Making Scented Candles
This article provides 13 easy-to-follow steps for making scented candles…a great learning experience that will keep you entertained along the way.
Making scented candles is an enjoyable and challenging pastime. A hobby that is simple enough to learn without going to school or taking a course.
You could start with a candle kit…but most kits will produce uniform boring candles. Want to build a knowledge base that will allow you to become increasingly creative as you progress? Well then, start from scratch and follow these simple instructions.
Check out my sister, Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…making scented candles for hobby & profit
For Scented Candle Making You Will Need:
* Scents, molds, wicks, different waxes and colors – where to begin? Your scented candle making experience should always start with the easiest candle, the votive candle. You will need some molds. Juice or shot glasses and muffin or cup cake pans make great molds.
* Now you need some wax. It is important when making scented candles that you use the proper wax. As a beginner, you’ll want to use an inexpensive yet good quality paraffin wax. The quality of wax will be reflected in your finished product.
* Use votive wicks that are about 1 inch longer than the candles you will make. It is helpful for beginners to use pre-tabbed wicks as they come complete with wick clip and the wick. You may use wicks that are sold on spools or by the yard, but you will need to assemble the wick and wick clip.
* An integral tool for making scented candles is a double boiler. You can make your own double boiler with 2 pots. One large pot to boil water and a melting pot that fits inside the large pot. You will not be able to reuse your candle making pots for cooking food.
* Your melting pot will double as a pouring pot. Make sure it has a spout because you will use it to pour the wax into the mold. You can use a specially designed, stainless steel pouring pot or a large Pyrex measuring cup with a spout. The Pyrex cup should cost $4-5 at Walmart or Target…that is what I use.
* Using colors is fun, but optional. Stay away from using crayons because your candles will not burn properly. Use liquid dye or color chips.
* Use fragrance oil made especially for making scented candles. Follow the manufacturers instructions on how much fragrance is required.
* You will also need a candy thermometer, scissors, paper towels and glass cleaner, parchment paper, tin foil and a few popsicle sticks.
* Please note that making scented candles involves working with heat to melt wax. Fire safety precautions must be observed. Have a fire extinguisher handy at all times.
13 Steps to Making Scented Candles…Votive Style
1. Cover the surface area of your workstation with parchment paper. Protect your stove top burners with tin foil. Have paper towels and glass cleaner handy to clean up wax spillage.
2. Place one pre-tabbed wick in the center of each votive mold.
3. Put two inches of cool water into the bottom part of the double boiler. Place it on your stove and set the temperature to high.
4. Put your wax in the melting pot and place the melting pot in the water. Bring the water to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium-low.
5. After the wax has completely melted, turn the stove down to low. Insert the thermometer and check the wax temperature. For scented candle making, the wax temperature should normally not exceed 200 F degrees. Refer to the label on your wax to confirm.
6. Add your choice of dye to the already melted wax. Stir with a popsicle stick until the dye is evenly distributed.
7. Now add your fragrance oil and stir with a popsicle stick. The standard ratio is one ounce of fragrance to one pound of candle wax. This will vary depending on how fragrant you want your candles to be.
8. The ideal temperature for pouring wax is 175 F degrees. Remove the double boiler from the stove top when your wax reaches this target temperature.
9. Pour the wax from the melting/pouring pot into the individual candle molds, filling each mold almost to the top. Your molds will require two pours so save some wax for the second pour.
10. Allow your poured candles to cool completely. This will require between one and four hours depending on the size of your molds. The wax will contract as it cools leaving a sink hole around the wick.
11. To remove that sink hole, re-melt the remainder of your wax to 10-15 F degrees hotter than your initial pouring temperature. Top up your candles with a second pour of wax.
12. Allow your candles to cool completely once again. Don’t rush this part.
13. Use your scissors to cut each wick down to about ¼ inch. Congratulations! Your have completed your first adventure in making scented candles.
One great thing about making scented candles is that all of the materials can be purchased online and at most craft stores.
Once you have the scented candle making procedure down pat, you can venture out into making other types of candles with limitless variations in size, color, shape and scent. How about gel candle making?
Check out my sister, Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn scented candle making & beautify your home
How to Make a Candle
This article lays out a basic framework for how to make a candle. I provide information on what you need and where to get it. I also talk about selecting molds, melting wax and using dyes and fragrances…all things you need to know before learning how to make a candle in step-by-step format.
In this article, you will not find detailed procedures for how to make soy candles, for example. But if step-by-step detail is what you’re looking for, you will certainly find it in other pages of this website. Hint…for soy candles try that clickable link that you just passed over. 
Candle making is one of the oldest hobbies on the planet. What was once a necessity for lighting the dark night is now a simple hobby that many people enjoy tremendously.
There are a variety of reasons why such an old hobby like candle making continues to be popular. First, people simply enjoy making candles for personal use. Some consider it a great craft project for older children. Many people make candles to give away as gifts, while others make a business of it and sell their creations. The process of candle making is so basic that most people enjoy learning it.
How to Make a Candle…and Enjoy the Process
1. Supplies
Before learning how to make a candle, you must first get some supplies. You can buy wax, wicks and other basic candle making supplies from almost any craft store. Due to the popularity of the hobby, optional supplies like dyes, decorations and fragrances are usually available at those same stores. A simple search for candle making supplies will yield plenty of options for online purchase.
Want to learn how to make a candle?
Check out my sister, Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
2. Molds
A mold is essential, because it determines the shape and impacts the visual appeal of your candles. But you needn’t get complicated. You can use all sorts of household items for molds…such as yogurt containers, tart tins, plastic cups, candy and/or soap molds and mason jars. You can also purchase traditional or novelty shaped molds made out of plastic, steel, rubber or glass.
3. Melting the wax
Melting your wax is the only tricky part of learning how to make a candle correctly. Wax can burn when you try to melt it with direct heat, so use a double boiler to melt the wax safely. Put about two inches of water in a large pot and place it on the stove. A smaller melting pot that contains the un-melted wax will be placed inside the larger pot. Boiling water will heat the melting pot and melt the wax safely. This two pot combination is known as a double boiler. The melting pot will double as your pouring pot so it should have a spout and a handle.
4. Scenting and Dying Candles
How to make a candle even more special and unique? Imagination is your only requirement. But don’t worry…you will become more candle creative with a little experience. You will learn to use different fragrances, colors and decorations to make your candles unique.
It’s important to use dyes and scents made specifically for candles, although most essential oils will blend with wax in small quantities.
Use color chips or liquid dyes for coloring your candles. You can create your own colors by mixing the primary colors together. Blue and yellow make green; red and yellow make orange; and red and blue make purple. Adding more or less of one primary color will darken or lighten the resulting color.
Add dyes only after the wax is completely melted. The correct melting temperature depends on the wax you used, but it is normally between 150 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fragrances are added to the wax just before pouring it into the mold.
5. Cooling and Molding
Place the wick in a wick clip and fix it to the middle of your mold. When the wax has melted fill your molds to the top.
Let the candle cool for four to six hours before attempting to remove it from the mold. Sometimes, putting the mold into the freezer for about a half an hour makes it easier to remove the candle. Another idea is to spray non-stick cooking spray into the mold before pouring the wax into it.
6. Experiment
You need to experiment with the candle making process to find the best strategy for yourself. Once you’ve mastered this basic flow, there are many different types of candles you can produce. For example, you can create traditional tapered candles by dipping wicks in hot wax continuously. You can even decorate them with sparkles, ribbons, decoupage, paint, dried flowers or carvings.
Are you a fan of natural products? Learn how to make soy candles…soy wax is 100% natural.
7. Candle Making Business
Some entrepreneurs have successfully turned candle making into a lucrative business. After learning how to make candles, they have used their skills as a means to make money. They do this by buying their supplies in bulk at discount prices. They also take invest time and effort into packaging their products attractively. Imagination is the driving force behind much of their success.
People are always looking for innovation when it comes to this old custom, so go ahead. It all starts with learning how to make a candle…one single candle. Learn how to make candles and make your mark on this wonderful hobby!
Want to learn how to make a candle?
Check out my sister, Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
How to Make Soy Candles
This article outlines an 11-step procedure for how to make soy candles. I also list the different materials and equipment you will need and tell you how to use them…all things you need to know to learn how to make soy candles effectively.
If this is your first venture into making soy candles, relax. Soy candles are some of the easiest candles to make.
Learning How to Make Soy Candles is Eco-Friendly
Soy candles are a wonderful alternative to petroleum-based paraffin candles. They are much more environment-friendly, since they release far less carbon dioxide when burned.
Soy candles are user-friendly too! Not only are soy wax spills easy to clean up with soap and water; the natural soybean wax burns at a lower temperature, resulting in less soot and a subtle dispersing of scent. Soybean candles also last up to 50% longer than traditional paraffin candles and are less expensive to make.
So help yourself and the environment! Learn how to make soy candles now by reading on.
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make soy candles for hobby & profit
The type of soy candle we are going to make is known as a votive candle. Don’t be confused by the fancy terminology. Votive candles are among the most popular candles of any type.
They are simply free-standing, usually cylindrical candles that melt completely once lit. As they melt, they take the shape of the holder they are placed in.
Supplies:
Before getting started, make sure you are properly equipped. Here are the bare necessities.
- Candle Molds – Votive candles can be made by simply using paper cups as molds. You can also use a cupcake or muffin pan. Shot or small juice glasses will also do!
- Soy Wax – Soybean wax flakes are ready to use and can be purchased at any candle supply store.
- Wicks – Your wicks should be about 1 inch longer than the height of your mold.
- Double Boiler – Simply a large pot for boiling water and a smaller pot that fits inside the large pot. The smaller pot is used for melting wax. The double boiler is the safest way to melt wax. Smaller pot will also serve as a pouring pot so it should have a handle and a spout.
- Candy Thermometer – Wax must be melted and poured at the proper temperature so a thermometer is essential.
- Fragrance and Dye – Optional for soy candles. Available at any store that sells candle supplies. Leave them out if you are a beginner.
Prepare Your Work Space:
Watch this brief video.
Procedure:
Let’s get started! Here are the detailed soy candle making instructions to follow:
Step 1: Melt 2 ounces of soybean wax for each votive candle you wish to make. Use a double boiler as described above. The boiling water in the boiling pot will melt the wax contained in the inner melting pot. Using a double boiler is an essential safety requirement.
Step 2: To monitor the temperature easily, clip a candle thermometer to the side of your melting pot.
Step 3: Once all the wax is melted and the temperature is between 170 to 180 F degrees, you can add dye, if you want to alter the natural color of the soy wax. Use liquid dye or color chips that are compatible with soy wax.
Do not use food coloring or other water based dyes. Adding crayons for color is also a bad idea, since these can clog the wick and make it difficult for your end product to maintain a flame.
Step 4: Stir with a wooden spoon to disperse the dye thoroughly. Keep adding more dye until you reach the desired color. Be careful; a little dye goes a long way.
Step 5: Maintaining the wax at 170-189 F degrees, now add your fragrance. If the wax temperature is too low, the fragrance and wax will not bind. If the temperature is too high, the fragrance will burn off and the final product will not give off enough scent. The rule of thumb is 1.5 ounces of candle fragrance per one pound of wax. However, this can vary from wax to wax so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6: Stir the candle mixture for 2 minutes to fully blend the fragrance with the wax and to let it bind with the wax.
Step 7: Reduce the heat to 150 – 155 F degrees.
Step 8: Warm the candle mold slightly by leaving it in an oven at the lowest setting. The molds should be warm, but not hot. Caution: Skip this step if you are using a paper cup as your mold.
Step 9: Pour the wax into the molds and filling them to the top. Allow the wax to cool until a soft film develops over the top.
Step 10: Push the candle wick through the soft film into the center of the candle. You will notice a slight indentation where you have inserted the wick. You can easily fix this indentation by filling it with more melted wax. To smooth the top of the candle further, use a hair dryer while the wax is still in a molten state.
Step 11: Let the wax cool for 4 hours and then remove from the molds. Viola! You are done!
Tips & Warnings:
Never melt wax over an open flame. It can ignite without warning when it reaches its flash point. Use a double burner.
Making quality soy candles means that the wax must be melted and poured within prescribed temperature ranges. Always follow temperature guidelines from the manufacturer of the wax you are using. The recommended melting temperature may vary from one wax to another.
Check out my sister, Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make soy candles & beautify your home
