Craft Your Own Light: How to Make Candles

The Fascination of How to Make Candles

Making your own candles offers many advantages:

• You control the ingredients of your candles.
• You protect the environment by choosing sustainable materials.
• You save money in the long run.
• You foster your creativity.
• You create perfect, personal gifts.

Basics of Candle Making

Before you start making candles, you need some basic materials:

• Wax: Soy wax is a popular, sustainable option. It’s plant-based, free from petroleum products, and long-lasting.
• Wicks: Choose the size according to your candle shape.
• Fragrances: Essential oils or special candle scents.
• Color pigments: For colorful candles.
• Molds: From simple glasses to special silicone molds.
• Thermometer: For the right melting temperature.
• Melting pot: A pot exclusively for candle making.

The Detailed Process: How to Make Candles Step by Step

1. Prepare the wax:
   • Break the wax into pieces about 1 cm in size.
   • Weigh out the required amount. For a medium-sized candle, you need about 200-300 g of wax.
2. Melt the wax:
   • Fill a large pot halfway with water and heat it.
   • Place the melting pot with the wax in the water bath.
   • Heat the wax to 70-80°C. Check the temperature with the thermometer.
   • Stir occasionally until the wax is completely melted.
3. Add color:
   • Choose color pigments suitable for candles.
   • Add the pigments at about 75°C. Start with a little and increase the amount until the desired intensity is reached.
   • Stir thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Mix in fragrance:
   • Wait until the wax has cooled to about 65°C.
   • Add about 5-10 ml of fragrance oil per 100 g of wax.
   • Stir well for at least one minute to ensure the fragrance is evenly distributed.
5. Prepare the wick:
   • Cut the wick about 5 cm longer than your mold.
   • Dip the wick briefly in the melted wax and let it dry. This makes it stiffer and easier to handle.
6. Fix the wick:
   • Attach one end of the wick to the bottom of your mold. Wick holders or a drop of hot wax work well for this.
   • Wrap the upper end around a stick and place it across the mold.
   • The wick should be taut and exactly in the center.
7. Pour the wax:
   • Let the wax cool to about 60°C.
   • Pour the wax slowly and evenly into the mold.
   • Leave about 1 cm of space at the top edge.
   • Make sure the wick stays straight.
8. Let it cool:
   • Place the candle in a draft-free location.
   • Let it harden for at least 24 hours, ideally 48 hours.
   • The ambient temperature should be between 20-25°C.
9. Top up:
   • After cooling, a small dip often forms around the wick.
   • Melt some wax and carefully fill the dip.
   • Let the candle harden completely again.
10. Trim the wick:
    • Cut the wick to about 1 cm in length.
    • Your homemade candle is now ready to light!

Advanced Techniques for Making Candles

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can try various techniques:

1. Layered candles:
   • Pour different colored layers of wax on top of each other.
   • Let each layer dry for about 30 minutes before pouring the next.
   • Experiment with color gradients or contrasting colors.
2. Marbled candles:
   • Prepare two or more colors.
   • Pour them simultaneously or one after another into the mold.
   • Stir carefully with a stick to create a marble effect.
3. Embeddings:
   • Choose dried flowers, herbs, or small jewelry pieces.
   • Pour a thin layer of wax and let it dry slightly.
   • Place your embeddings and carefully pour more wax over them.
4. Candles in glass:
   • Choose heat-resistant glasses or cups.
   • Warm the glass slightly before pouring in the wax to prevent cracks.
   • Experiment with layers or embeddings for special effects.
5. Mold casting:
   • Use silicone molds for special candle shapes.
   • Ensure that the mold is completely filled with wax. • Tap the mold lightly to remove air bubbles.

Sustainability in Candle Making

Sustainability plays an important role in candle making. Here are some tips:

• Choose natural waxes like soy, beeswax, or rapeseed wax.
• Use natural fragrances like essential oils.
• Recycle old candles by melting the wax and making new candles from it.
• Use reusable silicone molds.
• Pay attention to environmentally friendly packaging when buying your materials.

Safety When Making Candles

Safety is the top priority when making candles. Observe the following points:

• Work in a well-ventilated room.
• Use a separate pot only for candle making.
• Never leave melted wax unattended.
• Wear old clothes and gloves.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Use a thermometer to control the wax temperature.
• Be careful not to pour wax down the drain.

Creative Ideas for Homemade Candles

Let your imagination run wild when making candles:

• Seasonal candles: Create scents and colors suitable for each season.
• Theme candles: Design special candles for meditation, birthdays, or holidays.
• Candle sets: Put together small sets with different scents.
• Candles in unusual containers: Use old teacups, shells, or coconut shells.
• Figurine candles: Shape small animals or figures from wax.
• Floating candles: Design flat candles that can float on water.
• Mosaic candles: Combine small pieces of wax in different colors to form a larger candle.
• Herb candles: Embed dried herbs in your candles for additional fragrance and visual effects.

Care and Use of Your Homemade Candles

To enjoy your homemade candles for a long time:

• Trim the wick to about 6 mm before each lighting.
• Let the candle burn long enough the first time until the entire surface is liquid.
• Don’t place the candle in a draft.
• Don’t extinguish the candle by blowing it out; use a candle snuffer instead.
• Store candles in a cool, dry place to avoid deformation.

How to Make Candles: A Fulfilling Hobby

Learning how to make candles is an art form that appeals to all senses. Each candle you make is a piece of you – your creativity, your taste, your personality. Experiment with different techniques, colors, and fragrances. Enjoy the process of creation and the joy that your homemade candles bring to you and others.

Whether you want to relax, are looking for a new hobby, or simply want to express your creative side – learning how to make candles offers something for everyone. You might discover a new passion or find inspiration from companies like Lumond, which demonstrate how to combine candle making with sustainability.