I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for scented candles. I always make a pit stop at the candle section of my favorite department stores and stock up. Candles add an ambiance to any space that just can't be beaten. I always feel a bit more relaxed when I have a few candles lit in my home.
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A fun DIY project that you can make with just a few ingredients from the craft store are homemade candles. Learning how to make your own candles might not have been a craft that seems easy to accomplish, but it's actually is quite simple! Customize them any way you like with different fragrances and essential oils and colors. DIY candles are also inexpensive and make wonderful gifts for friends and family.
Check out our step-by-step guide and let's get candle making!
Gather Supplies
The first thing you want to do before you get started with the candle making process is to gather your supplies. You will need:
- Wax of choice
- Candle wicks
- Candle containers (mason jars, glass jars, tea cups, etc)
- Fragrance oil/ essential oil
- Candy thermometer
- Saucepan
- Heat resistant bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Superglue
- Chopsticks
Make things easy with a complete candle-making kit.
Instructions
- Once you have your materials, you can get started. The great thing about being your very own candle maker is that you can decide what type of candle wax you want to use. Most candles are made of paraffin wax, but there are many other all-natural options to choose from. I prefer soy wax candles, so you can buy soy wax flakes, even beeswax, and coconut wax. There are also blends of different waxes to purchase. Keep in mind that it's easier to melt down wax flakes, so be on the lookout for bags of flakes.
- Choose your candle container like a mason jar and fill up the container twice with the unmelted wax flakes. This will help make it easier to figure out how much wax is needed for the chosen container. Place the wax melts into the heat-safe bowl.
- Take your candle wick and add a drop of super glue to the bottom of the metal plate and place your candle wick to the center of the bottom of the container. Use a pair of chopsticks between the candlewick so it stays in place and sit them on the container lid.
- Now, you'll want to get your double boiler ready. Fill your saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a simmer. Place your bowl filled with the wax on top of the saucepan and stir with a spoon until the wax fully melts. The temperature should hit around 185 degrees Fahrenheit- use a candy thermometer to keep checking the temperature.
- Remove the bowl from the saucepan and allow it to cool to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Add in your preferred fragrance oil or essential oils and give the wax a stir. You can also add color to the wax at this point if you want. There are dyes you can find at the store for candle making. You can also add pops of color by using herbs or dried flower petals.
- Allow the melted wax to cool to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it's cool, pour slowly into your container. Make sure you're pouring slowly to avoid air bubbles.
- Trim the candle wick and allow your homemade candle to set at room temperature for 24 hours before lighting.
