an orange, cup, or a mold that is removed when the candle hardens. Really anything works as long as it can withstand the heat from the hot wax, and they all make for wonderful DIY candles. Next is the wax, there are a multitude of different types of waxes that can be used, including paraffin, soy, beeswax, and gels. It only depends on personal preference and your budget, but the good news is they all work great! Next is the wick. You can make your own wick from string or wood, or buy a premade wick. Again this is a personal choice, and they all work great. The heating tools to melt the wax is important. Basically you need a double boiler to melt the wax and a way to pour it into the container.  

See post: Angie CountryChicCottage|How to Make Beeswax Candles in a Jar

Last is all the fun stuff you can add to the candles: from scents, colors, or even fun bits like coffee beans, flowers, herbs, beads, sprinkles and so much more. Each of the choices you make is what makes making candles fun and each one unique. Check out an easy way to add color using paprika and fresh flowers in this candle making video here -  

Step 2: Prepping the Containers

There are a ton of different containers you can use to make candles, and the fun part is that they all look amazing and create a very different look when complete. For any container the first step is to clean it to make sure all the oils, dirt, and residue are removed. A simple wash with soap and water is all that you need to do. Now you can have fun and add things to your container if you wish, like etching the glass or adding on graphics to the front, or just leave the container plain! Next you need to set the wick. Whichever type of wick you choose it needs to be set at the bottom of the container and secured so it rests in the middle of the candle. The easiest way is to use a set of chopsticks, skewers, or a pencil to hold the wick in place so when the wax gets poured the wick stays put. 

See post: Tara @ Suburble|Make Your Own Beeswax Candles

Step 3: Melting the Wax and Pouring

In order to pour the wax into the container to make the candles, the wax needs to be heated up. The best way is to use a double boiler to heat up the wax so it becomes a liquid and can be poured into the containers to make the candles. A double boiler is pretty much 2 pots, with the bottom one having water and the top with the wax, same as melting chocolate. It is best to use metal or glass containers for this step, and once these containers are used with the wax it is best not to use them with food after. When the wax is in the liquid stage it is time to add in the scent you have chosen for your candle. Essential oils are perfect for this and add a wonderful essence as the candle is burned. What scent is used is totally up to you, but some great ones are lavender, orange, rosemary, vanilla, and cinnamon. This is also the time to add color to the wax if you choose. Food coloring or special wax color can also be used. There are also a ton of natural colors, such as paprika and spirulina, that have been used for centuries to color candles. You can also do different batches of colors and layer them up the candle for a super fun effect!

See post: Sarinasala1|How to Make Candles

Once the wax is melted all the way to a liquid, it is easy to pour into the container. Be careful, the wax is super hot at this time! If you wish to add items to the candle like flowers, coffee beans, sprinkles, fruit, etc, this is the time to add it to the bottom of the jar, before the pour, or just after so the items float at the top.

See post: Diana | Dreams Factory|How to Make a Scented Soy Candle in a French Coffee Cup

Once the wax is poured the candle needs to set and come to room temperature. In order to make the candle smooth on top, it needs to sit for at least 8 hours without being moved.

There are some fun alternate ways to make candles such as this orange and oil candle. All you need is an orange that has been cut in half, had the pulp fruit part removed, and the center stem is left behind to act as the wick. Oil is then placed into the bottom of the orange bowl, most commonly olive oil is used. The white center stem is then lit and you have a citrus GREEN all natural candle that is super inexpensive! Check out how to make this fun orange peel candle in the video link here -

Making your own candles is a fun DIY that makes a beautiful gift or a wonderful addition to your house, that is actually functional. With so many options for types of wax, containers, scents, colors, and fillers, no two candles will look or smell the same. They are also super handy while camping or when the power goes out!

See post: Diana | Dreams Factory|How to Make a Scented Soy Candle in a French Coffee Cup

I personally love how simple it is to make candles, and the best part is I know exactly what is in the candle so I know I am burning something clean and not just harsh chemicals. I can make the candles any scent I wish, and add fun elements to the wax like fruit, flowers, or even sprinkles for a bit of fun and to make each candle unique. Homemade candles make for a wonderful present, and you can cater each batch for specific events or season. I personally love adding a bit of my garden into the candles, such the fresh flowers I just picked from my backyard. I now have that scent and freshness year round in my own DIY candles.

So dig into your pantry, fridge, cabinets, or garden, for fun containers and fillers you can add to your homemade candles today. Instead of just buying candles, make your own to keep in the house, or pass them on to friends and family as a wonderful gift. 

Do you have an idea for how to make candles? We would love to see it! Upload your homemade candle ideas on Hometalk today!

Written for the Hometalk community by: Erin Red | Erin Reed Makes