Candle Making For Dummies

Scented candles are popular crafts that people use to decorate their homes or gift somebody on special occasions. These candles not only look beautiful but also spread wonderful fragrance. These decorative candles are expensive due to their rising popularity. Many a times it happens that you do not get long time fragrance of the candle after buying from the store.

Scented Candle Essentials
You must be wondering how to make scented candles at home! The answer is short and simple, all you need is basic equipments, like wax, molding container, scent and follow a proper procedure. Let us make a list of materials required for how to make scented candles.

• Paraffin Wax
• Molding Container of Desired Shape
• Scent
• Thermometer
• Candle Wick
• Pouring Container
• Color
• Heat Source

NOTE: Wax is an inflammable material, you need to be careful while handling it. Keep a fire extinguisher near you, you may need it in case of emergency. If you have small children around, then keep them away from the process of making candle. It is necessary that you take appropriate safety measures during the whole procedure of making scented candles.

How to Make Scented Candles?
Before you start working on making your candle, it is necessary that you arrange the required equipments properly. Paraffin wax is available at all stores and buy the amount that is required for the size of candle you want to make. Then comes the important material i.e. the mold for the candle. Usually pillar candles, that are cylindrical in shape, are common shapes for candles. You will get the molds for this shape at any store that keeps materials required for crafts. If you want to go for different unusual shapes you will have to explore more stores. You can even make scented candles in a glass or any transparent container at your home. Candle wicks are available at almost all general stores. Scents used for these candles are of two types, solid and liquid scents, out of which the aroma of liquid scents lasts longer as compared to solid scent. Buy the color you want to give for your scented candle. There are three forms for wax color, powder, liquid or color chip. Choose the appropriate one that fulfills your needs. You require a thermometer to keep an eye of the wax temperature. Heat source is required to melt the paraffin wax in a pouring container. You can use a simple burner for this. The heat source should be such that it is easy to clean in case the wax spills. For pouring container you can choose a tin container, with a small spout so that it makes pouring the melted wax into the mold easy. Once you have gathered all these materials you can start making the scented candle using steps given below.

Step #1: Place the paraffin wax in the pouring container kept over the lit heat source. Insert the thermometer in the melting wax. The temperature of the wax should not exceed 175 degree Fahrenheit or 80 degree Celsius.

Step #2: Add the chosen color of the wax and stir the mixture slowly. Color chips are the best to work with while making scented candles. Remember the color of the wax changes when it cools down, so add the color accordingly. Later add the scent to the mixture.

Step #3: By the time the wax melts, prepare the wax mold. Place the candle wick at the bottom of the container with its end protruding out. Use a pen/pencil or some wooden support for the same.

Step #4: Once the wax and the added contents are mixed properly, pour the mixture carefully in the mold. The wax will start cooling down and will contract, you need to make some holes on the surface to let go the air stuck inside. The surface of the wax will be a bit sunk near the wick, so add more wax into the mold until you get a flat surface through out. Leave the wax to set and your scented candle is ready.

Step #5: Carefully remove the candle from the mold. Use innovative ideas to decorate the candle.

Instead of spending money buying high priced richly scented candles at the shops, why not learn how to make scented candles at home with very less expenditure. Wouldn’t it be great to make a scented candle by yourself and gift it to your dear ones. You can even teach your friends about how to make scented candles and enjoy the craft.

By Mayuri Kulkarni
Published: 8/20/2009