To get started making candles, you’ll need a few supplies and tools.
Accessories: Candy or Kitchen Thermometer, Wooden Spatula, Wick Stickers, centering device (popsicle stick, clothes pin).
Wax. There are three primary types to choose from in the candle-making world. We suggest using Soy Wax, it's eco-friendly and long lasting. see other choices below
Beeswax. The oldest candle-making ingredient; beeswax candles have been found in the great pyramids of Egypt. It’s produced by bees, and is a byproduct of the honey-making process. It has a naturally golden color, as well as a subtle, sweet scent. A natural product, the natural scent will interfere with any that you try to artificially add.
Paraffin. The traditional wax used in candle-making for hundreds of years, and is still the most popular ingredient for candles. It’s cheap, and you can easily add colors and scents. The primary concern with paraffin is its potentially toxic nature. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct.
Soy. Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. It was created in the ’90s when the “natural” movement started to gain steam. It’s generally made with soybean oil.
Wicks. The wrong wick can ruin your homemade candle. Your primary concern is size, which is really width. (most are simply sized “small,” “medium,” or “large”).
Fragrance Oils. There are hundreds of natural scents to choose from, keywords are Vegan, Pure Essential Oils, Natural, Raw Botanical, No Phthalates. In addition to pure natural essential oils and extracts, they also contain naturally-derived aromatic isolates such as limonene (citrus peel) and vanilla that are isolated from natural, raw botanical ingredients like lemons, roses and vanilla beans. Apply Approx, 1oz of Fragrance per 1lb of Wax = (2) 8oz Candles
Double Boiler. You can use a true double boiler if you’d like, but I went with a universal model that just sits on top of any pot you already have, and it’s worked great.
Container(s). Coffee mugs, glassware, mason jars — anything that can withstand heat can be used as a container for a candle
nstructions for making soy candles
1. Melt the wax using a double boiler or wax melter
2. Place the wick in the container, then pinch the top end of the wick with a clothespin and set the pin across the top of the container, keeping the wick centered and upright.
3. Pour temps depend on the wax and flash points of the fragrance. We suggest to add the fragrance at 175 for C3 Soy Wax, stir slowly for 1 minute. Let the wax cool (the temperature of the wax should be about 160 degrees then add of fragrance oil., stir again briefly til smooth.
4. Pour the wax into the container slowly, leave some room at the top. If you have leftover wax, let it harden and then save it in a container for later use.
5. Let the wax harden overnight. The next day, trim the wick, and your soy candle is complete!