HANDMADE DECORATIVE CANDLES...
Making your own homemade candles is a lot easier
than you think. It’s not as tedious and complicated as it looks. It’s an
exciting craft that’s easy to get started with some basic tools and a
few candle supplies. Whether you want to start your own business or
simply for a hobby, the procedures for a basic candle are pretty much
the same. Here are steps you can follow to make your basic scented
homemade candle:
- Prepare all necessary materials in making scented homemade candles. You’ll need candle molds, wax, wicks, double boiler, candy thermometer, scented oil or dye. To save on costs, you may use paper cups, muffin pans and any other type of container that can give an amazing shape to your candles. If you’re just starting, it’s suggested that you use paraffin wax as they’re affordable and readily available at any candle supply store. The amount of wax and wicks you’ll purchase depends on the number of candles you want to make. Also prepare the wick by cutting it around 2-3 inches longer than the height of your candle mold.
- When you’ve got everything you need at hand, move on to preparing the wax. Melt the wax at a double boiler. For beginners, you do this by boiling water over a large pot and then placing a smaller pot inside which is used for melting wax. This is the safest way to melting wax as it ensures that it doesn’t catch fire. If you have big chunks of wax, make them small using a serrated knife before melting them. Using a candy thermometer, make sure that the temperature of the wax doesn’t exceed 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once the wax melts, you may now add the scented oils or dye. You need to use oils specially designed for candle making. For an average sized candle, you may use 30ml or 1/8 of a cup. Stir in the scented oil and dye into the wax. Mix it well until everything is well distributed and the color is thoroughly consistent. Remove it from heat and set it aside.
- Quickly prepare your mold or candle container. Spray your mold with peanut oil or silicone spray so that the candle doesn’t get out of shape when removed from the mold.
- Now it’s time to pour in the wax to your molds or containers. Remember to leave about an inch from the top, don’t fill the mold completely. Before the wax hardens, insert the wick. To do this, tie the top of the wick around a pencil and rest the pencil over the top of your mold. Others suggest that you hold the wick while pouring the melted wax. You can use a clothes’ pin to hold up the wick while you’re pouring in the wax. See which method best works for you. Keep in mind that you need to keep the wick straight when making homemade candles.
- Finally, let the wax cool down. When the mold is large, the candle often shrinks in the center of the mold. If this happens, you can add in more wax to reach the height of the surrounding wax or you can use a hair dryer to smooth out any divots. A small candle may harden in just 3-4 hours while a bigger one may need 8-12 hours to solidify. Only remove the candle from the mold when it’s hard enough. If you encounter problems getting the candle out, use a knife to go around the edges.
Making candles is that simple. When you gain more
experience in making homemade candles, you’ll be able to express your
creativity more effectively. You can adorn candles with different
embellishments or add your favorite fragrance to your candle. You may
even study how to carve unique designs into the wax candle for extra
enhancements. You can also purchase dried flowers and potpourri and mix
them into the wax for an attractive design. The possibilities are just
endless. Try making your own candle today.
