Scented candles add a nice scent to the air of a home. They can also help to create a mood. For example, the smell of pine and gingerbread can make it feel like Christmas time, or the smell of fresh flowers can create the feeling of spring time even in the middle of a snow storm. Unfortunately, buying scented candles can get very pricey, so why not learn to make your own scented candles? Scent is one of man’s strongest senses that is linked to memory, and by choosing fragrance oils, you can custom blend a scent that reminds you of the first date with your significant other, or a fun day of baking with your children.
Candle making is a fun craft that you could get your children to help you with, as long as they are supervised and not allowed to handle the hot wax. It also makes a great personalized gift for friends or family. Simply follow these tips, and you will become a candle making pro in no time:
Items You Will Need
- Stearic acid
- Paraffin wax
- A glass container
- Waxed wick with a wick tab
- Color dye block
- Fragrance oil(s)
- Aluminum pour pitcher
- A Double boiler or a metal bowl over a saucepan
- An analog candle making thermometer
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1. Measure out the desired amount of stearic acid. The acid should be combined with the wax in a ratio of 1:10, so you would need 30 grams of stearic acid and 300 grams of paraffin wax. Boil water in lower pan of a double boiler. Add the acid to the top of the double boiler (or metal bowl on top of the pan with boiling water). You should never add the acid over direct heat. Add a couple of shavings from a dye color block and allow it to melt.
2. Measure out the necessary amount of paraffin wax and add it to the melted acid. Once the wax has melted, add several drops of the fragrance oil, depending how heavily scented you want the candle. Use a thermometer to determine that the wax has reached the optimum temperature and is completely liquefied at ca. 80°C (or 176°F).
3. Set the wick in place in the center of a glass container. Do this by pouring a small amount of the liquefied wax over the wick tab and the bottom end of the wick and allow it to harden.
4. Keep the wick pointing upward by attaching the end that is out of the glass container to either a pencil or a Popsicle stick and laying the pencil across the top of the container. Leave the wax to harden before continuing on to the next step.
5. Once the bottom on the wick is securely fixed to the inside of the glass container (with the solidified wax), place the container on a piece of newspaper or a tray. This is to make clean up easier if you drip any wax. Pour the wax from the top of the double boiler into an aluminum pouring jug. Then from the pouring jug, pour the liquid wax slowly into the glass jar or container, with the wick still held in the upright position by the pencil.
6. Wax shrinks as it cools, so it will be necessary to poke small holes in the candle around the wick with a sick or pencil after the first pour. The purpose of these holes is to prevent air pockets from developing inside the candle. As the candle begins to harden, the center will sink, so it will be necessary to add more wax or “top up” the candle to get a flat, level top.
7. The “topping up” process will need to be repeated several times. Continue to poke holes in the wax near the wick and topping up the candle until the the top surface of the candle is one flat layer.
8. The candle will take several hours to completely solidify, depending on the size of the candle. Once it is completely firm, remove the pencil and trim the extra length from the wick prior to lighting the candle or giving it away.
There it is, the easy, fun, and inexpensive way to make your own custom scented candles. There are many fragrances available at local craft stores or online, but as you become more skilled with your fragrance combinations, you may choose to purchase essential oils and develop your own custom fragrance lines.
