How to Make Candles at Home: DIY Guide + Tips from the Master

Candles are one of those little indulgences that can brighten the day.They’re a work-from-home staple and the perfect companion for a relaxing evening.But sometimes the indulgence part is emphasized—it’s not uncommon for luxury candles to list $60 or more these days.This has many candle connoisseurs wondering, “Can I make this myself?”
Of course the answer is yes!Making your own candles at home is not only economical but fun.It’s one of those comforting projects that takes you back to basics and connects you to past generations of people who have created things with their own hands.Plus, it gives you precise control over the ingredients in your clean burning candle.
Ready to make your home a little brighter?Here’s everything you need to know about making DIY candles.
The idea of ​​a craft involving heat can be a little intimidating, but candle making can be as easy or as adventurous as you want.You can follow the easy process in just three steps, or add your own scents, layers, multiple wicks, and more.
The following method is an easy-to-follow process that even beginners can tackle.This is something you can even do with older children and supervision.Don’t overthink it or try to perfect it the first time – that’s what practice is for.
You only need a few supplies to make DIY candles at home, and while they may not be ordinary household items, they are easy to find and source online.
Use a measuring cup of water to measure accurately by filling the container with water and then pouring it into the measuring cup.That’s how much melted wax you need.Another way to measure is to fill the container with dry wax flakes and multiply by 2.
If you’re only using one wick, place it in the middle of the bottom of the container.If you use more than one, place them evenly.At this point, you’ll need to attach the wick to keep it straight.An easy option is to use masking tape and popsicle sticks to form brackets on top of the container to hold the wick in place.
Heat the wax in a pan on the stove until it becomes the consistency of liquid oil.You can clean the pan and use it for food again later, but you can also use a double boiler for this step if you’re concerned about messes.Fill a pan with water, then place a heat-resistant container with wax in or on a water bath.Bring the water to a boil and stir until your wax has melted.Carefully remove the wax from the heat source.
If you use any essential oils to scent your candles, now is the time to add them.Make sure your wax has cooled below 140 degrees Fahrenheit or the essential oils may be damaged.Add up to 20 drops to a 16-ounce candle.You usually need more scent than you expect.
Once it’s completely cooled, trim the wick to about a quarter of an inch, light, and enjoy your scented and economical candle!
When you’re eager to dive in and learn the art of candle making, the best place to go is an expert.It’s important to keep candle-making simple and fun, advises Roxanne Kwiecinski of The Hive House, but to make things more fun, she says, “I tried different molds and other accessories!”
For those of you who’ve done your first few dumps, it may be time to start paying attention to details, including smoothing out cracks and craters that may have formed after the candle was set.Brittni Mehlhoff of Paper & Stitch advises: “To get a perfectly smooth candle, use a small heat gun, such as an embossing heat gun, and re-melt the surface while moving the heat gun in a circular motion. Once re-set, the candle will It’s beautiful and smooth.”
Mixing scents is also one of the joys of candle making, something Anna Sproul-Latimer is passionate about when she pursues her candle making hobby.However, smells are not always what they seem.”Smell test every combination of essential oils or essential oils before you make candles,” she says. “They never come together the way you think.”
And, if scented candles seem to fail, don’t be discouraged.”Be patient,” says Sproul-Latimer. “Wait a week at least for the scent to fully heal. Then, burn a test candle and see what you do.”
You can usually find your supplies at craft stores, big box stores, or online.The supplies needed are simple, but you can simplify it by purchasing a DIY candle making kit.As you start figuring out what works best for you, you can expand and try other projects.
Beeswax candles burn slowly and are cleaner than petroleum-derived paraffin candles, but they do have a light scent, even if not.Soy wax also burns cleaner than paraffin and retains its fragrance, but it’s often mixed with other oils, so you’ll have to do your homework before buying.
Any heat-resistant container is fair game.You can use glass jars, travel jars or ceramic options.(If you do use glass, make sure it’s thick enough to withstand the heat.) You can even reuse old candle containers you bought from the store!
When choosing a scent for your candle, you’ll want to choose oils with stronger, longer-lasting scents, including eucalyptus, cinnamon, orange, or pine.Try combining your main scent with less dominant scents to achieve the perfect balance.Check out this blending guide for more inspiration.
You can then test the scent combination by placing the mixture on a cotton ball and smelling it.Before choosing to add oil to the wax, adjust the ratio as needed.
Yes!A layer of aluminum foil on your counter before you start will make it easy to clean up.Make sure to quickly clean any oil that gets onto your home’s surfaces: as long as the oil is still liquid, it’s easy to wipe off.Once it freezes, that’s when things get dangerous.At that point, you’ll need to scrape off the wax or try freezing it with ice, at which point it should break.
How many times have you burned a beautiful new candle only to find that the wax digs a hole in the middle after it dries?This is easy to avoid, as long as you make sure to burn the candle the first time you burn it until it is evenly distributed over the entire surface.
Make sure to avoid short-term burns in the future as well; aim to keep your candles burning for at least an hour at a time, but no more than four, as they lose their fragrance after that.
Making your own candles ensures you always have a candle on hand to burn or give to friends and family.Candle making is also a fun hobby that’s easy to upgrade: try new scent combinations and containers, and find an iconic candle that will give you warm fluff every time you light it.