Who doesn’t adore candles? Candles not only illuminate our darkness but also provide us with warmth and comfort. You can’t resist the happiness and serenity that embraces you when you’re surrounded by candlelight. It’s no surprise that candles are present at every momentous event in our lives. Candles just make things ten times brighter, whether you’re hosting a party, a family get-together, or even a romantic dinner or date night with your partner.
If you’re also obsessed with candles, it might be time to step up your game. Yes, making your candles is what we’re talking about. Believe us when we claim that making candles offers more joy than being surrounded by candles, if not the same. We’ll cover everything there is to know about candle making in this guide, along with tips on how to master it. So let’s get started.
What Is Candle Making?
You must understand what you are doing and why before you can learn how to accomplish it. Making candles is an enjoyable and soothing hobby, and if you get good at it, you can also turn it into a profitable business. Candle-making is a form of art in which you create your candles from scratch at home.
If you fancy candles, you must have a huge collection of them in a variety of colors and styles. The problem with candles is that, while they are lovely and comforting, they will ultimately burn out and you will have to buy more if you use them frequently. All this takes a bunch of money, especially if you prefer expensive floating candles or scented candles. Making your candles allows you to cut costs while still enjoying your lovely creations.
Is Candle Making A Good Hobby?
If you’re not sure whether candle making is worthy of your time, then these perks listed below may help you decide.
Calming For Your Mind
The aim of taking up a hobby is to calm your nerves and de-stress yourself. Merely burning candles and surrounding oneself with their warm aura is incredibly soothing for the mind, so consider the delights of crafting handmade candles. Candle-making is a calming activity and a wonderful activity if you want to take a break from your hectic schedule.
Improves Your Mood
There are a few things that can instantly brighten your mood. Candles are one of those mystical things. If you’re having a rough day, merely resting in bed with some soft music playing and some scented candles by your side will help you decompress and refresh your mind. Similarly, after a hard day at work, a warm bubble bath with exquisite floating candles will make you forget about everything and help you loosen up.
Makes A Pretty Decor
Candles are a versatile tool for decorating. Candles are the greatest choice for decorating, whether you’re doing it for a party, a special date night, or just to make your home presentable. Candles are one of those few items that will never go out of style and will always make your decor look magnificent.
A Lovely And warm Present
Candles make wonderful gifts for someone you care about since they are a sign of light and warmth. Giving your handcrafted candles to friends or family can be the most heartfelt and warming gift ever.
Can Be Enjoyed With Family
Making candles is a pleasant activity that can be enjoyed with family and children alike. While posing the fewest hazards or dangers, it is simple to understand and execute. Every member of your family can create their candles per their preferences, and you can all have fun as a family. Making candles is also a fun activity for a girls’ night in.
Makes A Good Side Gig
Another perk of making candles is that you can start selling them once you master the craft. This can be an excellent side business since it will let your imagination grow and you can make some extra money. Additionally, homemade candles are trendy right now, and candle lovers are always on the lookout for new designs and hues. As a result, this will be a lucrative job because you won’t have to spend much on manufacturing but will generate enough profit.
Candle-Making Guide For Beginners
Candle-making is quite easy and doesn’t require any special skills or years of practice to master. Anyone from any age group can enjoy making candles at home. The steps are easy to learn and much easier to perform. Additionally, candle-making doesn’t require any expensive tools or ingredients, making it one of the most cost-effective hobbies one can adopt.
What You’ll Need
The basic things you’ll be needing to make candles include;
- Wax of choice (soy wax, paraffin wax, beeswax)
- Candle wicks
- Molds or jars
- Fragrance oils
- Heat-proof containers
- Double-boiler
- Thermometer
- Chopsticks
- Spatula
- Dyes
- Flower petals(optional)
How To Make DIY Candles
When you begin making a candle you must choose what type of candle you want and then set the requirements accordingly. The basics like wax, wick, boilers, etc will be the same for all. However, if you are going for scented candles you’ll need fragrance oils, similarly, if you are looking for colored candles then you’ll be needing dyes and different colorants. The steps are similar with slight additions.
Simple Poured Candles:
Simply poured candles are a good place to start if you’re a newbie. It is a straightforward jar candle that burns the best and is quite easy to make.
Step 1: First you will have to choose what wax you want to use for your candle. Soy candles are organic and environment-friendly, while beeswax is an all-natural wax with natural scents and color, paraffin wax is the least expensive choice.
Step 2: Once you have chosen your wax it’s time to sort out other equipment. For this candle, you will need a jar, candle wicks, and adhesive tape.
Step 3: Take a long wick and stick a small adhesive tape on the flat area of it. Then carefully place the wick in the center of your jar.
Step 4: Now it is time to melt your wax. To do so you will first have to measure it perfectly. Measure the wax by filling your mold and then double the quantity.
Step 5: Melt your preferred wax into a double boiler for 12 to 15 minutes or until completely melted, stirring in between occasionally.
Step 6: While melting your wax you can add a couple of drops of your favorite fragrance oil or dyes if desired. While this step is optional it can enhance the outcome.
Step 7: When the wax is melted completely, allow it to cool for a while, and then pour it into your jar or mold. (check if the temperature has reached 140 degrees then pour)
Step 8: while pouring your wax into the jar make sure to secure the wick and when it’s cooling down ensure that your wick is right in the center. You can do this by using a device like a pencil or chopsticks, attaching the wick to it, and placing it on top of the jar while the wax is hardening.
Step 9: Once the wax is hardened after 4 to 5 hours, take off the pencil or whatever device you have used to center your wick. Then cut the top of your wick and leave no more than a half inch for burning.
Step 10: If your candle has an uneven or cracky top then you can simply melt more wax and add it on top to level it. Your candle is ready to burn!
Other Variations:
- Once you have learned how to make simple candles you can then experiment with a lot of options like different styles and shapes of molds, use dyes and colorants in your wax, or fragrance oils to make scented candles.
- Moreover, you can also add flower petals or small leaves to make them more attractive. To do this simply stick petals or leaves to the wall of your jar or mold using an adhesion-like glue right before adding the melted wax.
- Additionally, you can also use colored crayons to make different attractive hues in your plain candle. To do this just break 4 or 5 crayons depending on the wax quantity and melt them along with the wax.
Mistakes To Avoid As A Beginner:
Candle-making is a relatively simple and easy process. It does not have any risks or dangers involved but still, there are some mistakes that beginner candle makers make. Although it may seem easy, as a newbie you may mess up this easy task as well. To avoid this you must know what mistakes can happen and how to avoid them while making candles, especially if you are trying to open a candle-making business.
- If you are making a scented candle then while adding fragrance oil don’t go on your instinct. You may want to add them according to your preference but that’s not how it is done. When adding fragrance oil, make sure to read the package instructions on your wax. If the instructions are not given just remember to use 1 ounce of fragrance oil per 1 pound of wax. If you add an excessive amount of fragrance oil it will not increase the scent but will make your candle burn poorly.
- Not being patient while making candles is another mistake that beginners make. We understand that you may get excited to burn your first handmade candle but being impatient may cost you. After pouring your melted wax you will have to give a good 5 to 6 hours or even days depending on the wax you’ve chosen to rest your candle before burning it.
- Colors sitting at the bottom and not mixed properly are another common mistake. When using colorants for your candle make sure to use liquid dyes or pigments. Usually, powdered pigments don’t mix well. If you have powdered colorants then you can mix it with a carrier oil and add it to your wax.
- If you are using a mold, you may have a hard time getting your candle out. The reason for candles getting stuck to the mold is that you probably poured the wax when it was still hot. Always let your wax cool down for a few minutes before pouring it.
- If you have cracks or holes in your candle then it may be because your mold or jar was not properly cleaned and dried. To avoid this, you can add melted wax on the top and let it cool again.
- If you are experiencing excessive smoke while burning your candle it may be because you have added a lot of fragrance oil or your wick is too long. Try cutting it short and keep it no more than a half inch. Additionally, add fragrance oil as directed keeping the wax ratio in mind.
- Avoid using food colors to color your wax. Since it is an oil-based material, food colors will not mix properly. Additionally, avoid using any material that may clog your wick.
- Always choose the right type of container. Do not use plastic or thin glass containers since they will not be able to hold the heat and may break or melt.
- Make sure to do a test burn. And do it for a long period to ensure that your candle-making has gone successful and is safe.
Takeaway
Making a candle from scratch is certainly more relaxing than burning one. When you want to block out the outside world and immerse yourself in a warm and comforting aura, candle making serves as a fantastic hobby. It is incredibly simple to learn and to accomplish. Making your own candles allows you to experiment with different fragrances, colors, and designs. Additionally, you can give your homemade candles as thoughtful gifts to your loved ones.