MAKE YOUR OWN CANDLES

Candle making may sound a little overwhelming to some, but many avid candle makers claim it to be an extremely rewarding hobby!

Once you know what you’re doing and have the supplies, you too can be creating a plethora of sensational scents for your home…

WAXES:

There are several popular waxes to choose from when making your candles; the waxes discussed below all have different benefits and limitations to ease your choice of which one will suit you and your home the best.

Paraffin: Paraffin wax is the most commonly used wax among candle makers as it is easy to melt, colour and scent and is generally the cheapest. It should also be noted, however, that paraffin wax emits some chemicals when burned that can cause potential health issues in breathed in too often.

Beeswax: This wax often smells delightful on its own, which is ideal as it doesn’t always retain its scent that well and is a completely natural wax with some purifying qualities to it.

Beeswax candles also tend to burn brighter than any other due to their high melting point.

Soy: Soy wax is generally the most eco-friendly of the waxes and is considered vegan. This wax burns the slowest and is also very easy to use for beginners.

PREPARATION:

Once you have chosen your wax and bought your supplies, it is time to pick a space that you can work in. you will need to prepare this area with wax paper or towels/old cloths so you don’t ruin any furniture.

MELTING:

Cut your chosen wax into small chunks for melting (the smaller and more even the chunks, the easier the melt). Then, create a Bain Marie on your hob and slowly melt the wax, keeping an eye on the temperature and reading the ideal temperature for the wax you have chosen. At this point you can add in your scents and colourings following the directions of the specific ones you have.

MOULDING:

Prepare your heat safe candle holder with a wick hanging into the middle. Slowly pour in your melted wax and leave to cool for 24 hours. Soy and beeswax will take less time, but a full day will ensure they are the best they can be.

BURN AND ENJOY!

Your beautiful new candles are now ready for you to light!

REPURPOSING OLD CANDLES:

It is also a good idea to make the most out of any candles you have already burned. You can do this by cutting and scraping what was left of the candle out of its container and melting it as you would any other wax! This means you get the most out of the lovely candle you bought AND you can repurpose the jar for future use!