DIY: Basic Candle Making

It is really not that difficult to make your own basic candles. If you are going to be performing any spells or rituals using Candles, then to make your own is a good idea, as the Candles will pick up your vibrations and will be more pure than ones you buy in a shop, as no-one else has handled them.

But always remember, Safety first. Never leave hot wax unattended, always use heat proof gloves when handling container/pot that wax is in and make Candles at a time when young children are not around. Always ensure that you have a good amount of working space as well, to minimize the danger of accidents.

Supplies Needed to Make Basic Candles

• Wax – Paraffin wax is good, Color – dyes or a cheap alternative is Children’s crayons (the thicker one are better.),
• Wick – you can buy these or make your own by dipping thick string or thin cord into warm wax. Leave to dry on grease-proof paper.
• Mold – You can buy these from craft stores, or use an old can, as a cheap alternative.
• A Container for the wax – A double boiler is best to heat the wax in, but failing that, put the wax into an old coffee tin, then into a saucepan filled with water to heat it (make sure the water doesn’t come up further than your tin though!)
• A Thermometer – You have to keep the temperature of the wax below 375 degrees, as to over-heat wax is very dangerous indeed, the fumes from over-heated wax can lead to illness as well as the danger of severe burns from boiling wax. Ideally for safety, try to keep the wax under 200 degrees, as this is more than sufficient.
• Mold release agent – This is necessary to easily and safely remove your Candle from the mold. You can use a silicone spray or cooking spray oil for this.
• Wooden spoon – to stir the wax
• Scissors
• Pencils – You will need one for each Candle you are making to hold the wick.

Making the Candle

Heat the double boiler or saucepan of water to a high enough heat to melt wax and add the wax to your carrier. Start to melt the wax, ensuring with the thermometer that it is well within the temperature guidelines. Stir the melting wax with a wooden spoon. While the wax is beginning to melt, spray the mold with the silicone spray or the cooking oil spray.Leave the mold to one side for later use.

Keep stirring the wax with the wooden spoon softly until it is completely melted. Add coloring, one drop at a time until you build up to a color that you like (you can always add more color, but not so easy to take color away, so one drop at a time.) or if you are using crayons, dip the crayons into the wax (be very careful as you do this.) .

Now get your wick/wicks. Tie one end of the wick to the middle of the pencil, and gently drop the wick into the mold containing, trying to get the wick to be in the center of the mold if possible, resting the pencil on top of the mold. (if you are using a Candle mold, then sometimes there is a little hole at the bottom to feed the wick through, this center of the wick, but you must remember to seal the whole after the wick has been thread through.

Use a small piece of putty or Blu-Tak to do this. and ensure that the wick is taut.) It is now time to pour the HOT wax into the mold/molds. Use oven gloves or other suitable safety equipment to lift the wax carrier from the water, and take great care to gently pour into the mold / molds.

Fill the mold until it comes up to 1 inch before the top of the mold. You must leave this space. Leave the wax to harden for at least several hours, preferably over-night, in a safe place out of the reach of children. Do not try to remove the Candle from the mold until you are absolutely sure it has hardened completely. Once it is ready, tip the mold upside down and thanks to the release agent, it should then slide out easily.

Other Candle Ideas

While you are adding the coloring, you could also try adding a scent to your Candle. Herbs and Spices are good for this as are the Vanilla and mint oils usually used as cooking ingredients. You can also drop hings into the wax when it has melted and before pouring into the mold. Leaves are very good for this, as are sea shells, this adds a nice touch to Candles you may wish to give as presents!

Save