Candles have an extraordinary magical power and are loved by majority of people. Some love them for the flickering flame, some for the fragrance. Some found candles excellent for romantic evenings to create a magical and relaxed atmosphere that allows them to roll in place. And for others, the affection originating from the flame of a candle gives a feeling of comfort and connection.
Making candles for your loved ones is a charming idea. You can create unique and customized candles that suit the occasion. In terms of color, scent, size, shape, and style, candles are adaptable and adept as a gift, decoration, or aesthetic element. In this article, I will show you how to make candles using different types of waxes plus unique elements.

Types of waxes

There are many different types of waxes used to make candles. Let’s have a short discussion on them.

Beeswax

It’s natural and has a unique scent and air-purifying qualities. But it has a high melting point. So add palm oil in a 1:1 ratio before melting the beeswax.

Paraffin wax

It’s the far most popular wax and melts quickly. It’s suitable for beginners as it’s cheap and promptly colored and scented. But it’s a petroleum derivative, contributing to poor air quality.

Soy wax

It’s vegetable wax and eco-friendly. It’s easy to use and clean. It burns slowly as compared to other resins. That’s why it’s becoming the favorite wax for candle making.

Recycled Wax

Recycling is the need of the hour. So if you have residues from old candles, give them a priority. Make a habit of collecting the candle residues from friends and family if candle making is your hobby.

How to make a candle at home in the jar?

Jar candle supplies list:

• Candle-making Wax
• Candle wicks
• One bottle of fragrance oil
• Spatula to stir the melting wax
• Heat-proof container
• boiler
• A thermometer
• A pair of chopsticks or pencils
• A clean and dry jar

Jar candle-making process

Step 1. Shreds the wax

Smaller slabs of wax are better than larger ones, so cut the larger pieces.

Step 2. Prepare the double boiler

Half fill the large pot with enough space to pace the smaller container. Place the smaller chunks of wax into the heat-resistant container in the half-filled larger pot. In this way, you are creating the double boiler.

Step 3. Melt the wax to a specific temperature.

You cannot put candle wax directly on heat, or it will catch fire or evaporate. Turn the heat to high so that the water boils. The boiling water will slowly melt the wax.

Step 4. Note the temperature

Use a candy or candle thermometer to note the temperature of melting wax.

Keep melting until it reaches

• 50° and 60°C for paraffin wax
• 76.6° and 82.2°C for soy wax
• 79.4°C for beeswax
• 85°C for recycled wax

Step 5. Prepare the wick

Hold the wick by the base and dip it into the melting wax. Make sure the wick is straight during the drying of the resin. It will make it easy for you to position in the base of the candle jar.

Step 6. Stick the wick to the base of the jar

Now dip the base of the wick melting wax and take it out. Position the base of the wick at the bottom of your candle jar. Use a pair of chopsticks or pencils to hold the wick in a straight position.

Step 7. Add color to the wax.

Keep stirring the wax as it melts. Chop the color block and add it to the melting wax. Stir it until all dye has melted and evenly spread in the wax.

Step 8. Add fragrance oil.

Allow the wax to cool off for 20 to 30 minutes. Then pour fragrance oil into the wax. It will prevent the fragrance from burning and the wax from cracking down from the candle’s centre.

Step 9. Pour the wax into a jar

Fill one ¼ with the wax and wrap the jar with a clean towel to prevent quick cooling and cracking.

Step 10: Add more wax and trim the wick.

To avoid a deformed top of the candle, reheat the remaining wax and pour at the top with care. Lastly, trim the wick to be half an inch long.

How to make a candle at home using candle mold?

Pillar candle supplies

All the required supplies are the same like jar candles. The main difference is the mold as the pillar candles stand alone. You can choose any one of the following mold to make pillar candles.

• Milk carton
• Old juice box
• Empty juice tin
• A proper candle mold

Pillar candle-making process

Step 1. Prepare the Wax

• Melt the wax in a double boiler.
• Add dye when it’s completely melted.
• After 20 minutes, add the fragrance oil.

Step 2. Prepare the wick.

• A proper candle mold has a hole in the bottom to thread the wick through it and then tighten the wick screw. Make sure to seal the hole to avoid the dripping of wax properly.
• For milk or juice boxes and other DIY molds, dip the wick in the melting wax, glue it to the bottom of the mold and use a pair of chopsticks to hold the wick in place.

Step 3. Pouring of Wax and making holes

Pour the wax into the mold and allow it to cool for some time. To prevent cracking, use a chopstick to poke four holes around the wick. Allow the wax to completely cools off.

Step 4. Reheat the remaining wax to fill the holes.

In the double boiler, reheat wax and pour it onto the top of the candle to fill the holes. Allow the candle to dry.

Step 5. Refrigerate the candle

When the candle has set, refrigerate it for 15 minutes. By doing so, the candle will easily slide out of the mold. Don’t forget to trim the wick.

How to make a shortening candle?

• Shortening candle supplies list
• Vegetable shortening
• Crayons for color
• Essential oil for aroma
• A jar

Shortening candles making process

• Melt the vegetable shortening in the double boiler at medium heat until it is completely melted.
• Remove the paper from the crayons and chop them before adding to hot shortening. Stir the mixture until the color preads evenly in shortening.
• Allow the mixture to cool off for 10 minutes, then add the fragrance oil.
• Prepare the wick as done before for making jar and pillar candles.
• Pour the shortening into the jar, leaving about an inch at the top. Let it cool at room temperature.

How to make floral candles at home?

Floral candles supplies

• Paintbrush
• Dried petals of the flower
• Color that matches the petals
• Fragrance oil that matches the petals

Floral candle-making process

Use the jar candle-making process to melt the wax and prepare the wick. Use a paintbrush and melted wax to adhere the dried petals to the side of the candle jar. Let it dry. Pour the melted wax into the jar, and you get a floral candle when it cools off.

How to make buried treasure candles?

Buried treasure candles supplies list

• An inexpensive treasure like small toys or jewellery
• Gel wax

A buried treasure candle making process

To make this type of candle, perform all the steps mentioned above for creating a jar candle. Just use gel wax and place the cheap treasure into the jar before pouring the resin.

Takeaway

• Don’t pour the wax into the basin; it will clog the bay.
• Don’t use too many crayons to add color. That will stop the candle from burning.
• Store your candles in a cool, dry place to avoid discoloration and fragrance loss.
• Avoid any debris in your molten wax. Otherwise, you will get black burning.
• Please don’t touch the candle until it has thoroughly cooled.
• Candle-making is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. So take care!