CANDLE MAKING TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS -USING A UNIQUE CONTAINER

Candle in sterling container with tulips

Have you ever bought a candle, and when you get it home, it looks out of place and doesn’t fit in with your decor? But you ignore it because you love the smell. Then do as I did and made your own candle with this easy candle-making tutorial.

Or do you have a container you’re not using, and you know it would look amazing as a candle? The answer is to make your own candle.

The many benefits of candle-making are the freedom to choose the container, the wax, the scent, and the color.

If you can follow a recipe, you can follow this candle-making tutorial and make your own candle. With a few simple, easily accessible ingredients and you will be on your way to making candles.

And who knows, besides making candles to enjoy, it is possible to become a successful at-home business making candles.

WHAT PROMPTED ME TO MAKE MY OWN WAX CANDLE

I recently bought a dough bowl candle, and I thought it was so clever, and it went perfectly with my decor. You can find the candle I purchased here

This prompted me to start looking at containers differently. I focused on unique containers that would not be typically made into a candle.

While thrifting, I came across a beautiful silver container and I immediately knew I was going to make it into a candle.

CANDLE MAKING TUTORIAL SUPPLIES NEEDED

Here are the supplies I used:

As an Amazon affiliate, I found the items used for these projects on Amazon for your shopping convenience at no extra charge to you! Also, your shopping may help this blog!

I started by purchasing a candle-making kit because I was starting from scratch, and it had most of the supplies I needed.

I had to buy extra paraffin wax, which is the more economical wax, because my container was large, and I needed more than what was supplied in the kit.

To determine the amount of wax that is needed for the project, there is a standard formula to follow..

Multiplying the number of candles by the amount of wax needed per candle, divide that number by 20 because the wax is less dense than water.

I was making 1 (candle), x 32 oz (container size) = 32 (total ounces) 20 (by volume) = 1.6 lbs of wax.

1. PLACE WICK INTO CONTAINER

First, I had to decide how many wicks I needed. Many online informational charts can help with this as many factors can influence the number of wicks needed.

The circumference of my container was 5.5 inches, so I needed at least two wicks for a good burn. I decided on three wicks so it would look symetrical.

The wick is pre-waxed with a metal piece on the bottom. Stickers are provided to be attached to the metal, which helps keep the wick in place.

Even thought the wicks were waxed, I added support with bamboo sticks I had, this helped the wicks stand straight. Pencils can also be used for this purpose.

MELTING THE WAX

Pot of water with smaller pot sitting inside

A double boiler is the best way to melt wax….but if you don’t have a double boiler put a pan half-filled with water to boil on the stove. Once it’s boiling, turn down the heat so it is only simmering, and place a metal or heatproof glass container in the pan so that the base is only just touching the water. This will slowly melt the wax.

Do not rush this process…wax is scolding hot and can cause severe burns if it comes in contact with your skin. A strong boil could cause wax to splatter out of the container.

It took a couple of fills to top off my container.

ADDING FRAGRANCE – OPTIONAL

Adding fragrance in the form of candle fragrance or essential oil is totally optional. I had essential oil on hand, so I wanted to experiment with it. Again, there is a lot of information on how, when, and how much fragrance to use. The simple answer in the industry standard is considered 0.5 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax, and the optional time to add the fragrance is 180-185 degrees.

Silver container filled with wax which is hardening

Allow wax to harden and for the container too cool.

CANDLE MAKING SAFETY

Candle making is generally a very safe craft, but here are a few safety tips to keep in mind while making. your candle

Use safety goggles when pouring the wax into the container, preventing the wax from splashing into the eyes.
Make sure you have pot holders for handling pans and hot equipment.
Wear long sleeve shirt and shoes.
Keep workspace well organized.
Don’t leave the area unattended, especially if small children are nearby.
Use the proper equipment
Have a first aid kit nearby.

I learned candle-making is more than melting wax. Many factors influence a perfect candle, both esthetically and functionally.

I also learned there are many sources on the internet and books that provide in-depth information for learning.

Candle-making can successfully go from hobbyist to at-home business. If you are a crafter thinking about starting your own business, you may be interested in these posts. These crafts also have the potential for at-home business, DIY Wall Art, Home Decor Using Shells, and Black and White Art.

I would love to hear from you and if you have any questions… leave a comment!