Scented candles make not just for pieces of great home decoration, but also for handmade gifts and as a way for you to unwind after a long day at work. And because you’re making them at home, you can personalize your candles however you want.
What You Will Need
Heat-resistant glass jars
Heat-resistant measuring cups
Candle wicks (with collar)
Paraffin/ soy-based wax
Food thermometer
Essential oils
Non-toxic crayon pieces
Procedure
Step 1. Arrange the containers and the wicks.
Wash out the jars you want to use beforehand, place them on a baking tray, and set them in the oven over a low heat for a few minutes to allow them to completely dry and make them warmer than room temperature.
Once you’ve taken out the containers to dry completely, place the wicks metal collar first. To fully secure the wicks, place a pencil, chopstick, or even toothpicks across the top of the jar and wrap the wicks around them.
Step 2. Melt the wax.
You want to have twice the amount of wax flakes than the ounces in your glass jars. For example, if your glass jar can contain 5 ounces or 148 milliliters, you want to double the amount of glass flakes, which means 10 ounces, or 296 milliliters.
Melt the wax using a double boiler, which simply means placing the measuring cup (preferably Pyrex or something heat-resistant) inside a medium-sized stock pot and filling it with water. However, be sure to keep the water level lower than the cup to keep it from seeping in.
Once that’s done, turn the stove to a low or medium heat. You want to avoid having the water come to a rolling boil, since this can overheat the wax.
Step 3. Add your chosen color and essential oils.
If you want to add color to your candles, you can break off a few ¼-inch pieces of non-toxic crayons and add them into the mix.
Stir the wax with a wooden spoon as it melts and wait until the temperature reaches between 65 and 80 degrees Celsius. Once it reaches this temperature, remove the measuring cup containing the wax and set it aside to cool down to 50 degrees Celsius before adding a few drops of your essential oils.
Step 4. Pour the wax into the candles.
Place a tray or newspaper under your jars before pouring the wax into them, and once that’s done, be sure to pour slowly to keep the wax from cracking and forming large air pockets. Leave space as you pour.
Be sure to top off your candles with just a little more wax if you see a sinkhole around the wick, and trim the wick before burning once the candles have completely cooled down.