Make Your Own Candles

Making your own candles doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, learning to make candles – and making candles – can be incredibly rewarding. And once you understand the basics, the creative options are virtually limitless – in addition to making simple, molded candles you can create dipped candles, embedded candles and scented votives, and even use essential oils to create your own aromatherapy candles. Most candles are made using virtually the same process, and with a little practice, you’ll enjoy making candles for home décor and personal use, and to give as gifts to friends and relatives.

Candle making requires a few basic materials – from there, you can feel free to experiment with candle fragrances, essential oils, dried flowers, shells and other embedded objects and, of course, colorings.

To get started, you’ll need the following items:

- Small votive molds (set of six or eight) or    larger pillar molds (two or three)

- Silicone spray (to help the candles slide easily from the molds)

- Set of pre-assembled wicks and wick clips

- 1 pound of wax

-  Pitcher for melting wax

- Steamer pot for melting wax

- Stirring stick (wooden is best – metal conducts heat)

-    Thermometer (use a specially designed candle thermometer; a candy thermometer will also work)

-Protective eyewear

-Wax release powder

- Water

Step One: Preparation

1. Before you melt the wax, spray each mold with silicone and set it on a clean, protected countertop.
2. Next, break the block of wax into smaller pieces using a hammer and protective eyewear (you may want to place the wax in a plastic bag or cardboard box for easy clean up). You will need approximately one pound of broken wax.
3. Heat half a gallon of water in the steamer on a hot plate or cooking stove.
4. Place the wax in the melting pitcher.

Step Two: Melt the Wax

1. As soon as the water in the steamer boils, place the pitcher of wax into it.
2. Stir in a tablespoon of the release powder as soon as the wax is melted.
3. Let the wax "cook" for twenty to thirty minutes. The wax temperature should reach 190F.
4. Stir in optional color or additives while the wax is cooking.

Step Three: Fill the Molds

1. Place a pre-assembled wick clip and wick in the bottom of each mold (the wick should stand straight up through the middle of the mold).
2. Gently and carefully pour the liquid wax into the mold until it reaches the top. Use caution: hot wax can be dangerous!
3. Straighten each wick and let the wax cool slightly, then top off each mold with more wax to create an even top surface.
4. Let the wax-filled molds cool for one day.

Step Four: Empty the Molds

1. Once the wax has cooled, slide candles from the molds.
2. Clean each mold and store for future use.

Step Five: Enjoy Your Candles!

1. Give your candles as gifts, or use them to decorate your home.

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of candle making, you can also include the following optional items:

-    Different shaped candle molds

-    Shells, dried flowers and other small objects to embed

-    Blending or layering colored wax for striped or swirled Candles

-    Essential oils and specially prepared scents for creating aromatherapy candles

-    Making decorative "filled" candles using ceramic or metal cups, plant pots and containers.