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.

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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?

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Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn scented candle making & beautify your home

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.

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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!

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Secrets to Successful Candle Making

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.

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.

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This article identifies eight problems commonly encountered making candles and provides candle making tips to help you avoid or troubleshoot these difficulties.

Making candles can be great fun. Deciding what type of candle to make and shopping for supplies, for example, are enjoyable for many keen hobbyists.

However, newbie candle makers often stumble into problems that add disappointment and frustration to their learning process. Often they become disillusioned and give up. And that’s a shame, because most of these obstacles have quick and easy to implement solutions. The following candle making tips should help you avoid some of the most common beginner issues.

Candle Making Tips to Prevent Common Problems

1. Start simple. All beginners should start with the simplest candle making process. This gives you the opportunity to learn the basic process and pick up introductory candle making tips as you go.

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…it’s chock full of candle making tips for making fabulous candles

You may want to start making rolled beeswax candles…simple, because melting wax is not required.

Or buy some inexpensive soy wax shavings and make natural soy candles (no dye or fragrance required) in small glasses or desert dishes that you may have lying around the house.

Master the basics and when you are ready, move on to making more advanced topics like making beeswax candles, gel candles and candles requiring dyes and fragrances.

2. Quality counts. Another fundamental candle making tip is to use quality products. In general, candle making supplies are inexpensive. But purchasing low quality wax, for example, will never yield quality candles.

3. Use proper heat. Heating the wax to the proper temperature is also very important. The correct temperature depends on the type of candle you are making. In general, if the wax isn’t hot enough, it won’t form correctly. On the other hand, wax that is too hot will lose luster and become brittle once it cools.

4. Solution to smoke. Some candles look beautiful but fill the room with smoke. The problem here is with your wick…it is too long. A good candle making tip is to simply cut your wicks shorter next time. As for the candles you have already created, snipping the wicks to about ½ inch should remedy the situation.

5. Width of your wick. Other candles burn and smell great but develop a large round crater around the wick. Your wick probably isn’t wide enough. You can purchase a wider wick or braid three together to get a good thickness for your next batch of candles. You can’t do anything for candles you have already made, except to remelt the wax and start over. For your candles to burn evenly, remember this rule…the wider the candle jar, the wider the wick.

6. Let them cool. Many beginners don’t allow enough time for their candles to coo. Don’t rush the cooling process or else you will damage the hardness of the candle. Forcing the candle to cool can also result in bubbles forming in the top and middle of the candle. Although these bubbles won’t create physical defects, the melting wax may puddle in these bubbles and extinguish your flame.

Allow candles to cool on a flat surface and away from direct sunlight. Make sure there aren’t any heating or cooling ducts blowing air on the cooling candles. They should not be moved until completely cool. Four hours is normally enough, but letting them cool overnight is always a safe bet.

7. Warm your jars. Sometimes the wax of your cooled candle can pull away from the edges of the glass jar. This is only a visual issue but will make your candles less marketable. Try heating your jars in the microwave for a minute or two immediately before you fill them with hot wax. This should make the wax adhere to the edges of the jar correctly.

8. Give it time. The last of our candle making tips…it will take a few tries to perfect the candle making process and to achieve the candle quality you want, so give it some time. You will have to experiment to find the exact method that works best for your work environment. During the initial learning process, you should only make a few candles at a time to avoid wasting supplies. Make sure each finished product doesn’t have any melting or bubbling issues, when the candle is lit. If it does, simply melt the wax again and try it once more.

Once you have mastered the basics of candle making, you can experiment with different types of candles. The internet is a great place to find candle making tips and solutions to your candle making problems.

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Gel candle making (jelly candles) often appeals to artisan type candle makers. Why’s that? Well, because a gel candle glows when lit, and by adding embedded objects you can create unique glowing scenes that add beauty to your home. How’s that sound, my friend?

Gel candles are also easy to make and burn longer than wax candles. Gel wax is a combination of mineral oil and plastic polymer.

16 Steps of Gel Candle Making

Things you’ll need:

• Several glass candle containers…one for each candle you plan to make.
• Zinc core wick
• Wick tabs and glue
• Gel wax
• Stainless steel or glass pot for melting your gel wax
• Glass measuring cup with spout for pouring your wax
• Liquid dye made for gel candles
• Fragrance oil

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Gel Candle Making without Embedded Objects

Step 1. Pick the right containers for your gel candles. Sundae dishes, mugs and glasses will all work fine. Avoid extremely thin glassware as it may crack at high temperatures. Rule of thumb – if the glassware is dish washer safe, it should be ok for gel candle making.

Most candle makers use transparent glass for gel candle making, but you can also try other non-flammable containers. Make sure the container is large enough so that the wick will be at least 1 1/2  inches away from the sides.

Step 2. Place a small amount of hot glue on the bottom of the container.

Step 3. Press the wick tab onto the hot glue and let it cool. It is best to use a zinc core wick as cotton will absorb the gel and won’t burn as well.

Step 4. Slice the gel wax into small cubes so it will melt faster.

Step 5. Place the gel wax in a stainless steel or glass pot and place it on medium heat. Monitor the temperature using a thermometer.

Step 6. Heat the gel wax to 200 degrees F and maintain that temperature until the gel becomes smooth and syrupy.

Step 7. Add your coloring drop by drop. Use it sparingly…one ounce should be enough for about 100 lbs of gel wax. It is best to use only liquid dyes in gel candle making. Paste dyes and color blocks are normally made from wax and will make your gel cloudy.

Step 8. Start by adding ½ ounce of fragrance oil per pound of gel wax. This can vary due to the density of your gel wax so be mindful of the gel wax manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using alcohol-based fragrance as they evaporate and leave you with an aroma-less candle.

Step 9. Make sure that the gel mix is not cloudy. If it is, try adding more gel cubes.

Step 10. Important! Record the kinds and amounts of gel wax, dye and fragrance that you use as a reference for making future adjustments.

Step 11. Warm the candle containers to 150 degrees F to minimize bubbling…use your kitchen oven or microwave.

Step 12. Place the warm candle containers on a level pouring surface.

Step 13. Carefully pour the wax into the containers. The objective is to prevent bubbles so pour like you are pouring a beer…down the side of the container. Take note that a high pouring temperature produces fewer bubbles. If you want bubbles for effect, let the gel cool to about 175 degrees F before pouring.

Step 14. Straighten the wick. Make sure that it is on the center of the candle.

Step 15. Allow the candle to set for about four hours.

Step 16. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch.

How to Add Embedded Objects when Making Gel Candles

Step 1. In making gel candles, it is best to use non-flammable objects such as glass beads, marbles, glitter, sand, shells, colored aquarium gravel, crystals, pebbles, polished stones, artificial jewels or pearls and/or metal charms.

Step 2. Dip your embed objects in hot gel before adding them to the candle.

Step 3. Putting some of the objects at the bottom of the container before pouring the gel will help camouflage the wick tab.

Step 4. Pour the gel in layers and add objects as you go. Keep the objects away from the wick if possible. The objects will be more visible if they are placed near the outside of the container.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not let the temperature of the gel wax exceed 225 degrees F. Burned gel will turn yellow or brown and give off a foul odor.
• Avoid spills as much as possible as gel is harder to cleanup than wax.
• Keep spills away from the heating elements of your stove as the smell is horrible and the burned gel will be difficult to remove. You may want to cover your burners with aluminum foil.
• Avoid very narrow containers. Pools of gel sometimes catch fire briefly and may blacken the sides of narrow containers.

Ok, my friend…you should have your hands full for awhile making gel candles. After that, you may want to go a little more au naturale and try, maybe, making soy candles.

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In this article, you will learn about equipment required to make your own candles. I also offer tips on where and how to source that equipment without breaking the bank.

Have you ever wanted to make your own candles as a hobby? Candle making is not only a fulfilling hobby, but also one that does not necessarily require you to spend a lot for start-up.

This means you can start as soon as you buy the most basic materials… namely, wax and wicks. If you want you want to learn how to make scented candles or candles in a variety of colors, add fragrances and dyes to your list. These start-up materials can be found both online and at your local craft shop.

Equipment Required to Make Your Own Candles

In time, you may want to go one step further and buy more advanced candle making equipment. But for beginners, here’s the equipment you will need to make your own candles:

Heat Source:

If your goal is to start a candle making venture and produce lots and lots of candles, you may have to buy a commercial grade wax melter that could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But for a humble start, the best option for a heating source would be your good ole’ kitchen stove.

In fact, your kitchen alone offers a lot of other great advantages for candle making. Aside from the stove, the kitchen usually has a good lighting, running water, ample counter-space, and convenient electric outlets. You can save a lot of money by using what you already have.

Keep in mind though that you will have to move your stuff come dinner time. But if you do not want to disturb dinner, you may have to setup somewhere else using an affordable hot plate or a modified Presto Pot.

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How to Make Your Own Candles

Double Boiler:

Safety is the main reason why a double boiler is the ideal tool for melting wax. There are types of candle wax that catches fire easily once the temperature exceeds 212 F (100 C). So use a double boiler for a slow and even heating process. Also, make sure there is a thermometer at hand.

A double boiler is simply two pots that fit one-inside-the-other, often used to create mustards and chocolate sauces. For candle making, use the lower pot to boil water and provide indirect heat to the upper pot which contains the candle wax.

Double boilers specifically made for candle making are sold in stores. But if your budget is tight, you can improvise your very own double boiler by using your own pots and pans at home. Or, go to Target or Walmart and buy an aluminum or stainless steel pot and a $5 large Pyrex measuring cup.

Thermometer:

As already mentioned, a good thermometer is required to make your own candles. A standard candy thermometer will do the trick. They are available for $10 at your local Target or Walmart. When buying a thermometer, make sure that it has a temperature reading range between 100 F (38 C) and 212 F (100 C).

Some websites say that a thermometer is not necessary in candle making. This is a fallacy. It is important that you know the temperature to avoid burning your wax, and so you know when to pour it. Keep in mind that not all wax has the same optimal pour temperature.

A thermometer allows you to create special effects because you are able to control the pouring temperature. This is especially true when using gel to make your own candles. If you want to avoid bubbles in your candles, pour your gel as it reaches its optimal pouring temperature, which is 200 F.

In fact, bubbles aren’t always a bad thing. Have you ever seen classy looking champagne glass candles or those cool seascape gel candles? Yup, they all have bubbles.

If you want bubbles in your candles for design purposes, just let the gel cool below 200 F before pouring.

Some other helpful tools and materials:

If you want to make your own candles, the following items will also be helpful.

* Craft Scissors
* Paring Knife
* Kitchen or Postal Scales
* Dipping Can
* Baking Pan
* Water Bath Container
* Measuring Cup
* Measuring Spoon
* Mold Release Spray
* Glue Gun or Glue Tabs
* Wick Holders
* Tape measure

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How to Make Your Own Candles

Keep a Candle Making Journal:

Throughout your candle making career, you will always be refining your formulations and techniques in search of perfection. It always helps to keep careful records so you can refer back to them instead of relying on your memory.

Here’s a quick video about keeping a candle making journal:

This article provides guidance on how to find a candle making reference book that is right for you. I will also identify a handful of candle making books that you may want to consider buying.

Candle making is a favorite of many hobbyists. People turn to hobbies for fun and relaxation…and candle making is no different. Candle makers often start out slow, but when the bug bites, there is often no way to hold them back.

Candle making books can be a wonderful way to expand your candle making horizons. It’s all there…everything from basic recipes and candle making tips to the latest decorating techniques and en vogue designs to stimulate your creativity. Candle making books are also an abundant source of illustrations and step by step instructions.

Select Candle Making Books
Based on Your Experience Level

Choose a book based on your level of experience making candles. Also consider what types of candles you are interested in making before buying a book. You may want to shop around a bit. Why not visit a local library and check out their selection of candle making books before deciding to buy?

Internet sites such as Ebay and Amazon offer second hand candle making books at affordable prices.

Visit my sister Sarah’s collection of candle making books
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…learn to make candles as a hobby or business

With its easy to understand information and instructions, “The Candle Maker’s Companion” by Betty Oppenheimer and Deborah Balmuth is ideal for beginners and advanced makers alike. You may also want to check out “The Encyclopedia of Candle Making Techniques,” which provides quality content easily understood by beginners.

“The Complete Candle Maker – Techniques, Projects and Inspirations” is a perfect reference for those with a basic knowledge of candle making. It features photos of over 40 different candle designs and contains step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. The book also provides tips and pointers to help candle makers avoid common mistakes.

Special occasion candle makers should take a look at “Creative Candles: Over 40 Inspiring Projects for Making and Decorating Candles for Every Occasion” by Sue Spear. The book contains candle ideas for birthdays and weddings, as well as Halloween, Easter and Christmas.

Those who want to encourage their kids to engage in candle making should have a look at “Great Candles.” Featured in this book are easy-to-make candles that you and your children will have fun doing together. The book offers simple instructions that children enjoy reading.

You may also want to search the internet for other quality candle making books.

Candle making is a fun and productive activity that many hobbyists have parlayed into a profitable business. You can fill your head with the required knowledge and expertise by exploring candle making books. There are candle books written for all levels of expertise and types of candles.

A wide variety of candle making books is available in the market so finding what you need should not be difficult. Virtually any candle making reference material can be found online. And don’t forget to check libraries, local book fairs and yard sales.

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In this article, I will explain the many benefits of making candles with soy wax and provide several tips on getting started making soy candles.

Candle making is quite a popular hobby. Although candles are most often made from paraffin or beeswax, making soy candles has become quite trendy.

Today’s Eco-Friendly Hobbyist is Making Soy Candles

Paraffin wax is cheap, but because it is a petroleum derivative, it leaves a carbon footprint. Beeswax, on the other hand, is natural and eco-friendly, and it smells almost heavenly. The only downside to beeswax is that it can be pretty expensive.

A cheap, environment friendly alternative to paraffin and beeswax is soy candles. They are made with 100% natural soy wax, so they have a nice natural scent, even without fragrance additives. Soy candle making experts can also mix the soy in various ways to create different scents…and make the scents fainter or stronger.

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…includes complete info on making soy candles

Some soy candles are made with wicks, some are not. Those with wicks are used just like regular candles and those without are used with electric candle warmers. The electric version produces no flame making it safer than wicked candles. Flameless candles are ideal for dorms, offices, and everywhere else where there is a chance of something catching fire from the candle’s flame. Actually, burning candles has been banned in many apartments and offices for this reason, but flameless candles are usually permitted.

Many candle makers who have tried soy candle making are quite pleased. Aside from the nice, natural smell of the wax, soy wax also has a very smooth and glossy texture. Additives that are usually added to paraffin and beeswax for hardness and gloss are normally not necessary with soy wax.

Soy wax also costs a lot less than other natural waxes. And there is no need to buy additives or scents. Soy wax melts at lower temperatures…further reducing production costs. Soy wax is ideal for people who want to get into candle making but are on a tight budget. Commercial candle makers like soy wax because of higher profit margins.

If you want to learn candle making, why not start with making soy candles? You can get a soy candle kit online for around $20. The kit should include jars and lids, and enough supplies to make about five candles.

The aroma of a burning candle is something to be enjoyed, but many people find the smoke annoying. This is particularly true with people who have respiratory problems or allergies. They are often not able to take pleasure in using candles. But with soy wax, this can change. Since soy wax is all natural, it doesn’t give off smoke or irritants.

Making soy candles is a fun craft that can be enjoyed as a hobby and also as a business. Soy wax may not be as popular as paraffin or beeswax, but it works just as well. Why not give it a try so that you can appreciate its affordability and eco-friendliness? Although not available in most craft stores, you can purchase soy wax online with a few clicks of your mouse.

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…includes loads of info about making soy candles for hobby or profit

Making beeswax candles is probably to simplest and least inexpensive way to introduce yourself and/or your kids to candle making.  For rolled beeswax candles, you need only a sheet of beeswax and a wick. It is not necessary to melt wax, so is perfectly safe for young children.

Beeswax sheets are available in a variety of colors and can be purchased online or from your favorite craft shop for about $35 for 20 sheets.

We humans have been using beeswax to make candles for hundreds of years. Beeswax candles are clean burning and they give off a warm glow and a sweet, almost honey like aroma.

As you’ve seen in the video, you can make these candles in a variety of sizes and shapes depending on the number of sheets you use and how you cut them. A standard beeswax sheet is 16″ x 8″. So, you can make candles that are up to 16 inches in height.

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…how to make beeswax candles for hobby & profit

Beeswax Candles Supplies

For this project, you’ll need:

* beeswax sheets

* wicks; cut your wick to the length of the candle you are going to make…plus about 3/4 of an inch

* a large cutting board

* a ruler

* a sharp knife

Prime the Candle Wicks

Your candles will burn better if you prime the wicks…which simply means melting a few scraps of beeswax sheet and dipping in your wicks.

The wicks will bubble and sizzle. Stir them until they stop bubbling. It’ll take 1-2 minutes. Then, pull the wicks out and place them on a piece of wax paper. When they have cooled, you’re ready to make your candle.

Roll the Beeswax Candle

Lay the wick along one edge of the sheet of beeswax and press the wick gently into the wax. Gently roll the wax over the wick. Continue rolling the wax keeping it straight and fairly tightly rolled. When you get to the end of the sheet, press the last edge gently into the candle to hide the seem.

How to Make Beeswax Candles that are Unique

For a shorter candle, just cut a sheet in half lengthwise. For a skinnier candle, trim the sheet vertically. For a tapered candle, cut the sheet on a diagonal before you set the wick.

*For a full taper (top to bottom) cut diagonally from opposite end corners.

*For a “pencil top” taper (only the top is tapered) cut diagonally from even points further in towards the middle of the sheet.

Use one half of the sheet you have cut or lay two halves on top of each other to make a double taper…or even a triple taper with three pieces.

Be creative! Try cutting your sheets in ways to make your own unique designs. Use cookie cutters or cut out free-hand shapes to create your own candle shapes. Experiment and have fun as you’re learning how to make beeswax candles.

You can also use two different colors of wax sheets at the same time.

There are literally dozens of different options for rolling beeswax sheets to make candles. Different shapes, different sizes, different colors. But even with all of the options, many people prefer the natural color rolled without taper. Whatever you prefer, I hope you have fun learning how to make beeswax candles.

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make beeswax candles & beautify your home

In this article, I will talk about 6 ways to learn candle making and highlight the pros and cons of each. Whether you want to look before you leap or immediately jump in with both feet, I think you’ll find something here for you.

If you are looking for a fun and creative hobby, then candle making is worth your attention. It is a fairly easy craft to learn and there are extra benefits that come with it. One great thing…if you learn candle making, you’ll be able to sell the beautiful candles that you’ve made at craft fairs or gift shops. Yes, that’s right…aside from creating skillfully designed candles to decorate your home, you can also make extra cash from this fulfilling hobby.

Want to Learn Candle Making?
Check out my sister Sarah’s program
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn candle making for hobby or profit

Many Ways to Learn Candle Making

If you want to learn how to make candles, you need to familiarize yourself with the several methods of candle making and choose the one that works best for you. Here are some ways to learn candle making:

Enroll in a candle making class

Signing up for a candle making class is the best option if you are hesitant to invest in all of the supplies and equipment at once. There are several classes to choose from and you will surely find the type of candle making that interests you. Finding a candle making class is quite easy. You can visit a local craft store and ask if they offer craft classes, or use the Internet to find available classes near you.

Learn from the comfort of your home via online candle making classes

If you are too busy to travel to classes, you can always do it online. There are several websites that offer candle making lessons for people who want to learn while at home. It may not be as effective as hands-on classes, but it can be a great option for stay-at-home moms and other busy individuals. Simply Google “learn candle making” or “online candle making classes” and you will find many options.

Here’s an example of online learning for candle making:

Learn candle making through research

The Internet is full of information with regards to candle making. You can search the web for demonstration videos, candle instructions, ideas for projects and basic information before diving in. There is no limit to what you can find online.

Learn from instructional books

There are several books about the art of candle making sold in the market today. You can check your local bookstore or library to find the latest titles. If that is not feasible, look online for candle making books. Make sure that you read the book thoroughly before starting with your new hobby. It is also important to go over the safety information and the instructions for different projects so you will know what to expect once you get started.

Purchase a candle making kit

If you want to dive in and express your creativity right away, a candle making kit is an ideal option. The kit will normally contain everything you need for a particular project…including instructions. Candle kits are an affordable way to learn candle making.

Ask a candle maker for a lesson

A local gift shop that sells candles usually has a candle maker. You may want to contact the candle maker from the shop and ask if they are willing to teach you the craft. More likely than not, they will be more than willing.

Keep in mind that there are several types of candles such as rolled beeswax candles, votive candles, gels or pillars. And there are several ways of making them as well. Chances are you will find the one that suits your creative skills.

The Best Way to Learn Candle Making?
Check out my sister Sarah’s program
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn candle making & beautify your home

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.

Click here to check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
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.

Click here to check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…candle making instructions for hobby or profit

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

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

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

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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

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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

-Bayberry 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

Learning How to Make Candles at Home is Rewarding

• Making candles is a hobby that lets you unwind and sooth your senses
• More than just a hobby – It’s an art form which allows individuality by creation of “signature” designs
• It’s always a pièce de résistance , or so it seems to the maker
• Learning how to make candles at home isn’t difficult
• Remember  – there is no problem with re-melting the candle and starting over from scratch
• Once your “make candles at home” project is completed and you see the results, you get a tremendous feeling of satisfaction
• Candle making can be an enjoyable experience for the whole family

My sister Sarah’s ebook is a great place to start
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make candles at home and bond with the kids

Required Materials

Before you begin making candles gather a few basic materials:

• Candle molds – can be bought at any craft shop
• Paraffin wax – another basic requirement, it can be bought in blocks, granules or flakes…I prefer flakes.
• Wicks for use with paraffin wax
• Silicone spray when using metal molds
• Double boiler
• Oven mitts

It’s time to get started with your delightful candle creations.

The Candle Making Process

This video will walk you through a 10-step process for making votive candles:

My sister Sarah’s ebook is a great place to start
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn how to make candles at home and beautify your home

Be Careful

Like any hobby there are potential dangers lurking:

• Take precautions around open flames if you have a gas stove
• When hot wax is involved, it can be dangerous, do not leave it unattended

Fantastic kits are available on how to make candles at home. Once you have mastered the basic kit, the next step is technique. A technique kit will help you in developing stunning candles!

You may also wish to investigate local candle making classes as a means of learning how to make candles at home.

Did you know that beeswax candles are some of the simplest candles to make? No mess, no fuss. So if you’re an art teacher and would like a nice clean project for your kids, this could be the one! Not to mention that it will make your classroom smell oh-so-sweet! And learning how to make beeswax candles is completely safe.

Here are some beeswax candle making tips that should help. You probably won’t need any candle making books for this exercise. But if you want to get more complicated, illustrated candle making instructions about how to make your own candles may come in handy.

For the moment, we’re gonna keep it simple. It’s your choice if you venture into gel candle making, making soy candles or other techniques to make make your own candles.

Supplies Required when Making Beeswax Candles.

• Beeswax Sheet
• Primed Wicks
• Sharp Knives
• Cutting Boards

Get Started

Let’s start learning how to make beeswax candles.

• Pass out sheets of beeswax and have the children fold it in half. While they pressing slightly on the wax have them pull it a part into two pieces with their hands.
• Have them lay one of the beeswax pieces on a flat surface or any type of table available. Tell them to position the wick along the beeswax sheet’s border, allowing a half-inch of wick to protrude out at both sides of the candle.

Explain that this is so later they will have the opportunity to decide which end of the candle they would prefer to be the top.

Start Rolling the Beeswax

• Once they have positioned the wick, have them begin rolling their sheet of wax, tucking edges as they go, making sure to seal the wick in. Roll slowly, keeping in a straight line until they have reached the end of the wax sheet.
• Seal edges by pressing sheet lightly with fingertips.

Remind them that pressing too much will cause their candles to crack!

Finishing Touches for Your Candle

• Finally, it is time for them to choose which end they want as their top. Have them trim the wick about 1/2 inches above the wax and remove the wick cleanly at the other end.

The children now have something they have made themselves and any parent would be overjoyed to receive as a gift! You see, making beeswax candles has intangible benefits as well…bonding.

Useful Info About Beeswax Candle Making…for the Kids

While they are learning how to make beeswax candles, throw out a few tidbits of information about candles. The kids learn candle making and pick-up a bit of general information at the same time.

For instance: not only are beeswax candles long lasting and clean burning, but in the 14th century they were one of the most preferred candles because of their naturally sweet aroma.

They have also been given a stamp of approval by the ALA (American Lung Association) as the ideal candle. Other candles such as paraffin candles emit tiny amounts of toxins like benzene, lead, and mercury.

Now….send them home and have them tell their parents to shut off the lights, save on the electric bill and let their beeswax candles light the way!

So if you’re tired of paying for those expensive store bought candles and not quite ready to give up on the ambiance, the following candle making recipes will come in handy.

Balloon and Beeswax
Candle Making Recipes

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…candle making recipes for fun with the kids

Let’s Try a Balloon Candle (pictured above)

Items for a Balloon Candle: obviously a balloon, wax (paraffin) and a sized wick.

Step 1:  Fill balloon with water (No water fights permitted!)

Step 2:  Secure top of balloon

Step 3:  Best using a double-boiler to melt the wax

Step 4:  Keep wax anywhere from 165 to 185 degrees until completely melted

Step 5:  Let cool until almost set

Step 6:  Dip balloon in melted wax, pulling out quickly and letting wax layer cool and set

Step 7:  Dip in wax again, letting that layer cool and set

Step 8:  Continue until a good wax shell develops around balloon approximately 1 cm thick

Step 9:  Pop balloon once satisfied with the shell and remove from candle

Step 10:  While rolling the shell in your hand, add warm wax so that it coats the inside of the shell. Continue adding wax until the inner cavity is nearly filled

Step 11:  Before the last pouring, place a wick in the center of the remaining cavity and then pour wax around it to fill the cavity. The wax will cool and support the wick as it solidifies.

Congratulations! You have completed candle making recipe #1 and created your first candle. You are now ready to get creative and try playing with color, size and style.

The Beeswax Candle

The beeswax candle recipe is even simpler as the wax doesn’t need to be melted.  Items needed are a pair of scissors, a beeswax sheet and a cotton wick.

This candle making recipe involves ten steps.

Step 1:  Fold beeswax in half

Step 2:  Cut along the fold

Step 3:  Lay out one of the pieces

Step 4:  Place wick on edge of beeswax

Step 5:  Leave wick, half an inch, extending over each edge of beeswax sheet

Step 6:  Slowly roll edge of beeswax around wick

Step 7:  Press edge of beeswax gently with fingertips sealing wick in place (Allowing the warmth from your hands to melt the wax, thereby sealing the seam)

Step 8:  Roll candle slowly – keeping a tight, straight line while doing this

Step 9:  At end, attach edge of beeswax to candle with the heat of your fingertips

Step 10:  Trim wick flush on one end for the base and snip wick 1/4 inch from top on the other

Voila!  You have mastered candle making recipe # 2.

Watch this video for a complete demonstration on making beeswax candles.

Remember – it’s all about the fun!

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…learn candle making recipes for hobby or profit

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This article will brief you on what to expect from candle making classes and how to find a class that is right for you.

Candle Making Classes
Business or Diversion?

Whether you are thinking about a new hobby or perhaps investigating the possibility of opening a candle making business of your own, candle making classes can be an entertaining and simple way to carry out your intentions.

Candle making classes are:

• For young and old alike
• An fun and productive way to spend time
• An inexpensive way to learn a skill
• A way to acquire a new hobby
• An option for adding to the candle making skills you all ready have

No time for candle making classes?
Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…learn to make candles for hobby or profit

Candle making classes can be accessed at various locations and offer:

• Exclusive children lessons in candle making
• Both online and offline availability
• A superb way to learn about the different types of candle wax
• Information on required equipment
• Various skills used to create each type of candle…learn to make gel candles, scented candles, etc.

For lots of people, creating candles in a person to person situation is more motivating and appealing then with an online course. You can locate hands-on lessons in the area by:

• Checking with local craft stores
• Calling candle supply shops
• Contacting your library
• Finding a recreational center
• Going to your community center
• Dropping by a civic center
• Surfing online
• Reading the local newspapers

The following illustrations are samples of candle making programs set in a variety of locations:

• One Stop Candle offers classes at Williston Park, NY. Hands-on classes limited in size. Enrollees receive individual attention.
• In Point Richmond, CA, The Nova Studio provides general candle making classes plus those specializing in natural aromatherapy candles.
• Michaels Arts & Crafts located all over the country offers classes in a variety of crafts, including candle making classes.

Taking candle making lessons is a perfect way to find out everything you ever needed to know in order to have a creative, rewarding pastime that may even escalate into a profitable business. Entrepreneurs of all kinds have used what they learned from their candle making courses to begin their own business while doing something they get pleasure from and earning money at home.

No matter what your reason is for participating in a candle making class, go ahead, jump in with both feet and discover  the art of candle making.

No candle making classes in your area?
Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
…candle making for hobby or profit

Put simply, the main challenges of the homemade candle business are as follows:

• Make your candles
• Sell your candles
• Get paid for your candles

Learn the Candle Trade

The venues mentioned below typically offer instructional videos, courses and programs geared toward to starting up a business venture. Gel candle making and making scented candles can fit in to this plan quite nicely.

• Local libraries
• Colleges
• Community centers
• Neighborhood craft stores

Take advantage of what they have to offer. When you make your own candles every bit helps.

And don’t ignore the internet as it is undoubtedly the world’s #1 source of information on how to do just about anything you could imagine. Google is a treasure chest of information on making soy candles, making scented candles or any other of the candle making recipes.

Concentrate First Efforts Here

You need to come to grips fast with homemade candle basics such as:

• Creating or copying unique designs that will sell in your market.
• How to source molds and, preferably, how to make them yourself.
• Where to find reasonable prices for materials like soy wax, beeswax, paraffin and cotton wicks.
• How to select the most appropriate kinds of wicks.
• How to enhance your candles with coloring, decorations, fragrances and special techniques.

No only will you need to know how to make a candle, but you’ll also need some basic business skills.

Attention that Pays

When it comes to producing a saleable product, it also pays to:

• Be aware of who your buyers are
• Be aware of what their needs consist of
• Be original in everything you do
• Be innovative with your packaging, using unique boxes, vibrant ribbons, and ornaments to adorn them
• Be clever by topping off with appropriate gift cards and tags.

Keys to Success

The success of a beeswax or gel candle making business, as with any type of business, is dependent upon your willingness to take the extra steps and put forth a continuous effort to:

• Staying alert to developments in the industry and rolling them out if appropriate to your market.  This applies particularly to product design.
• Perfecting your production process, thereby avoiding waste and producing a consistent quality product.
• Developing a core of regular customers that buy in volume and pay your invoices on time.
• Establishing a policy for setting credit limits and sticking to those limits without exception.   Bad debts are the bane of most businesses, large or small.   You cannot afford to ignore your account receivables.  Appreciate the fact that new customers may not deserve credit terms and insist that they pay cash.
• Being alert to new markets for your candle making recipes, but entering them cautiously when it comes to customizing products and offering credit terms.
• Seeking your buyers suggestions as to what they like about what you do and, on the other hand, areas in which they would like to see improvement.

Inherent Advantages of the Business

Without question, the homemade candle business has the “4 P’s” working in its favor.

• Popular for gifts
• Pleasing to the eye
• Pleasant to the nose
• Pleasurable to the sole

Be Alert But Cautious

However, you must create an efficient, well managed operation to capitalize on these inherent advantages.  Otherwise, consider your homemade candle making purely as a hobby and enjoy using your candles in the home and giving them away as presents.

Imagine the smell of a flower or fresh baked muffins.  Matching your candle making fragrance to your favorite scent can be accomplished with just a few well placed steps.

Consider delving into aromatherapy. Did you know plants have been used through the ages for just this purpose? Fragrances have had an effect on us for as long as we can remember. Drops of Eucalyptus oil are used to open congested nasal passages. Lemon oil is known for lowering stress levels as well as acting as an anti-depressant. You can easily combine your aromatherapy experience with gel candle making. It’s a win-win situation.

Citronella oil aids in repelling insects while Oil of Lavender, calms, relaxes and is said to sooth the savage beast…or was that music? Regardless, see how choosing your candle making fragrance is not just about atmosphere but could be for practical and medicinal purposes too.

Creating Candle Making Fragrance

Everything you need in order to get started can be found as close as your local hobby store or as convenient as surfing the internet. It’s all there, even detailed instructions on how to make scented candles and sell them for profit. You may also want to pick-up a few candle making books.

Bounties of websites are available with endless lists of fragrance oils. With a little practice you will advance quickly in choosing fragrances for making scented candles.  Perhaps, even to the point where you will be able to request a manufacturer to create a “signature” candle fragrance. That’s one of the finer points of learning how to make candles at home that you will pick-up as you progress.

Using the oils is quick and simple.  Just before the melted wax is poured into the mold carefully place 1-3 drops of essential oil per candle so evaporation of the aroma is at a lower risk.

Endless Choices for Candle Fragrance

There are literally hundreds of oils to choose when making scented candles.  Below are a few common oils. However it is the “tip of the iceberg” as they say…there are endless possibilities for candle making fragrance.

And the scented oils go on and on……

As a special note: another way of making candle fragrances is with dry leaves and flowers but it is candles created with fragrant oils that have truly been embraced by those learning how to make a candle.

Words of caution before you purchase your oil for making scented candles.  There are times you get what you pay for.  While you may be tempted to buy the less expensive oils, some can cause mild skin rashes, aggravate the eyes and emit an odor that is far from what was advertised on the label.

If the oil is being bought to make a fragrant candle as a gift, it would be embarrassing if it smelled less than spectacular.  Buy your candle making fragrance from a reputable manufacturer.

Making beeswax candles is a delightful experience. From your efforts at making beeswax candles, you will have created a candle that emits an amazing gentle aroma while making a luminous glow and creating a feeling of contentment.

A beeswax candle is about the simplest candle anyone can make.  It is so simple that it would be perfect as a crafting experience for the whole family. That’s right learning how to make beeswax candles is a fantastic bonding experience.

Because you do not melt the wax, a double boiler will not be need.  Hence, the supplies are few and the mess is minimal.  Gather together the following for making beeswax candle:

1. 8 inch x 16 inch beeswax sheets
2. A prepared wick cut a little above 1 inch
3. A dull knife such as a paring knife or perhaps a razor blade
4. A roomy, flat surface…a countertop or cutting board will suffice.

In preparation, clean your flat surface before you begin making your beeswax candle.  Cut the wick approximately 3/4 inches longer than the edge of the wax sheet. The example below is an 8 inch sheet of beeswax with an 8 3/4 inch wick protruding on both sides.  This allows you to choose which end of the beeswax candle to use for the top.

Place wick along edge of the beeswax.  Fold 1/8 inch of the wax over the wick.  Press tightly left to right, securing the wick in place.  This will be the only time in the process of rolling your candle that you will ever need to firmly press the wax…and candle making instructions often neglect to tell you that.

Proceed to roll the 1/8 inch seam down the length of the countertop. Be sure to roll your candle perfectly straight. Proceed to roll the beeswax to the end of the wax. When making a candle you might decide you want it thicker…just add an extra sheet of beeswax at the end of the first one and continue on until it has been completely rolled. You’ll pick-up more tricks like that as you continue to learn candle making.

Upon reaching the end of the wax sheet, press the edge gently down along the length of the candle.  Smooth out the seam with your thumb.

Using your own judgment, choose the best end of the candle for the top.  Trim the wick 1/2 inch above the beeswax. Remember to cut off the remaining wick from tail end of the candle as well.

Good job! You now know how to make a candle. And all you did was follow these simple candle making instructions.

Now find your favorite candle holder, light the wick, breathe in deeply and smell the sensuous scent of your candle creation!

Gel candles also have a longer burn life than regular wax candles.

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…make gel candles for hobby or profit

Techniques to Make Gel Candles

Wax candles are prepared from an oil base. Gel candles are made with 95% oil and 5% polymer resin.  Resin is added to the mix in powder form but when blended with oil it solidifies.  Gel wax is available in three distinctive densities:

1. High Density
2. Medium Density
3. Low Density

The density of the gel wax determines the amount of fragrance the wax will hold.  In other words, higher density waxes accommodate more fragrance.

An advantage of making thickened gel candles is that decorations suspended in the candle will remain in place as the candle burns. Just bear in mind that higher the density of the gel, the more time required for it to melt and pour.

The basic process to make gel candles is the same as that of making regular wax candles.

• Melt the wax
• Pour the melted wax into a mold
• Allow it to dry

However, the techniques and the equipment to make gel candles is distinctly different from the conventional method of preparing wax candles. For instance, in the conventional method, most people melt their wax with double boilers…very time consuming.

For gel candles, many people use an electric multi-cooker to melt the gel wax. A multi-cooker looks like a deep fryer and is made of metal covered with non-stick coating. They are equipped with a temperature dial for easy temperature control. This method is much simpler, as gel wax can be put directly put into the multi-cooker without having to have two different pots for water and wax. Also, with the double boiler method, you will need to regulate temperature with a thermometer…requiring more of your attention.

Use a metal or hard plastic spoon to stir the gel occasionally. Stay away from wooden spoons as wood often leaves air bubbles in the gel wax mixture.

An Important Safety Precaution! – Be aware that gel wax has a tendency to catch fire, so you must have your chemical fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it.

Dyes are used to alter the color of the wax. To maintain the exact translucency of the gel candles it is advisable to use liquid dyes. Just a small pinch of dye is sufficient to change the color of the wax. Avoid using:

• Crayons
• Clothing dye
• Food colors
• Soap dyes

As you learn how to make candles at home, you will want to at least experiment with gel wax. Learning to make gel candles is fast and interesting. You can create versatile designs and awesome candles, particularly because you can add attractive decorations into the gel wax which will float on the surface or inside your candle.

…And gel candles make fantastic gifts for your near and dear ones.

Check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets of Successful Candle Making
…make gel candles for hobby or profit

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Fragrances can enhance the atmosphere and set the tone in any room. So what better way to accomplish this than by making scented candles?

Here are some scented candle making tips that should help.

Fragrance oils for making scented candles are available either at local craft stores or by going onto the Internet to have them shipped directly to your home. You might also want to include a few candle making books in your order.

It is preferable to use oil instead of water-based fragrances as we all know water and oil do not mix.  Also avoid using an alcohol-based perfume in the wax as well.

What’s so fantastic about creating perfumed candles is that even without being lit the fragrance gives off a scent that everyone notices as soon as they walk into the room.

And homemade scented candles are superb gifts for all occasions and are appreciated by every generation. You can also think about gel candle making as an excellent source of gifts.

The procedure for making scented candles begins just as if you were creating a regular non-scented one.  As there are a multitude of waxes available, take your time and deliberate carefully as this plays an important part in creating your candle. Learning how to make soy candles is a good place to start. Soy wax has a pleasant aroma and it is inexpensive. By comparison, making beeswax candles is more expensive

Types of Wax for Making Scented Candles

You might like to go “Natural” using waxes in the likes of:

• Soy
• Palm
• Beeswax

You may also choose from paraffin wax (used more often then others) or gel wax.  Either one of these selections are excellent for making scented candles. Just remember to keep in mind that the higher the gel density, the better it holds the fragrance. Gel candle making recipes will often provide guidance on gel density.

Steps for Making Scented Candles

Before making scented candles, prepare the mold by placing the wick in the proper position. Once that is done, you may proceed to make your perfumed candle:

1. Set up a double boiler
2. Place the wax in the boiler to melt
3. Check wax often with a thermometer, as temperature should be between a 170 and 180 degree range.
4. Once the wax has completely melted add your chosen fragrance oil
   (a)Remember – the formula is 1 oz. of fragrance oil to 1 lb. of wax.This gives your scented candle a 6 percent concentration.
5. Pour wax into your mold

On a side note: be cautious not to over do it on your fragrance as this will cause the candle to burn incorrectly and to produce puddles of liquid wax.

Creating a scented candle is not always a success the first time around. If you find the aroma is not to your liking, don’t give up. Continue to experiment.  By keeping accurate records you will eventually have a journal of candle fragrances that people will be envious of.

Knowing how to make a candle was once an essential talent, as candles and the moon were the only source of light after dark. The ability to make your own candles is no longer a critical survival skill, but it has developed into a popular hobby for numerous reasons. Books on candle making instructions are in fairly high demand.

Today, wax candles are made for home use and gift giving, as well as for craft projects with children. And for a few enterprising artisans, what started as how to make candles at home has become a business for profit.

Learning how to make wax candles is relatively easy and definitely gives one a rewarding feeling.   Local craft stores have all the items needed to create your own one-of-a-kind candle.  Wax, wicks, as well as molds…it’s all there.  You can also add touches of color, decorations and even fragrances in your homemade candles. Learning how to make soy candles is one of the easiest places to start.

Steps for Making Wax Candles

• First thing is to prepare wax by melting it in a the double boiler
• When wax is completely melted, hold wick in middle of mold and carefully pour in wax
• Allow wax to cool (about 4 to 6 hours)
• Remove from mold

Cooling Tips for Wax Candles

• Sometimes putting a mold into the freezer for no more than half an hour is effective in removing candles from molds with very little difficulty.
• Using any type of non stick cooking spray on the mold is definitely advantageous as well. Once sprayed you then pour your wax into it. You will then be able to easily remove the candle when it cools to room temperature.

The list goes on forever for the types of candles that can be made at home. With assorted fragrances, a plethora of colors and multiple choices of decorations your limit is only how good your imagination is!

How to Create a Latex Mold

Some enthusiasts develop their own molds with liquid latex. However latex molds are too flexible when pouring wax into them. You will have to cut a cardboard hole big enough for mold to pass through but just to the lip. The wax can be pored into the mold as the cardboard supports it. That’s just one of the tricks you’ll pick-up as you learn candle making…and there will be plenty more.

How to Make Wax Candles a Business

Some people have used their love and knowledge of how to make candles at home and have devised a way to create a lucrative business. Simply buy supplies in bulk and at discount prices. Make the effort to create eye-catching packaging for your candles. Don’t forget innovative advertising too!

Candles are an old traditional custom and will never be out dated so as long as you have an imagination the sky’s the limit!