Introduction to Candle Making
Candles are a truly diverse decorative object. Their column of wax, wick and that little flickering flame can transform any room or large building. From places of worship, to restaurants and your living room, they conjure up images of cosiness and relaxation.
Have you ever thought about making candles from home? Does the thought of designing your own wax models light your fire?! Here are all the candle making tips you need to get started – and I bet it’s easier than you think!
Many experienced candle makers recommend you start off by making a soy candle. They’re simple to work with, you can personalise them however you want and even add fragrance for some extra luxury. You may want to jump straight in and use the double boiler method to melt your wax. However, this is the slowest method. To speed things up, I’m going to give you some candle making tips using that simple item in your kitchen: the microwave!
What you need to make a soy candle:
- Candle making soy wax
- Wax dye
- Wicks
- Wick stickers
- Containers (candle tins or glass containers)
- Microwavable safe plastic container
- Scale
- Pot holders
- Get your containers ready. Prepare your candle tins by inserting the wick and using the wick sticker to keep it nice and secure.
- Melt the wax. We’re keeping things simple by using a microwave, so ensure the container is plastic and won’t blow it up! If needed, break up the wax with a hammer and then weigh it into your container. You want around 6 oz of wax to begin with. Add whichever colour dye you like and heat it up for around 4 minutes. Give it a stir and if it’s not fully melted, place it back in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time.
- Mix it all up. If the dye hasn’t fully dissolved into the wax, just give it a good stir until it does. I recommend stirring for around 2 minutes to give the wax chance to cool.
- Pour in the wax. Add the melted wax to your candle tin, leaving a little bit of space at the top (about the width of your finger). Pull the wick tightly and press it into the opening of the wick bar. This ensures that it stays upright for the cooling process.
- Finishing up. Allow the tins to completely cool and then trim the wick to whichever size you desire. That’s all there is to it! You now have a candle that’s ready to burn for you or a happy customer.
Scented Candle Making
Candles come in a whole range of whacky scents. Fluffy Towels, Reindeer Poop, Bavarian Pretzel and North Pole are some of the strangest ones I’ve come across … What does the North Pole even smell like?!
Either way, the scents help you associate the candle with certain things, like summer or Christmas. It’s easy for you to add scented candle making into the mix when you’re getting creative.
All you need to do is purchase some fragrance oil before you embark on your candle making adventure. You can add the fragrance oil into your melted wax after it’s been in the microwave and mixed with dye – about 2 oz should be enough.
The great thing about scented candle making is you get to be creative. You can mix and choose whichever scents your nose prefers and the scented candle is a more lucrative market than the non-scented candle. Everyone wants their home to smell nice … though some people want their home to smell like pretzels, apparently!
Candle Making Tips
Here are some quick candle making tips to get you on your way to becoming the best candle maker in town!
- Always keep an eye on the wax while it is heating in the microwave. Never let the wax overheat once it liquefies. Use a thermometer if you want to be sure and don’t let the temperature rise above 180 degrees F.
- Remember that it’s an art, not a science. There are no exact rules or guidelines to follow for candle making at home. The best thing (and most fun thing) you can do is experiment with containers, scents and dyes until you discover how to make that perfect candle.
- Always test the type of candle before you sell it. Some combinations of wicks, dyes and scents just don’t burn well together, so testing is vital.
- If you find that the scent isn’t as satisfying as you hoped for, don’t assume that’s down to the fragrance oil! Sometimes, too much dye or the wrong temperature can affect how the candle smells.
- You may notice air bubbles during the cooling process, and air bubbles are the bad guys in the candle making world. To avoid these, ensure that you wash and heat the candle containers before you pour in the wax, and never let the wax cool too quickly.
What are the Benefits of Candle Making?
Candle making is an awesome hobby that anyone can try. Gather some materials today and try it in your kitchen if you don’t believe me! To persuade you some more, here are just a few of the many benefits of candle making.
You can get creative
Candle making is a hobby that requires time and effort, but when it’s done right, the reward of satisfaction is immense! Spend time with friends and family choosing from a creative range of moulds, dyes and scents and you’ll end up with a colourful and exciting candle collection.
Store-bought candles can be expensive
Candles – particularly designer candles – can be an expensive purchase that many people save for special occasions only. Making your own candles at home can save you money and allow you to give personalised, unique gifts to those you love.
Make money
Along the lines of saving money, you can also make money from this hobby! Stick with me, I’ll go into more details about making money from a candle making business later on in the article.
It’s therapeutic
It’s great to turn off the TV, play some relaxing music and get lost in the candle making process. It’s a way to relax the mind and de-stress, as focusing on one creative activity takes your thoughts away from the chaos of the day. Even once the candle making is complete, the fragrances you create can be soothing and therapeutic.
There’s no age limit
Looking for a way to entertain the kids over their school holidays? Candle making is the perfect craft and your kids will love it! Of course, you’ll have to be there to supervise them using hot wax, so it’s great bonding activity that will challenge their mind and boost their creativity.
The Best Candle Making Kits for Beginners
Ready to get started with your new candle making hobby? It can be daunting to begin with and you may be wondering about the best candle making kits for the best results. You can purchase candle making kits at a fair price and can be sure they will have everything you need, with a range of containers, fragrances and even warning labels.
Here are a couple of suitable options for you.
- Candle Science Soy Candle Making Kit. As you already know, soy candles are an ideal place to start. They’re eco-friendly and burn cleanly. With this kit, you can make 12 candles and the most popular fragrances, vanilla and lavender, are in there.
- Country Lane Natural Soy Wax Candle Making Kit. This is a smaller kit, but great if you want to test the waters of candle making. You can make a handful of jar candles and tea light candles and the kit includes one dye and one scent. This is an excellent option if you want a cheap candle making kit.
How to Make Money from a Candle Making Business
This therapeutic and creative hobby can even have you cashing in at the bank. Can candle-making do no wrong?! If you have found that deep love for candle making and scented candle making, it could be time to set up your own business so you can show the world what you can do.
The great thing about a candle making business is there are no limitations. You’ll forever be finding new, unique moulds and concocting scents to die for. Your candle making business will be full of attractive and alluring products for your customers.
Start off by choosing a name and creating a logo that your customers can recognise you by. Build the logo yourself if you’re able to, otherwise you can hire someone else to do it for you. Then, decide what you’re going to sell. Will your business be limited to one type of wax – say soy or beeswax – or will you offer a menu of everything? Keeping it specialised makes you an expert but a wider range of products could mean a wider range of customers.
Next, you have to ensure your business is legal. It’s a boring part of the process, but getting yourself a lawyer may help you further down the line. Your lawyer can make sure you have all of the licenses and paperwork you need to grow into an official business. On the same “boring” note, you may need to set up a business bank account, apply for an employer number and choose your business structure.
Then you can start selling! Choose where you’re going to locate yourself and how you’re going to sell your products. Will you work from home and sell online? Will you attend market places and set up a candle stall? Or will you take the leap and set up your own store?! It’s all up to you. Choose the best option for your own business and you can always go down a different route as your business develops.
Building your own candle making business from scratch is an exciting venture! You can combine your hobby that relaxes and soothes you, and brings out your creative side, with a money-making solution.
Whether your favourite scent is the common vanilla, or the more extreme “Reindeer Poop”, the options are endless and you’re guaranteed hours of fun with this scented candle making hobby.
