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Candle making is a fun hobby for thousands of people interested in arts and crafts. It’s an appealing and satisfying pastime for many, and even a profession for some who take their candle-making skills to the next level. 

Even though it’s relatively simple to make a scented candle, it is advised to begin creating with a candle making kit that has clear instructions to follow. There’s a certain amount of precision and accuracy needed to successfully make a candle.  As your experience grows, so will the array of shapes, scents and colors you can create.

Here is a brief “how to” guide and some helpful pointers to help make your first scented candle at home.

Pick up the essentials

Stock up on your candle making supplies!  First, decide what type of candle you want to make. There are so many different kinds of candles to choose from and an endless number of scents and dyes to pick too. 

Will your candle be molded or free-standing? There are several types of wax for candle-making, including regular paraffin wax, eco-friendly soy wax, and even beeswax. The heat at which the wax will melt also varies, depending on whether the candle is to stand without a container, like a pillar candle, or if it will be poured. 

I’m basing my instructions on making a votive candle, which is a small candle that is burnt in a votive holder.

To make a scented votive candle, you will need: a pouring pot, votive candle molds, votive wax, pre-tabbed wicks, fragrance oil, candle dye, a thermometer, optional wax additives, sticky labels and also materials for customized labels.

Spread newspaper, everywhere!

First, you need to prepare your wax. Candle wax is always melted in a double-boiler. Melt your wax to a target temperature of 175 degrees (this temperature will vary depending on the type of candle and wax used). Once the wax is completely molten, add any optional wax additives, then add your fragrance oil, and mix to create an even dispersal of scent when the candle is eventually burned. Finally, add the dye.

Choosing the right fragrance and dye to suit you is very enjoyable; I suggest beginning with a classic fragrance. Perhaps vanilla oil would be nice, one that is similar to the Trapp Candle votive in ‘Vanilla Tarte’.  Make sure you choose a fragrance that is satisfying to you for your first candle conquest.

Place your votive molds on top of the newspaper and pour your wax into the mold up to the lip.  When it begins to congeal, place your pre-tabbed wicks into the candle, assuring the tab connects with the base. As the candle cools and hardens, it may shrink, so I suggest saving some of the wax mixture, re-melting it, and filling in any gaps that occur between the candle and the mold.

Let the candle cool completely and pop out of the molds. You have officially made a candle!

Candle companies like Trapp offer hand-poured scented candles. Instead of uniform candles made on a factory line, each Trapp candle has wax manually poured into their moulds and containers. This offers a more personal approach to the candle-making business.

Customize and Decorate!

Now it’s time to customize your candle for yourself, or as a great gift for a friend or family member.  You can purchase customizable lids for candle making, which are more suitable for the larger container and jar candles. 

Another neat idea is to create your own label for the candle – why not make your own packaging too?  There are so many materials that you can pick up that will help you add more of your unique touch to your homemade scented candle. Glitter pens, ribbons, colored cardboard, paint and pasta shells. You name it, it’s there!

Reinforce family bonds

Why not take a large homemade candle to an engraver and engrave a special name or note on your candle?  This is a great personalized gift idea for a friend. A sentimental memory engraved into the wax of a pillar candle will be cherished forever. Asking your children to get involved in candle making is a great bonding experience that appeals to both little boys and girls.

When it comes to candle making, the creative options are endless. Why not give it a try? Get your hands waxy and join in the fun!

Tags: candle making supplies | candle making supplies | pillar candle | candle making | jar candles | jar candles | candle wax | candle wax

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pm and is filed under Garden designs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.