The gentle flicker of a candle can transform a room, creating a cozy atmosphere and filling the air with your favourite scent. While buying artisanal candles is a wonderful treat, the satisfaction of burning a beautiful candle that you crafted with your own hands is unmatched.
If you’ve ever been curious about trying it yourself, the good news is that it’s surprisingly straightforward. This guide will walk you through every step of making your first scented container candle, demystifying the process and empowering you to create something beautiful in your own kitchen.
Part 1: Gathering Your Supplies for candle making
Before you begin, you’ll need to gather some essential equipment. Think of this as your beginner’s shopping list.
- Wax: For beginners, soy wax flakes are highly recommended. They are easy to measure, have a clean burn, and are forgiving to work with.
- Containers: Heat-proof glass jars, ceramic pots, or metal tins work perfectly. A 20-30 cl (7-10 oz) jar is a great starting size.
- Wicks: Look for pre-waxed cotton wicks that come with a small metal base (a wick sustainer tab). The packaging will usually indicate what size container the wick is suitable for.
- Fragrance Oil: Use oils specifically designed for candle making, as they are formulated to burn safely and blend well with wax.
- A Pouring Pot: A simple metal or heat-proof plastic jug with a handle and spout for melting and pouring wax.
- A Saucepan: This will be used with your pouring pot to create a double boiler.
- Kitchen Thermometer: A digital food or candy thermometer is perfect for monitoring wax temperature.
- Wick Centering Tool: You can buy these, but a simple clothespin or two chopsticks laid across the top of the jar works just as well.
- Kitchen Scale: For accurately measuring your wax and fragrance oil.
Part 2: The All-Important Safety Briefing
Safety first! You are working with hot wax, so always be mindful.
- NEVER leave melting wax unattended.
- Keep a clear workspace and cover your surfaces to protect them from spills.
- Keep water away from your melting wax, as it can cause it to spit and bubble dangerously.
- Wear an apron to protect your clothes.
Part 3: The Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Measure Your Ingredients
- Wax: A simple rule of thumb for volume is to fill your chosen container with soy wax flakes twice. This will give you roughly the right amount of wax once melted. For accuracy, place your empty jar on the kitchen scale, set it to zero (tare), and then fill it with water to where you want the wax to be. The weight of the water in grams is a good estimate for the amount of wax you’ll need.
- Fragrance: A general starting point is a 6-8% fragrance load. So, for 200g of wax, you would use 12-16g of fragrance oil.
Step 2: Prepare Your Jar Take your wick and dip the metal base into your pot of melting wax (or use a dab of superglue) and fix it firmly to the bottom centre of your container.
Step 3: Melt the Wax Fill your saucepan with a few inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Place your pouring pot containing the measured wax flakes into the saucepan. This double boiler method ensures the wax melts gently and evenly. Stir occasionally until all the flakes have dissolved. Use your thermometer to monitor the temperature, aiming for around 85°C / 185°F.
Step 4: Add Fragrance & Cool Once the wax is fully melted, take it off the heat. This is a crucial step: let the wax cool slightly before adding your fragrance. Adding fragrance when the wax is too hot can cause it to burn off. Add your measured fragrance oil when the wax is around 80-85°C / 180-185°F (check your fragrance oil’s instructions). Stir gently but thoroughly for about two minutes.
Step 5: Pour the Wax Allow the scented wax to cool further to about 55-60°C / 130-140°F. This helps prevent cracks and “sinkholes” from forming. Pour the wax slowly and steadily into your prepared jar.
Step 6: Secure the Wick Use your clothespin or chopsticks to clamp the wick and lay it across the rim of the jar. This ensures the wick stays straight and centred while the candle sets.
Step 7: Let it Cure Patience is key! Your candle needs to “cure” for at least 3 to 4 days, and up to two weeks for the best results. Curing allows the fragrance oil to fully bind with the wax, resulting in a stronger scent when you finally light it. Place it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Step 8: Trim the Wick Before you light your candle for the first time, trim the wick to about 5mm (1/4 inch).
Now, you can sit back, light your very own homemade candle, and enjoy the warm glow and beautiful scent you created from scratch. Happy making!