It is no surprise that the candle making industry is still thriving to date because of the numerous purposes candlesticks serve in our present society. Candles are used for divine healings in churches and monasteries. Besides, we cannot overlook the sweet smell, bright illumination, and romantic atmosphere they bring to our homes. This article is a DIY that enables you to learn how to make candles from scratch at home, step by step.
Making candles at home by yourself is not as challenging as you think. That is why this guide breaks the candle making process down to easy and practical steps.
Please read to the end to find out how to make candles at home and customize it to your appeal, using common ingredients.
What do you need to make candles?
It would be best if you had some supplies like Wax, wick, and oil for homemade candles. Little worries because most of these items are cheap and easy to obtain. The best guess is that you already have some of them in your kitchen cabinet.
The following are the essential ingredients you need for homemade candles:
1. Wax
Wax is the most potent ingredient that goes into the making of a homemade candle. No, there will be no candle without the Wax. So, before anything else, get your Wax ready. However, the Wax itself comes in three different types which are Paraffin, Soy, and Beeswax.
Paraffin is the commonest of the three waxes available for candle making. Paraffin is relatively affordable, going for only $2-10 per lb., and is pretty much easy and flexible to use because it allows you to add your preferred colors or scents. However, far too many people prefer to use the other types of Wax because paraffin burns with smokey, damaging your health over prolonged exposure.
Soy is another type of Wax that’s becoming more reputable in the candle industry. Nowadays, many people go for green and organic products because they are safer to use. Soy is made from soybean oil, first discovered in the ’90s, and can be mixed with paraffin and other waxes. It is also cheap and affordable, going for $2 per lb. You can go for this type of Wax if you prefer to use natural products or an advocate for a clean environment.
Beeswax is the last and most archaic type of waxes. Initially discovered in great Egypt’s great pyramids, the beeswax is a natural candle-making ingredient produced by bees as a byproduct of their honey-making process. Many people prefer to go for the beeswax because of its natural golden color and sweet scent. Therefore, you may not need to add any fragrance or color to your candle because the beeswax already gives you that. The only downside to this is that beeswax is the most expensive of the waxes, and usually costs $10 per lb.
2. Wicks
The wick is the part of a candle that receives the fire. If your wick is not so flammable, then your candle is useless. Ensure that you get a large wick, which is also long enough. If the wick happens to be too long, you can easily trim it off the excesses using a razor or scissors.
3. Double Boiler
The double boiler melts the Wax. The universal double boiler, which is durable, easy to use, and affordable, is recommended.
4. Fragrance oil
Burning candles with unpleasant smells will not be lovely. That’s why fragrance oil is adopted to give it a pleasant scent. Some of the essential fragrance oils for candle making are the Winter Set of 6 premium grades, Favorite set of 14 premium grades, Natrogix bliss, pure essential oils, etc.
5. Containers
The container holds your candle in the right shape and form. Any heat resistant and durable containers will do for candle making. Examples are mugs, mason jars, etc.
6. Other accessories
Other accessories involved in making candles include a thermometer, spatula, a pen or pencil, heat source, etc.
Is it cheaper to make your candles?
Making your own candles at home is cheaper if you get the supplies in bulk from the manufacturer and not the retailer. In this way, you can make more candles anytime you want at a cheaper cost.
On the other hand, it may be more expensive if you resolve to purchase your candle supplies in bits from retail stores. This is because the cost of getting ingredients such as fragrance oil, Wax, and the wick is usually higher when you don’t buy in bulk and may add up to shoot up the overall cost you would usually spend on homemade candles.
Besides saving cost, learning how to make your candles also come with other incredible benefits:
- The process relieves your tension and stress.
- It can make you more money or serve as a side hustle. Buying your supplies in bulk could supplement your daily income, and you can make some cool passive income setting up a home-based candle business if you are quite good at it
- An avenue to keep the kids engaged while having fun. Gather the kids around during candle making to keep them busy, have fun, and develop their vocational skills.
- It is safer and healthier than most commercial candles.
How to Make Candles from Scratch at Home Step by Step
Now, let’s discuss how to make candles from scratch at home with the supplies we mentioned above. Ensure you pay attention to the details mentioned in each step.
Step One: Get yourself prepared.
Since you will be working with some messy items like Wax, I will advise you to clear out a space that will serve as the workplace and get ready to stain your hands.
Therefore, partition an area in your home, and cover with old newspaper or transparent nylon such that Wax and other items will not stain or mess up your space. Ensure that everything you need from the Wax to the stirrer is available and at reach to avoid any problem along the way.
Step two: Start with the Wax.
First off, melt your wax. That’s where our double boiler comes in handy. Pour some water into the bottom pan and put about ½ lb. of the Wax into the double boiler. Stir properly with your spatula and watch it melt for about 15 minutes. Ensure that the temperature of the Wax doesn’t exceed 170 degrees with your thermometer.
Step Three: Add the fragrance oils
After your wax has melted completely, add fragrance oil to improve the scent of the candle. Every type of Wax, like the beeswax, comes with natural oils and perfumes, and you may not bother about adding fragrance oil. One thing you should also keep in mind here is to read the instructions that come with the wax and fragrance oil you are using, because you may have to add a specific quantity as directed by the manufacturer to achieve an optimum result. Generally, you can add 1 oz of oil per pound of Wax. Add the fragrance in the boiler and stir adequately with the spatula for half a minute.
Step Four: Fix your wick.
Remember how a candle looks? The wick is usually instilled at the center of the Wax. Do the same with your homemade candle. As the Wax is melting in the double boiler, fix the wick to the boiler’s bottom and wait till the Wax solidifies. Ensure that the base of the wick is set in the center for uniformity and balance. After a few minutes, the Wax becomes more rigid, and the wick stuck to the bottom.
Step Five: Cooling
Allow the mixture to cool to about 130 degrees. Then pour the content into a jar/container while ensuring that the wick remains in place. It would be best if you didn’t pour all the Wax into the jar at a go. Leave some in the boiler. You can hold it up for a while until the Wax cools and solidifies entirely. It will take about five minutes for it to stiffen.
Step Six: Trimming
Now that your Wax is secured and solidified, the wick may be too long. Trim it to a considerable size with a razor or scissors. You may also notice a sinkhole in the center of the solid wax. Fill it up with the remaining wax in the boiler.
Step Seven: Clean up the area
Your candle is ready. Go on and clean up your working environment by removing the newspaper and wiping it with a damp cloth.
Conclusion
Many individuals have started to understand the importance of making their own candles right from their homes’ comfort. Homemade candles are not only cost-effective, eco-friendly, and safer, but they also allow you some finesse adding a particular quantity of Wax or blends of fragrance oil to the candle.
Read the article over again if this is your first few times of making candles by yourself. Also, please leave some comments below and interact with other readers to see how fast it took them to make their first candle.
We are sure this step to step guide on making candles from scratch will work for you. Do know that the candle may not look too good at first, but you will surely get the hang of it with time. Good luck with your trial.