Candle Making Instructions
Candle making is a fun and creative way to relax, and a hobby that can be easily mastered with a little bit of patience. Here are some simple candle making instructions that will help you make the most of your time and creative juices.
Safety is the Most Important of
Your Candle Making Instructions
Wax must be heated to a high temperature, so the candle making process is inherently dangerous. Understanding the dangers that accompany the process can go a long way towards preventing accidents from happening.
It is advisable to wear long sleeves to protect against burns…no dangling sleeves, please. 
Old clothes are ideal as the dyes and scents used in making candles can leave indelible stains.
Always have a fire extinguisher on-site and place a non-slip mat in front of the stove.
Spilled wax is slippery when it hardens, so wipe up any spills on the floor immediately.
Be extra careful if children are watching or helping out. Rule of thumb – don’t let kids near the stove unless the child’s waist is at least at stove top level.
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Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…candle making instructions to beautify your home
Now that we’ve touched on safety, the balance of these candle making instructions is designed to make the candling process efficient, smooth and fun.
There are three steps in the candle making process, so it may be a good idea to divide your working area into three sections. You need a preparation station, which may be a small area with a flat surface and some type of organizer where you can keep your supplies and tools.
The second stage is the melting area, which in a kitchen-cum-candle making factory will be the stove area. You will need a double boiler as direct heat tends to destroy a wax’s ability to hold its form.
A double boiler allows you to melt wax at high temperature without scorching. It needn’t be overly complicated. I use a large metal pot to boil the water & a large Pyrex measuring cup as my melting pot. Sit the Pyrex on a metal cookie cutter so the Pyrex doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot. Now you’re in business.
Wax can be bought in blocks, sheets or shavings. If you use blocks or sheets, you’ll need to use a hammer or knife to break the wax into small pieces for melting. You can save yourself the trouble and mess by purchasing bags of shaved wax.
Weigh your wax before adding it to the melting pot so you will know the correct amounts of dye and fragrance to add later on.
In this video, Matt Friedman shows you a few types of wax and examples of melting and pouring pots. He also introduces various other candle making supplies you will need.
After melting, you’ll need a cooling area with a flat surface…a table or kitchen counter will do just fine. The cooling surface must be able to withstand considerable heat without damage. Avoid cooling your candles in direct sunlight or close to a heater or heating duct. Make sure the cooling area will not be disturbed by children or pets so the wax has a chance to set properly. Minimum cooling time is 4 hours…I often let my candles cool overnight.
Your next step would be to have a look at candle making instructions for different candle types…for example, beeswax candle making.
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Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…candle making instructions for hobby or profit
Beeswax Candle Making
One of the nicest home accents you can have is a cluster of beeswax candles. It is a wonderful addition to any part of the house because beeswax emits a sweet scent, as well as a welcoming glow.
Beeswax candle making is not rocket science. There is no need for special equipment such as a stove or melt pot, which makes it an ideal family activity you can have with small kids.
Ultimate Guide To Making Candles at Home
…making beeswax candles for hobby and profit
Supplies for Beeswax Candle Making
- Sheets of beeswax
- Wooden board for cutting
- A good knife
- Wicks primed with wax
Click here for a video demonstration of how to make beeswax candles.
Instructions for Making Beeswax Candles
1. Lay out the sheet of beeswax on your working table.
2. Measure out the wick so that it is about two inches longer than the length of your beeswax sheet.
3. Placing the wick at the edge if the beeswax sheet, fold the sheet along its length to secure it. The fold should be just wide enough to cover the wick completely… about an eight of an inch.
4. With the wick firmly secured in the wax, it’s time to actually start making beeswax candles. Slowly roll the sheet, taking care to keep it straight. Be careful not to press too hard…you might damage the honeycomb pattern.
5. When you get to the end of the sheet, secure the exposed edge by pressing firmly but gently…use the warmth from your hands to meld the exposed edge to the candle body.
6. Once done, choose the end which looks the neatest to serve as the top of your candle and shorten the wick at that end to about half-an-inch. Trim the other end so no wick is exposed.
You can continue making beeswax candles as long as you want. It is a wonderful activity for your children. Beeswax candle making will give them a sense of pride and accomplishment and it makes a great gift for friends and family! Beeswax candles are elegant, traditional and wholly comforting.
Beeswax candle making has been a tradition since early in the 14th century, mostly because the sweet scent makes beeswax a favorite among homemakers. Beeswax candles also burns long and cleanly.
The American Lung Association recommends beeswax over the more common paraffin candles. Paraffin is a petroleum extract and contains toxic materials such as mercury, lead and benzene. Beeswax candles make a great substitute!
Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Ultimate Guide To Making Candles at Home
…learn beeswax candle making and beautify your home
Making Beeswax Candles
Thinking about making beeswax candles? What a great idea. Beeswax candles are somewhat more expensive to make than other candles, but there is good reason. Candles made with beeswax often burn longer than other candles, and they hardly drip. Because these 100% natural candles drip less, they are often used in churches and other venues that burn candles frequently and for long time periods. Beeswax candles also emit a nice sweet fragrance. If you are looking at making beeswax candles, there are just a few things you need to know before jumping in with both feet.
For more info & ideas on making beeswax candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
First, what type of candle do you want to make? How about a pillar candle…which is created by rolling a sheet of beeswax around a wick? Do you want to make hand dipped beeswax candles? Do you want to make your beeswax candles with a mold? Once you know what direction you want to go, the rest is a piece of cake.
What’s so great about beeswax?
It’s an all natural substance made by bees as opposed to paraffin, a petroleum by-product. Beeswax candles burn with the spectrum of the sun emitting a brighter, longer burning flame. It is said that a burning beeswax candle emits negative ions which clean the air and invigorate the body.
Beeswax gets its color and smell from the honey and pollen packed into each honeycomb cell. The color variation of beeswax candles depends on the floral source of the pollen.
Making Beeswax Candles with Honeycomb Sheets
I love this project, and you too will see just how simple and fun this project is to do. It’s great for bonding with the kids and a great place to start learning how to make candles at home.
The items you will need are readily available:
- Scissors
- Large cutting board
- Honeycomb Beeswax Sheets
Honeycomb beeswax sheets are not often found at local craft/hobby stores. However, you can purchase all your supplies online. Use an internet search engine and search for honeycomb beeswax sheets. You may be surprised at how many sites come up and the variety of colors available!
- Wick
You can purchase at a local craft store or online with your honeycomb beeswax sheets.
That’s it in terms of supplies. Let’s roll…and I mean that literally.
Place one beeswax sheet on your cutting board. At the narrow edge, gently press down wick. On one side leave approximately ½ inch of wick extended over edge of wax sheet and cut.
Carefully begin curving the wax up and over the wick. The warmth of your hands will help the wax from becoming brittle. If you’re cold blooded , use a hairdryer, but be careful not to get carried away and melt the wax sheet. Keep manipulating the wax over the wick until a roll is started.
Once the roll is started, use your fingers to evenly (and fairly tightly) roll the rest of the way down the sheet. When you reach the end, gently press the wax edge with your fingertips to create a seal.
You will find that the wax is pretty forgiving, so if necessary you can unroll a section and re-roll. Take your time and enjoy the process.
Before lighting candle, cut your wick to ¼ inch.
Never leave candles unattended or within reach of children or pets. Always place candle on a non-flammable surface and away from a draft.
Tips
One beeswax sheet will make one taper. To make a thick pillar candle simply overlap sheets by ¼ inch. You may add as many sheets as you like. Ten sheets will make a pillar that is about ten inches in diameter.
Beeswax candles will naturally drip less. To make your candles totally dripless, place them in the freezer for a few hours.
When lighting a pillar for the first time, let it burn for only the size liquid well you desire. For example…about ½ inch on either side of wick. Snuff out and let cool. When you re-light the pillar, the well will not go past the well size that you have established.
Pairs of tapered pillars wrapped in tissue with streaming ribbons or make fabulous gifts.
I hope you enjoyed this “making beeswax candles” video and text overview. Now get out there and put what you’ve learned into making some fabulous beeswax candles.
For more info & ideas on making beeswax candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
How Do You Make Candles
Nothing compares to candles for bringing warmth to a room. But “how do you make candles?” you may ask.
You’re asking “How Do You Make Candles?” so check this out
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make candles & have fun with the kids
Your Question is “How Do You Make Candles?”
Making your own candles is a lot easier than you think. It’s an inspiring craft that’s easy to get up and running. A few simple ingredients and some basic tools and equipment are all you need to begin making beautiful, fragrant candles. You’ll need to purchase a few supplies, but most of the tools you probably have in your kitchen or garage.
Although there are many different candle types, the basic components for a simple candle making setup are pretty much the same. You’ll need:
1. A heat source such as an electric stove or hot plate
2. A “double boiler” set up. I use a large, low pot for boiling water, with a large Pyrex measuring cup set inside it to melt the wax
3. Wax
4. A wick appropriate to that wax
5. A mold or vessel to hold the melted wax
6. Color or fragrance for the candle, if desired
7. A match to light your masterpiece when it’s done
That’s essentially all it takes. As you learn how to make your own candles and master the process, you will discover that the variations you can make are only limited by your imagination and willingness to experiment.
One of the first choices you’ll need to make before starting any new candle project is which type of wax to use. There are synthetic waxes, natural waxes, and some that contain a little of both. Each of them having their own unique characteristics.
Having so many available options is great, but first, it’s important that we talk about some of the basics concerning candle wax…
Three elements will affect the outcome of every candle making project.
1 – Type and quality of wax
2 – Melting and pouring temperature
3 – Additional ingredients (additives)
Let’s take a quick look at each…
Types of Wax
The most commonly used types of wax today (in no particular order) are:
* Bayberry wax
* Beeswax
* Palm wax
* Soybean wax
* Paraffin wax
* Gel (though not a “true” wax)
Each comes with its own nuances and some are better than others depending on the application. Often they are blended to achieve optimal results.
Temperature
Temperature is vital. Because of this, a thermometer is not an option; it is an absolute “necessity”.
All kinds of problems arise when wax is not melted or poured at its proper temperature.
Some examples of common “temperature-related” problems are the following:
* Jump Lines – These are those un-wanted horizontal lines that form on the outside of your container candles. They are most commonly the result of pouring at too cool of a temperature.
* Pin holes – A common result of pouring with over-heated wax.
* Pitted Surface – A result often caused by pouring wax at too cool of a temperature.
A common “rule-of-thumb” for most waxes is to pour at 175 – 180 F and to never heat your wax over 200 degrees F.
Additives
Additives are those ingredients you will want to use to enhance your candles’ appearance and performance. They are typically added to your wax prior to pouring and their use and proportions directly affect the outcome of any candle project.
The most obvious additives include dyes, fragrance oils and essential oils.
Some of the most important additives however, are far less obvious. Examples include:
* Stearin to control “hardness”, “burn-rate”, and “opacity”.
* Vybar which reduces air bubbles and mottling.
* UV Inhibitors / Color Stabilizers which will protect your candles from discoloration and color-fading.
* Luster Crystals which prolong burning time and provide a brilliant, gorgeous, vibrant sheen to a candle’s color.
Luckily, wax manufacturers have taken much of the “guess-work” out of this for us. Today’s “pre-blended” waxes are formulated with the right additives and proportions…leaving you the freedom to focus on the most fun choices, fragrance & color.
How Do You Make Candles? This may help
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn to make candles for hobby and profit
How to Make Scented Candles
Tracy Porter Demonstrates How to Make Scented Candles
For more info & ideas on how to make scented candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
To learn how to make scented candles you will need:
• candle wick
• scissors
• wick stands
• glue gun
• clothes pins
• soy wax chips
• fragrance oil
• candy thermometer
• hotplate or your kitchen stove
• metal boiling pot
• metal or pyrex container
• wooden spoon
• small containers and objects from your décor and pantry as vessels for the candles
Step 1: Boil the Wax
Soy wax is easy on the pocket book and my favorite for making scented candles. Soy wax is eco-friendly and easy to use…also comes pre-shaved for easy meltability.
Use medium heat and stir the wax until completely melted.
Step 2: Prep the Vessels
Cut the wick to be 2-3 inches longer than the vessel height.
Place wick in wick stand & attach it to the bottom of the vessel with a small spot of glue.
Step 3: Add Scent
Only use oils designed for candle making. Use 1/8 of a cup (30 ml) scented oil for an average sized candle.
Stir the wax and scented oil until color is consistent.
Step 4: Pour the Wax
Use a clothes pin to hold and balance your wick as you’re pouring the wax. This keeps the wick straight.
After pouring the wax, allow 24 hours for the wax to cool. If the wax shrinks, then you can add more wax or use a hair dryer to smooth over any divots.
I hope you enjoyed this “how to make scented candles” video and text overview. Now get out there and put what you’ve learned into making some fabulous scented candles.
For more info & ideas on how to make scented candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
How to Make Your Own Candles
Learning how to make your own candles is easy to do.
The key is to be organized. When you are organized and love what you do, everything becomes easy.
There may be many reasons why learning how to make your own candles may be important to you.
Reasons for Learning How to Make Your Own Candles
* It’s fun to make candles
* You can sell your candles for profit
* You control the look and design of your candles to compliment your decor
Some of my students like to combine candles with aromatherapy. And don’t forget, candles make great gifts.
Click here to check out
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make your own candles for hobby & profit
Ah! Let’s talk for a moment about the most essential ingredient in this entire process of candle making — the main ingredient — the type of wax you choose.
Three crucial elements affect the outcome and the quality of your project: the type of wax you use, the amount of wax and its temperature when you’re melting and pouring it.
Here we’ll just talk about the different waxes. For now, this will give you background for your first wax-shopping trip.
You’ll probably start with the most common of waxes…the paraffin-based wax. This is the wax most people use, at least initially.
As you answer the “how do you make candles” question, and discover just how easy it is, you’ll be venturing out to other types of waxes before you know it.
Here are some options for other types of wax you can use:
-Beeswax
-Bead wax
-Soy wax
-Palm wax
-Gel wax
Gel wax (though not “technically” a “wax”) makes some of the most creative and beautiful candles of all, but it comes with a price. Due to the higher temperatures necessary to work with gel, it requires the most caution.
This is a clear gel and can be found at just about any local craft store. It’s fun to use because you can drop and suspend small decorative items into the gel to make stunningly beautiful and individually tailored gifts for friends and family. Of course, you’ll want to be sure those items aren’t flammable. 
Because of the hotter melting point, the double boiler is not the way to melt it. Instead, you’ll need to put it directly over a heat source…which means you need to be especially careful.
The real key to working with gel is remembering that it won’t “melt” for you in the traditional sense. When you work with paraffin, palm, or soy, your wax goes from one physical state, that of a “solid”, to that of a liquid or molten form.
The transformation of gel wax is not nearly as obvious. As the gel gets hotter, it comes to resemble a syrup-like substance more and more. If you continue to melt it, thinking that it’s going to get thinner… well… that’s just never going to happen. Another reason a thermometer is a must.
But many candle makers, including myself, love to work with it because it allows so much room to express your creativity.
I mentioned that we would only talk about waxes in this article, but if you want to start learning about the different wicks used in candle making, have a quick look at this video.
As a candle maker, your choices are endless, but choice is both a blessing and a curse.
I strongly urge all beginners to pick 1 project, pick 1 wax, and stick with it. Learn how to make that type of candle, practice it, refine it, take notes, and don’t move on until you’ve mastered it.
The Secret Formula to Material Selection
OK, here it is…
1) Test
2) Take notes
3) Refine
4) Repeat
It sounds simple, and it is. But I kid you not; it is what separates a high quality candle from a poor quality candle, and more…
Click here to check out
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make your own candles to beautify your home
