How to make DIY Candles

Candles are a decorative element that can be found in nearly every home. These days, you can find DIY candles as well.

They make for a very personal home decor or gift. Handmade gifts reflect our personality and effort, and that’s what really makes them special.

In our post today, we’ll explain how you can make your own candles for home decor or a special gift.

As you’ll read below, they’re easy to make and don’t require a lot of materials.

A little history before getting started

Before continuing with the instructions, we think that it could be interesting to know where candles come from. With everyday objects, we frequently overlook how or why they might’ve come to be.

Candles go back quite far, starting in the year 500 a.c. and were used mainly for lighting. The first were made of tallow or animal fat.

Some people say that English soldiers and lighthouse keepers once relied on candles when they were hungry and without provisions.

Until recently, candles still served their purpose, lighting up houses, castles, churches, etc. However, when kerosene and later, electricity entered the picture, they became a decorative element.

Aside from decorating rooms, a lot of candle varieties have scents, perfuming the surrounding area.

So now, let’s get started!

As we mentioned earlier on, DIY candles are very easy to make and they also have a very personal touch. There’s nothing better than decorating our home with our own creations.

What will you need to make DIY candles?

The items that you’ll need for your homemade candles are the following:

Wax: there are different kinds of wax available. Choose whichever you prefer. Currently, you can find:

• Paraffin wax: this is the most used and popular type of wax for candles. It’s cheap and you can add color and fragrance easily.
• Soy wax: soy wax has become really popular recently because it’s easy to use as well as ecological and renewable.
• Beeswax: this type of wax is completely natural and has its own characteristic fragrance. It doesn’t retain colors nor artificial scents very well.
• Old candles: you can use old candles that are already a little melted away. They’re great for recycling wax; once it’s completely melted, you can use it just like any other wax.

Wax paper, newspaper, towels, etc.: cover the area you’re going to work over well because once wax dries, it’s hard to remove.

Two pots, one big one and one smaller one: as we’ll explain later on, you’re going to use a double boiler to melt the wax. So, you’ll need two pots.

Aroma, essential oils: choose your preferred scent. If you want candles that also keep mosquitoes away, lemongrass is your best option.

Color: arts and crafts stores usually have special colors for candles. Choose whichever color you want or the one that goes best with the room that you want to decorate.

Mold: if you want simple candles, you can just use glass jars. But if you’re looking for something a little more interesting, you can buy a candle mold. You can find them in art and craft stores or online.

Wick: you can buy wick by the meter at any arts and craft store.

Instructions

First, melt the wax in a double boiler. Cut the wax into smaller pieces to make it melt easier.

Be careful to keep the wax from direct heat. Keep a close eye on it because it can burn in a matter of seconds. 

Second, once you’ve melted the wax, add the aroma and color. Stir with a wooden spoon, mixing so that the color is even throughout.

Third, place the wick in the center of the mold. It needs to stick out around 5 cm. Pour the wax into the mold and leave it to dry for 24 hours.

Lastly, if needed, remove the candle from the mold and place it wherever you like in your home.

Conclusion

DIY candles are a hot trend that are easy to make and full of personality. On top of that all, they’re a project that you can try with your entire family.

The materials are easy to find. You can make simple candles or use molds for those that are a little more intricate.