The history, use and value of candles – candlemaking

To make your own candles you need to purchase:

wicks
moulds or containers
a wax melter (and gloves to lift it if it doesn’t have an insulated handle)
a candle making thermometer
fragrances (if you like to use them)
dyes
putty for the moulds

First decide on your wax – you have a range to choose from including - paraffin wax, soy wax, and beeswax. Paraffin wax is the most commonly used. Soy wax is made from soya beans and has the advantage of being removable with soap and water. Beeswax is a natural product too, and may be the best starter method as you can simply wrap a sheet of beeswax tightly around a wick then seal it with your thumb, which means no melting is required.

To begin, spread newspapers around the candle making area. melt your paraffin or soya wax, slowly in a double boiler - place a large pot that is about half-filled with water on a burner over low-medium heat, place the melter in the water, then gradually place wax pieces into the melter. When the wax has melted, you can add fragrance and/or dye desired.

To make moulded candles, cut the wick two inches taller than you want the candle to be, then thread it through the hole at the bottom of the mould, plugging the outside of the hole with putty. Place a pencil over the top of the mould and tie the top of the wick to it, called centring the wick. If the mould is cardboard, plastic, or glass, heat the wax to 130 degrees F or 54 degrees C. If the mould is metal, then heat the wax to 190 degrees F or 90 degrees C. Use a candle thermometer to measure this. When the right temperature is reached, lift the melter by the handle and slowly pour the wax into the mould. Let cool for twelve hours then refrigerate for twelve more hours, at which point your candle is ready to be removed.

Candle making photograph by Stevecunio.com, used under a creative commons attribution licence