Candle Making Basics

The candle making basics should be pretty easy to follow, but as anything worthwhile goes, it will be a little time consuming, it will take a little elbow grease to get going, and a bunch of patience to get it right.

First thing you should always do is read the instructions on all the molds, scents, wax, colors, and any other products you have purchased for your candle making.

Remember that molds may have some sharp edges especially metal molds.

Work Area

You are going to want a fairly large area with room to work in A kitchen table works nicely for this. The next thing you are going to want to do is cover the work area with newspaper, wax paper, cardboard, something just in case any wax spills.

Note: Avoid pouring wax near the sink or drains. Also wearing clothes that you don't mind possibly ruining is advisable.

Mold Prep

Basically this is just getting your wick in place for when your ready to start making your candle. Since molds are diffrent from each other, be sure to read and understand how the wick for your mold is put in.

Melting Wax

You should use a high quality candle wax or premium candle wax. The reason for this is that they are usually formulated for home made candles so they do not need any additional additives.

You will be wanting to break up the wax that you buy into smaller and easier to handle chunks.

Melt the wax in a double broiler until the temperature get to 200 degrees

Note: Do not leave the wax unattended

Adding Color

You may want some color for your candles so when the wax hits 200 - 210 degrees you will want to move the wax off of the heat heat source and add the color you wish to the wax and stir.

Remember the dye you will be using is highly concentrated. Add slowly, if you want to see if its the desired color drip a little on some wax paper and let it dry. If its not the color you want add more dye and test again till you have the color you want.

Note: Please read The instructions on the ratio to wax to use at first

Adding Scents

Add your sent the more scent you add the stronger it will be, make sure to stir to mix it well with the wax. A warning here to much sent (scents are often oil based) if you add to much scent, often times it will cause mottling and imperfections on the candle.

Note: Please read The instructions on the ratio to wax to use at first

Wow all that prep just to make a few candles but now we start the fun stuff the actual candle making part.

Pouring Wax

Make sure your mold is at the proper temperature read the instructions that came with the mold you are using (this often is room temp or a bit hotter), pour your wax into the mold to the desired height, save a minimum of 1 cup of wax for the settling of wax.

Safety Reminder: Be very careful here the wax is very hot and can burn you and others, so its important that when pouring that pets and children not be in the area.

Fixing

I call this fixing, what you really are going to be doing is is filling in the cracks, craters, areas where air bubbles have formed.

About 40-50 min after pouring (sometimes more or less depending on the size of the candle) these imperfections start happen. Insert a dowel two to four times angles towards the wick , this will held relive the tension on the surface. Refill any areas with the left over wax you saved, careful here you do not want to add to much.

Repeat this again if needed in another 45 min, this process may take 2 to 3 times.

Wait Time

This is the hard part, you have to wait for you candle to solidify once again. This may take eight or more hours, you can speed this process up by putting it in the refrigerator for about a hour to help speed up the drying of the wax. When the mold is cool to the touch the candle is ready to be removed (I would wait a extra hour after this just to be sure).

Warning: Leaving your candle in the refrigerator to long can cause cracks in the candle.

Now all you need to do is remove the the candle from the mold, once again follow the instruction you got with that mold.

Then clean the mold for the next time you decide to make a candle.

And lastly Enjoy your candle.


Candle Resources


The Secrets to Successful Candle Making

How To Make Your Own Gourmet Scented Candles

Candle Maker's Companion