Making Your Own Candles

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Most homes, including my own, have candles. Many are bought from shops or online, but there are several reasons why making your own candles can be a rewarding and worthwhile project.

It doesn’t matter what season we are in; candles are an added accessory to the home that can bring us warmth, joy, and peace. Many candles are available to purchase nowadays, and prices range from very low to expensive, so we thought we would look into a way of making your candles.

 

Seven reasons why you should make your own candles

Creative Expression: Making your candles allows you to unleash your creativity. You can choose the wax, fragrances, colours, and container styles that align with your personal preferences and home decor.

You can experiment with combinations to create unique and customised candles that reflect your individuality. If you’ve ever looked on Pinterest, you’ll find some beautiful ideas for making candles.

Cost-Effective: DIY candle making can be a cost-effective alternative to purchasing commercially made candles. Buying the necessary materials in bulk can save money in the long run.

Additionally, homemade candles make great gifts for family and friends, saving you from buying expensive store-bought presents.

So many people buy expensive candles and never burn them because they feel it wastes money. Keeping a candle unlit means you won’t appreciate the scent captured within the wax and smell its fragrance.

Quality Control: When you make your candles, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients used. You can choose natural and eco-friendly waxes like soy or beeswax, which are renewable resources and emit fewer toxins than petroleum-based candles.

You can also select high-quality fragrances or essential oils to ensure a pleasant scent without harmful additives. This is ideal for anyone in your household who enjoys the smell of candles but suffers from the toxins when burning.

Customisation: One significant advantage of making your candles is the ability to customise them according to your preferences.

You can create candles with specific scents, colours, and container styles to match moods, occasions, or seasons. The possibilities are endless, whether you want calming lavender candles for relaxation or festive cinnamon-scented candles for the holidays.

Related article: reusing candle jars

Therapeutic and Relaxing: Making candles can be therapeutic and relaxing. It allows you to slow down, focus on the present moment, and engage in a mindful activity. The aroma and warm glow of candles can create a soothing ambience, promoting relaxation and stress relief in your home—something that we all strive for, especially during current times.

Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly: Making your own candles can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. Using natural waxes, reusable containers, and eco-friendly materials reduces your environmental impact compared to buying disposable or heavily packaged candles.

You can also recycle or upcycle containers and re-purpose old candles, minimising waste. This topic is huge in the world now, and we should all do our bit to help the environment.

Sense of Accomplishment: Making something with your hands can be incredibly fulfilling. Seeing your finished candles, enjoying their fragrance, and basking in the soft glow can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.

It’s a tangible result of your creativity and effort, just like the days when you were at school and made something from scratch. It’s a wonderful feeling when we have created something ourselves.

Overall, making your candles allows you to personalise your living space, save money, control the quality of ingredients, engage in a satisfying and creative hobby, and be a rewarding activity.

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Making your candles-ingredients and tools

1. Buy your materials:

– Candle wax (such as soy wax, beeswax, or paraffin wax)

– Candle wicks

– Containers (glass jars, tins, or moulds)

– Wick stickers or hot glue

– Wick holders (pencil, clothespin, or chopstick)

– Fragrance oils or essential oils (optional)

– Dyes or colourants (optional)

– Thermometer

– Double boiler or a heat-safe container and a saucepan

– Stirring utensil (metal spoon or wooden skewer)

– Heat-resistant surface or newspaper

– Scissors

2. Prepare your containers:

– Clean and dry your containers thoroughly.

– If you’re using glass jars, ensure they are heat-resistant to prevent cracking.

3. Attach the wicks:

– Use a wick sticker or a small amount of hot glue to secure the wick at the bottom centre of the container.

– Place a wick holder across the top of the container to keep the wick central and straight.

4. Melt the wax:

– Set up a double boiler by filling a saucepan with water and placing a heat-safe container on top. Alternatively, use a heat-safe container directly on a saucepan.

– Cut the wax into small chunks for faster melting.

– Place the wax in the top container or saucepan and heat it over medium heat until it melts completely.

– Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature and ensure it doesn’t exceed the wax’s melting point. Different waxes have different melting points.

5. Add fragrance and colour (optional):

– Add fragrance or essential oils to the melted wax if you want scented candles. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended usage rate for the oil.

– Add candle dye or colourants to achieve your desired colour. Start with a small amount and adjust as needed.

6. Pour the wax:

– Allow the melted wax to cool slightly to avoid excessive heat when pouring.

– Slowly pour the melted wax into the prepared containers, careful not to disturb the wick.

– Leave some space at the top to allow for any shrinkage during cooling.

7. Cool and cure:

– Let the candles cool and solidify completely. This process may take a few hours or overnight.

– Trim the wicks to a suitable length (about ¼ inch or 0.6 cm) using scissors.

8. Clean up:

– Clean your tools and equipment while the candles are cooling. Wax can be difficult to remove once it hardens.

9. Enjoy your homemade candles:

– Once the candles have cured, they are ready to be used. Light them and enjoy the cosy ambience they create in your home.

Remember to exercise caution when working with hot wax and open flames. Always follow safety guidelines and never leave burning candles unattended.

Conclusion

The art of making candles is a rewarding experience. It allows you to tap into your creativity and create personalised and unique pieces that bring warmth and ambience to any space.

By choosing your fragrances, colours and designs, you can tailor your candles to suit your preferences or even make them thoughtful gifts for loved ones.

Making candles at home is a relatively simple process that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. Whether you prefer the traditional method of using beeswax or enjoy experimenting with different waxes and additives, the possibilities for creativity are endless.

Candle-making is a creative outlet that also provides a sense of relaxation and mindfulness. Melting the wax, adding fragrances, and pouring the mixture into moulds or containers can be therapeutic and meditative. Watching the candle shape and solidify over time brings a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Furthermore, making your candles allows you to control the quality of the ingredients. You can choose to use natural, non-toxic materials, ensuring a healthier and safer environment when burning the candles. Additionally, it can be a more cost-effective alternative to buying expensive candles from stores.

Making your candles is a delightful hobby that combines creativity, relaxation, and personalisation. It offers a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as you create beautiful, fragrant candles that brighten any space. So why not embark on this incredible journey and enjoy the pleasure of creating your very own candles?

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