You may think you do not contain the skill set essential to make candles, but armed with the right information, you will soon recognize it is not as challenging as it may seem. A quick trip to your local crafts store will reveal a multitude of supplies and kits that can make the procedure even easier to complete.

Your basic supplies are simple, wax, something to melt the wax in, something to pour the wax into and usually a pre-made wick for your candle. If needed, you can make do with usual kitchen supplies like a pot and a cup. But you can also buy special supplies. If you don’t want your candle shaped like the inside of a cup, you can buy a candle mold for a very low cost.

Of course, unless you have a large brick of wax lying around then you will need to purchase some of that. As far as the wax goes, you may select a color free type and add color later, or maybe a pre-dyed wax will suit you as well. This and how much wax to buy will all depend on how many candles you want to make. If you want to make a gift for a friend, a smaller amount of pre-dyed wax will suffice.

However, if you are creating candles for a large group you probably do not want all the candles to look the same so consider this when picking up your supplies. If this is the case, I would suggest you select a clear wax with a variety of dyes so you can create many different colors of hand made candles.. Just consider what exactly you want the candles for, and you’ll have no trouble deciding what supplies you require.

The first thing you will need to do is to gather all of your materials in once place, usually a long table is preferred. These supplies will include the wax, wicks, molds scents and color dyes. Your wax will need to be melted and you will find this easier to do that when you are dealing with smaller pieces, so you can begin my cutting your wax into tiny pieces. At this point you will also want to make sure your molds are cleaned both inside and out.

Melting your wax is the next stop in the process. You will want to use what is called a double boiler. This is basically just a pot inside a pot. Fill the pot about half full with water, then pour in your wax and let it melt. Make sure you accurately track the temperature of your melting wax and make sure it reaches 160 degrees.

Once your wax is melted, you may want to experiment a bit with color and scent. Go ahead and drop just a couple of drops of color in a stir the wax and see what different colors and you can create. You may also want to add a scent to your candle. Use perfume oils, and remember you don’t need a lot to get the desired effect.

Cut your wick to your desired length. Dip it into the melted wax over and over until you have reached the length you are comfortable with.

You will find that making candles successfully does require a decent amount of patience and practice. You may even make a mess while you learn. Don’t worry! This is normal and part of the learning process. The more you experiment the easier this will become and you will be cranking out your own custom unique candles in no time. Candle making will be very rewarding to you, just take the time and learn right.

As far as supplies go, there are a few basic items you will need to gather, the first of which is cooking oil. You will also need wicks, fragrance oil if you choose to use it, jars or bottles which you will use to mold your candle and a proper boiling pot.

Once you have gathered your supplies begin by pouring the oil into your jar, bowl. It is recommended that you utilize either a container made from light metal or glass. You may want to get your container from a local crafts store as they will tend to be more reliable.

After you pour the oil if you choose to add a fragrance, this is the point where you would do so. Just remember not to use too much too quickly. Start with a tiny drop. Some fragrance oils can be quite potent and the last thing you want to do is create a candle with an overpowering scent.
Now you will gently place your wick inside of the container. Utilize a needle to push the wick in but make sure you leave at least a half-inch sticking out of the wax so you have something to light. If you have elected to use a cotton ball wick, squeeze the ball in your hand and pinch a tiny bit from it. Take that bit and soak immerse it in the oil from your container.

Those are the basic steps to making an oil candle. You may want to experiment with the different steps until you find what works best for you.

Take a quick moment here to study up on the craft of candle making. There is a lot to learn and you will find it very rewarding once you get the hang of it.

The migration to bayberry shrubs was made largely due to the fact that candles made from animal fat smelled horrible and made a huge mess while they burned.   Whale oil was used primarily at first for these candles.  One of the downsides to using bayberry shrubs for oil was that it took many days in order for the manufactures to extract the purest form of wax.  It also takes eight pounds of berries to produce only one pound of wax.

Colonial candle making though is a popular hobby for those curious as to its techniques.  These days however you can get the bayberry wax from hobby or craft stores rather than having to make your own.

Another difference between today and the colonial era is the number of molds available.  There are far more molds available today than back then and they can be used to make candles of all different shapes and sizes.   In colonial times they used wicks made from strands of cotton and they had to be very careful to make sure they kept burning.  Normally candles made for a household were tapers and were made by introducing the wick to the melted wax over and over until that right size candle was formed.

Colonial candle making may appear to be very basic, but in all actuality it takes a lot of dedication and skill to perform correctly.  You too can see how rewarding it is by simply trying its techniques.  Basically what you want to do is dip a non-waxed taper wick into your melted wax.  You will need to exercise extra care since both parts of the wick need to be evenly coated.  Another tip:  don’t wait too long between dips since you don’t need the candle to completely cool.  Another thing you need to be aware of is in order to keep the wax at the same temperature you are going to want to keep stirring the wax during this process.  Don’t be surprised if you need to melt it again.  This is quite normal.  Enjoy!

Candle mold:  Before you select your mold you need to think about what you want your candle to look like.  Candle molds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes so the possibilities are endless when choosing your mold.

Wax: You will need to research the various types of wax you will need to make your candle.  These include beeswax, paraffin, gel and soy wax.  All have different properties and are used for different effects.

Dye: What color do you want your candle to be?  This will determine which dye to purchase.  Candle dyes come in pretty much any color you can imagine so simply choose which color best matches your taste and project requirements.

Pouring pitcher:  This is helpful in keeping your candle work area neat and clean

Candle accessories:  These are particular to gel candles, but there are literally hundreds of things you can do with various accessories.   Once again your personal taste and project requirement will determine how you should best accessorize your candles.

These are the basic supplies that I use in my own candle making business.  This should be enough to get you started.

Scented candles are now emerging as one of the more popular types of candles to make.   You will need basic equipment to produce these candles.  This includes a double boiler that you use to melt the wax, a metal pouring pot, mold sealer, candle molds, wicks, wax, dyes and other basic household tools such as scissors, measuring spoons and a tape measure.

Once you get your feet wet and have made a few candles and firmly understand the process you may want to begin making fragrant smelling candles as well.  Flavors are derived from both synthetic chemicals and essential oils.  This is done by distilling natural plant material.  Some aroma’s you may want to try are anything from African violet, almond cherry all the way to orange and different spice scents.  There are literally thousands of possibilities when selecting a fragrance.  Trying a few shouldn’t cost you much as it only takes a couple of drops of the essential oil when adding fragrance to a candle.

Check your local crafts supply store or art store and you should be able to find a wide variety of these aromatic oils.

Whether you would like to make candles to accent your own living space or looking for a creative way to make gifts for friends and family members, making scented candles is an excellent hobby and fairly easy to get in to.  Once you master the basic skills in making candles, you will be able to make all sorts of different candles that you and others will enjoy for a long time.  Enjoy!

One of my fondest childhood memories was learning from my father how to make candles.  Perhaps a little unconventional hobby for a child, but lots of fun nonetheless.  It also gave me something to do with all the broken crayons I amassed.

I was taught that the easiest way to make a candle was by dipping the wick into hot wax.   One thing you must do though is to use a pot floating in a full pan of water.  If you don’t do this you run the risk of starting a fire!

What can you do with your candle making crafts?  Well for starters, it’s a great time killer on a rainy day.  What started as a hobby for me though soon turned into a full time business as I discovered that the more proficient I became at the craft, the more attractive my candles became.  My little hobby has now morphed into a full time business.  I sell my homemade candle making crafts at local flea markets and have found that people enjoy giving my candles as gifts.

So, how do you get started?  Here’s a simple tutorial for you:

The first thing you will need is a bunch of wax.  You can get wax and most crafts stores, but you can use crayons like I did in the beginning if you are in a pinch.

Second thing you will need is the wick.  Don’t skimp on the wick.  This is the part that burns.  Once again you can pick this supply up at your local crafts our hobby store.

Next you are going to want to fill a large pan about halfway with water.  Place another smaller pan or empty can inside.  Make sure that this does not tip over.

Next put your wax into the second pan.  It should melt provided you have the heat on and since this pan is floating in the water, it will not burn.

When the wax is melted, take your wick and slowly dip it into the melted wax.  Slowly lift it back out of the wax, wait a few moments for the wax to cool a bit then repeat the system until y our candle is as thick as you want it to be.

When your candle looks the way you want it, hold it by the wick for a few minutes and to let it cool down before you lay it down.  At this point you will want to clip the wick to about 1/3-1/4 of an inch at the top of the candle.

Voila!  You have made a candle!  Keep the can with the wax for future use.  If you were using different colors of crayons, you will end up with several colors to use when you make future candles.  You can dip your candles in the different colors, twisting them as you go and really create some beautiful and unique looking color schemes.

Beeswax candles are unique for many different reasons.  Most beeswax candle making kits are 100% pure beeswax.  You want to verify this though it is important as you want to reap all the lovely benefits that beeswax offers.

The color of beeswax is not like paraffin.  The basic color is a sort of yellow but can vary from a golden yellow to a golden tan.

I’ve been asked a lot about the scent associated with beeswax.  Do we add a fragrance like when making other types of candles?  Well, in all actuality beeswax contains its own scent.  There is no need to add additional scent to beeswax.    The natural beeswax scent is a very light honey smell which is quite pleasant in its own right.  It is very mild and naturally occurring.

Another benefit of beeswax candles is that they will burn longer than most other types of candles.  This quality alone makes beeswax quite efficient and a sound investment.  There is nothing worse than making a candle only to watch it burn all the way down in 2 or 3 settings.  When you create your own candle from scratch, you will want to see them last as long as possible so you can enjoy the fruits of your labors.

One aspect you will want to be aware of when making beeswax candles is something called “bloom” This is a powdery coating which will develop on your candle.  This is common and very easy to get rid of.  There are a couple of things you can do.  An easy remedy is to buff the candle lightly with a soft cloth.  Another method would be to take a hair dryer to the candle in order to remove the bloom.  Don’t worry when you first notice the bloom.  It is common and not a problem.  Just simply apply these techniques and your candle will look amazing and smell like honey.

One more tip, when you are burning your beeswax candle, as with any candle make sure you keep it out of any drafts and in a candleholder that is fireproof.   And, as always, never leave your candles burning unattended.    Enjoy!

Making candles for your own personal use or to give away as gifts is extremely rewarding and easy to do.  Many of the local craft stores supply all of the tools you will need in order to make your own candles.  You can buy wax, wicks, and molds from almost any craft stores.  With the popularity of the hobby, craft suppliers have also made things like color, decorations, and fragrance readily available for homemade candles.  The rest of the supplies needed for candle making can be supplied by the hobbyist.  The first step in candle making is to prepare the wax.  You do this by melting it in a double boiler.  A double boiler is simply one large pot filled with water and placed on the stove top.  Another smaller pot that contains the un-melted wax is sat inside the larger pot.  Wax will burn when you try to melt it so using a double boiler makes it easy.  Once the wax is melted, hold the wick in place in the middle of the mold and pour in the wax.  Allow the wax to cool for about four to six hours before you attempt to remove it fro the mold.  Sometimes putting the entire thing into the freezer for about a half an hour will make it easier to remove the candle from the mold.  You can also spray non-stick cooking spray into the mold before you pour the wax into it so it is easier to remove the finished candle.

There is almost no end to the different types of candles you can make at home.  With the different fragrances, colors, and decorations your only limit is your imagination.  Some candle making enthusiasts have gone as far as to make their own molds using liquid latex in order to create amazing candles.  The only problem with using latex molds is that they typically are too flexible to stand on end to pour the wax into the bottom of them.  What you will need to do is to cut a hole in a piece of sturdy cardboard.  The whole needs to be big enough for the mold to slip through but only up to the lip.  All latex molds need a lip on the bottom for this purpose.  The wax can then be poured into the bottom of the mold and the cardboard will act as support.

Some entrepreneurs have found that selling candles can be a lucrative business.  They have taken their love of the hobby and their talent and turned it into a great way to make money.  They do this by buying their supplies in bulk at discount prices.  They also take time and effort into packaging their products attractively.  The thing that really drives them is their imagination.  People are always looking for something new when it comes to this old custom.

Soy wax is a vegetable wax that is made from soybeans.  The oil is extracted from the soybean flakes and hydrogenated.  The majority of the world’s soybeans are grown in the United States in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.  It is believed that soy candles burn cleaner then paraffin candles.  This is true to an extent.  All candles emit soot.  There is no way around that.  But, paraffin candles emit black soot while soy candles emit white soot.  While soot is not harmful to people, white soot is a little cleaner then black.

The only thing that is really different about making soy candles then paraffin candles is the wax.  They both use the same techniques and equipment.  You can use a double boiler to melt the soy wax.  A double boiler is a smaller pot with the wax is placed in a larger pot full of water that is placed on the stovetop.  Heat the soy wax to 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.  Be careful not to keep the melted wax above 150 degrees Fahrenheit for too long because it could burn which will give the wax a yellowish appearance.  Ounce the wax is fully melted you can add the color you would like.  You can then remove it from the heat and add the fragrance.  It is best to use 7% fragrance by weight.  That simply means that for every one pound of soy wax, you can use 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil.  If the fragrance concentration is too high, it may bleed through the candle.  The soy wax can be about 140 – 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  You can then pour the wax into the mold to cool.  Be careful not to pour the wax at too low of a temperature or the candle could crack.  The wax should be between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.  You should also not use water to cool the candle quickly.  This could also cause the candle to crack.

Although soy wax candles and paraffin wax candles are mostly the same, there are a couple of differences.  Soy wax is a softer wax so it is not suitable for some types of candles.  For instance, soy wax does not work well when you are trying to make novelty candles.  It also do not work well for pillar candles.  You can also not make taper candles with soy wax.  Floating soy candles can be made if they are up to 3 inches in diameter.

If you can make candles with paraffin wax, you can make candles with soy wax.  Making candles is kind of like trying out a new food recipe; sometimes you have to try things one way then the other to see which works best for you.  The bottom line is that soy wax and paraffin wax both hold scent and color the same in candles but, it is great to learn how to make a new kind of candle and offer a variety in your candle making whether you are making candles for pleasure or a business.