Candles serve a number of purposes in any type of decor, whether it be in a room in the house or in the office. Candles not only add to the overall appeal of a space, but many are also scented with fragrances to help cover up any odors. Of course, we all know that candles can be easily purchased at a local retailer, but for the do-it-yourselfers among us, making candles from scratch can be a more appealing alternative to shopping at a department store. The benefits of doing so are numerous, but most importantly, making candles at home allows us to create candles that offer scents of our choosing rather than what retailers are trying to sell us.
Despite what many may think, making candles at home is particularly inexpensive and may even be more cost-effective than buying in a store if you are interested in purchasing many candles of the same fragrance. You will need a few supplies to start creating your own candles. I will focus on jar candles, as these types of candles are among the easiest to create and are certainly close to the most popular candle styles.
To get started, you’ll need a stove, a decent-sized pot, a metal coffee can, an anchored wick, a jar, a glue gun, some popsicle sticks, and some wax. Your wax can come from unused candles you already have around the house or from packaged paraffin wax. On average, a quarter pound of wax is more than enough to fill a 12-ounce jar or container. You’ll also want some fragrance oil in whatever scent you like, and oils like these are sold in just about any fragrance you can think of. If you plan on tinting your candles, crayons will do the trick. I also encourage you to have some safety equipment on hand as you will be working in extreme temperatures. A good pair of safety glasses and gloves are recommended. Any items you don’t already have lying around your house can be picked up at a local hobby store.
Start by gathering your materials in a centralized area so you have easy access to everything. Before melting the wax, it’s a good idea to prepare the jars. Each candle will need a wick, so prepare a wick at least three inches longer than the depth of your jar. The wider the jar, the wider the wick will need to be to promote even burning of the candle. If each wick is not already attached to an anchor, you will need to do so at this point. With the wick attached, glue each anchor to the bottom of a jar, securing each wick as close to the center of the jar base as possible.
Set your stove burner to medium to high; Your wax will need to be heated to around 160 degrees to reach the ideal consistency. Fill your decent size pot with 2 to 3 inches of water and place on the burner. We’ll be using a double boiler type method to heat the wax, so we’ll place our coffee can in the pot of water. Cut the wax into smaller pieces to speed up the melting process and place it in the coffee can. If you use old candles for wax, be sure to remove the old wicks with a fork or similar utensil once you can. Be very careful when heating the wax, and if the mixture catches fire, cover the pot, turn off the stove, and avoid putting out the wax fire with water.
Once you can stir the wax with a spoon, you can start adding any dyes or fragrances you’d like your candle to include. The amount of fragrance you add is at your discretion, but keep in mind that a little goes a long way. When adding crayons to tint the candle, be sure to remove as much paper from the crayon as possible. Continue stirring until both the fragrances and dyes have been mixed into the melted wax.
Now we will begin the process of filling the jars with wax. Before you pour the wax, take a popsicle stick and place it on top of your jar. Wrap or dangle the excess wick over the popsicle stick, encouraging your wick to remain as centered within the jar as possible. Carefully place your wax in the jar, all the while making sure that your wick remains centered. Leave about an inch of headroom at the top of your jar to ensure the lids can be replaced if needed.
As your candle begins to cool, it will usually shrink in size inside its container. If you find your candle requires it, add additional melted wax as needed. Your candle may need a day or more to fully cool down. Getting too anxious and using your candle before it’s ready could easily undo all your hard work, so be patient and make sure your candle has had plenty of time to cool down before lighting it. Once you are sure your candle is set, cut the wick so that there is ¾ inch to an inch sticking out of the candle. Your candle is now ready to burn! Play around with various fragrances and colorings to create your ideal candle.