How to make Homemade Candles

Who says you have to spend upwards of five bucks for a really nicely colored and scented candle? Trust Gamergirl to find you the good information on all kinds of topics. Today's topic is: How to make candles at home, yourself!

Candles are a source of light that can delight the senses of sight and smell, can set the mood for a romantic night, or save your bacon in case of an emergency. You don't have to worry about electricity when using candles for light - and the best part is that for the cost of one or two cd's, you can make your own supply of candles to last you through many a romantic night.

Fun fact: Did you know that ten pounds of candle wax, once you add color and fragrances and such, will fill enough tealights to provide you with that dainty comfort for months on end?

If you do a few searches across the internet, you'll find lots and lots of references to candle making recipes, candle making lessons, candle making classes and all various other types of tips and hints and goodies. BUT - why do that? Here is what you will learn by the time you've finished reading this hub:

1. The equipment you'll need
2. How to make a candle - a basic idea
3. Ideas for places to buy candle making supplies
4. Just how fun candle making is, but also - how much money you can save!

So, with all this in mind, let's get started.

Making candles at home is fairly easy. Here are some things you will need:

• Candle wax
• A single pot big enough to hold the melting pot

• Coloring agent
• Glass candle holders
• Gloves
• Scented oil (optional)
• Label paper (the kind with a sticky backing)
• Wax pouring container - melting pot

You will need two pots because you should never melt wax over direct heat. Just like grease, wax of any kind has a flash point - a point where it will burst into flames. You don't want that!

From here, let your creativity take you!

The first step to making your own candles at home is to sit down and get an idea about the kind of candles you want to make. Whether you are making special colored candles for a particular holiday, preparing a gift for a friend or stocking up for a disaster, having a solid idea about what kind of candles you wish to create will help you choose the items you need to purchase.

For the purposes of giving a clear example, I will explain how to make a plain candle in a container three inches in diameter by four inches tall.

First, take one pot and fill it 3/4 full with water. Put this pot over high heat until it boils, then turn the heat down to a setting between low and medium. On a scale of one to ten, you want to keep a constant heat of about a three - though you should always check the packaging of your candle wax for information on it's melting point and flash point.

Next, take the second pot, the wax pouring pot and set it on top of the first. This is called double boiling, as it requires two pots. This gives you a source of heat to melt your wax, but insulates your wax against that evil flash point, letting the wax melt evenly and become liquid without scorching.

Fill this top pot with the proper amount of wax for the size and number of candles you are preparing. Suggested amount: 14 ounces of wax. Allow the wax to melt, then stir in your additives if you are using a wax that is not prepared with additives already.

A note about additives for candle making:

There are many different kinds of additives, and their purpose is to increase the hardness of the candle, prevent bubbles and surface pitting, and assist in the candle having a glossy surface. Always check the wax you are purchasing to decide whether or not you should use additives in the first place.

So, when your wax is hot - you check this with your thermometer by the way - you'll want to pour it into something, right? Okay.

When using a container which does not have a wick already stuck and waiting, all you have to do is take two pieces of tape and make an X over the top of the container, with the join of the X over the very center of the container you're using. Then, poke a hole into the center and bring your wick up through the bottom of the tape. Make sure to leave enough wick hanging up through the tape that you'll have a long enough wick to light when you want to use the candle.

The final step in making your own candle at home is: Pouring the wax. You want to pour quickly, but not too quickly that the wax splashes. Start pouring slowly at first, and then you can pour a bit faster. Always leave a little melting room at the top of the container so your candle doesn't overflow.

How easy is that? Very! Now let your candles cool for a full 24-48 hours before you use them. Congrats! You're on your way to saving money as well as keeping your home and hearth warmly lit in any season or for any occasion.