Home » Plants & Animals » Home & Garden Tips » Candle Making101

Candle Making101

© Eileen O'dea

Every one likes candles. They can set a mood, light a room, calm you on a stressful day. There are so many things those molded pieces of wax can do.

You know how much you can pay for just one votive candle in the stores. With a few supplies, and a little creativity, You can make your own for a portion of that price. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you did it your self.

Of course, you are going to need some basic supplies.

You will need kitchen paraffin, a package of wicking, some wick weights, a few crayons (your choice of color), a large tin can or a double boiler, Scented oils (optional), and some molds. All of these things can be found at Wal-Mart.

Before we start, let's talk safety. You are going to be working with HOT wax. Always keep that in mind. Making candles is so easy it's very easy to forget about the heat. You should keep a bowel of ice water near by when working with the hot wax. I can't tell you how many candles I've made, and how many times I've burned my self.

About the molds

You can buy conventional candle molds. If you want to save money and get creative, your choices are endless. I have successfully used shot glasses for votives, tin cans (with no impressed ribbing) for pillars, and little tart tins for the floating type. I have even used a hole in the dirt for a primitive yet trendy candle affect.

You do have to remember that the top of your mold must be larger or the same size. If not, you won't be able to remove your candle once it's cooled.

A few hints

To release your candle from its mold, place it in the fridge for about a half hour. Then gently pull on the wick, and your candle should pop right out. The larger the candle, the longer you will have to leave it in the fridge. Always make sure you have left yourself enough wick. If it's too short, you will have a hard time lighting it. It's always easier to snip a little extra off. It's impossible to add more wick once your candle is made.

Keep a few toothpicks and bamboo squires with your supplies. You are going to have to make sure no air has settled around your wick. This is done after pouring the hot wax. If you skip this job, you could end up with a deep well around the wick.

The copyright of the article Candle Making101 in Home & Garden Tips is owned by . Permission to republish Candle Making101 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.