Make Your Own Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make CandlesThere’s an old Chinese proverb, “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” Since mental health can suffer during the dark, cold winter months, I rely on the warming, cozy glow that candles provide more than ever.

And science backs me up.

Experts at Scientific Origin note in the recent article 15 Amazing Benefits of Candles for Mental Health and Well-being, “One of the most well-known benefits of candles is their ability to promote relaxation. The soft, flickering light and the warm glow of a candle create a soothing ambiance that can help reduce stress. Lighting a candle after a long, hectic day provides a sense of calm that allows the mind and body to unwind.”

Not only is the beautiful flicker from candles relaxing, scent is as well. “It is scientifically proven that scented candles can play an essential role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, working capacity, and overall mental health… The soothing effect that candles have is based on how the brain processes smells. The smell of scented candles stimulates our limbic system, the part of the brain that is home to our memory and emotions. Hormones like serotonin and dopamine can be produced to help regulate mood,” according to Travel + Leisure magazine’s article The Benefits of Scented Candles,

If you want to enjoy the beauty of candles this winter, but don’t have a big budget for splurging, it’s easy to make your own candles… from old, broken and half burned bits you already have around the house!

Personally, I am quite guilty of half burning candles, especially tapers, which then end up stuffed in a jar for emergencies when I lose power. However, these end bits can easily be repurposed into beautiful new candles to use, or give as gifts. Intrigued? Here’s how:

Candle Making: What You’ll Need

  • Pan
  • Stove top
  • Wax (reusing existing candles from your stash)
  • Wicks (60 pieces, under $10 on Amazon)
  • Candle container (see below for ideas)
  • Scent (optional)
  • Color (optional)
  • Wooden skewers or popsicle sticks

Make Your Own Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make Your Own Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

A Note About Color

Using the correct color is essential when making candles. “Many novice candlemakers think they can skip buying specialized colorants for their candles and instead use crayons for an inexpensive, easy-to-find alternative. You might assume it’s a good idea since both candles and crayons are made of wax. While you can technically use crayons to color candle wax, the results are not ideal,” say the experts at The Spruce Crafts.

Here’s why, “As the wax melts and gets carried through the wick to the flame, the pigments will clog the wick. Think of it like dirty deposits in your gasoline that clog up your fuel line––that’s what happens with pigments. The pigments that don’t clog the wick tend to settle and concentrate at the bottom of the melted wax, so your once beautiful candle won’t be so pretty after a few uses. Even worse, your candle will burn with sooty smoke, until the wick gets so clogged that it stops burning altogether.”

Color additives for making candles are readily available at all craft stores, or get 16 colors for under $10 on Amazon.

Cute Candle Container Ideas

  • Pretty teacups
  • Jars left over from previous candles
  • Vintage planters (make sure there are no drainage holes)
  • One-off mugs
  • Large seashells (make sure they can flat on a surface)
  • Sugar bowls or petite creamers
  • Vintage glassware (especially pretty, colorful candy dishes missing their lids!)
  • Patterned rice bowls and ramekins

Of course, not all containers are created equally. And safety should always be top of mind. According to the recent article Staying Safe: Candle Containers to Avoid at Kalamazoo Candle Company, “Candle fire safety should be front of mind when you’re crafting your candles… many containers may look fireproof, but, in reality, they are not. You also want to avoid choosing containers that might leak. An easy test to check for leaks is to pour water into your container to see if water seeps through.”

Here’s a list of containers NOT to use as candle vessels: 

  • Wine glasses, wine goblets
  • Vases
  • Drinking glasses
  • Any plastic containers
  • Thin or cracked glass containers
  • Metal containers with a painted or coated interior
  • Anything made of soft or porous stone

Make Your Own Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make Your Own Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make Your Own Candles in 7 Easy Steps

Prepare Wax Scraps. When reusing old candles, trim off as much of any burned wick as possible. Remove any wick tabs or labels and scrape off any dirt or sooty sections of wax.

Melt the Wax. Put the pieces in your wax melting pot or pan and slowly melt the bits down (stove set on low). Once the wax is completely melted, you can remove the wicks from the melted wax with a fork or tongs.

Add Fragrance and/or Color. Add color and/or fragrance to the melted wax. Stir thoroughly.

Place the Wick. Before pouring wax into the new vessel, place your wick at the bottom. (wick stickers, available when purchasing wicks, will aid this process. Or, use a bit of melted wax and let harden before pouring the entire candle)

Secure the wick. Use skewers or popsicle sticks to help keep the wick in place.

Pouring the Wax. Carefully pour the hot wax into the container. When wax is completely cool, trim the wick to size.

Embellish the finished project. Once the wax is completely cool and settled, embellish with custom labels, use IOD transfers (these will rub on easily directly onto smooth glass jars), or wrap with ribbon, twine, or fabric strips.

Voila! Now you have a selection of gorgeous candles at a fraction of the price of new. Keep them for yourself or tuck them into gift bags and baskets. (You may even set a few aside for holiday gift giving – you’ll be oh-so-glad to discover them in your gift stash when December rolls around!)

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