Make a Candle in 6 Easy Peasy Steps

In this instructable, I'll show you how to make simple soy wax candles that you can enjoy at home or give as gifts to your loved ones.

WHY SOY WAX?

The soy wax I used is fantastic because it's non-toxic, kosher certified, and biodegradable. It burns clean and it has a nice opaque and creamy finish.

Candlemaking is a fun hobby which involves a little bit of experimenting. You are very much welcome to use different grammage of wax and even containers, but remember that results may vary. The important thing is to be safe and have fun!

Please use caution when attempting to make your own candles. You will deal with boiling water and hot wax, both of which can cause burns.

Be sure to use candles on a heat-safe surface and away from flammable objects, children, and pets. Do not leave burning candles unattended. Avoid draft. Do not touch while hot. Do not burn candles for longer than 1-2 hours at a time.

TOOLS

• Bowls
• Pot
• Spatula
• Kitchen scale
• Measuring spoons
• Pouring pitcher
• Thermometer
• Ice cream sticks OR straws OR kitchen clips, etc. 

MATERIALS

• Soy wax (1lb or 454g)
• Wicks 
• Containers (4oz each)
• Fragrance (optional)
• Dye (optional)

IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLIES:

For the purpose of this tutorial, I have chosen to use 1lb (454g) of soy wax and 4 containers that are 4oz each.

I also decided to add fragrance (cinnamon oil!) and the fragrance load is just over 6% or about 30ml.

Here’s the math:

6% x 454g wax = 0.06 x 454 = 27.24g

Rounded up to 30g (ml), because who cares about the extra 3ml? :)

In addition to fragrance, you might want to add candle dye, though that is by no means necessary. Candle dye comes in different forms (liquid, dyed wax chips, etc.) and brands, so it is really up to you what you use. Each brand/type comes with instructions on how to use the dye for best results.

Add water to a large pot, then put it on the stove. Heat up the water over medium high temperature. Be careful not to overfill the pot; you might create too much water displacement during the next step.

When the water heats up, place a metal bowl (or a smaller pot) with the wax in it. The melted wax should reach about 185° F.

Add 30 ml of fragrance to the wax. Remove the mixture from the heat and set it aside. Stir slowly for a couple of minutes until the fragrance is well mixed. Let the wax cool off until it is approximately 135° F. 

Place the wicks in the centre of the containers. You might want to secure them with double-sided sticky tabs if you have those around the house, but it isn’t necessary.

Pour the wax in the containers carefully so you don’t dislocate the wicks. You can secure the wicks in the centre with ice cream sticks, straws, clothespins, or any other household item that you have at your disposal.

Place the candles in a draftless room and let them set overnight. For scented candles, it is best to let them cure for at least 3-4 days (2 weeks for best results).

Congratulations, you just made your very own candles! Now go enjoy them! :)