Photo by Anita Austvika
Did you know making candle wax from your own house is quite trendy nowadays?
Did you ever wonder how to make candle wax from scratch? If you do, you are probably keen on DIY projects that involve getting your hands dirty. One of the popular trends is making wax at home. Since many people are starting to enjoy candle benefits, this idea has been gaining momentum. Furthermore, if you are handy at this craft you can make serious money on the side by selling wax to enthusiasts who love homemade products.
Although the process of making wax isn’t rocket science, there are certain rules one must follow to get a solid result. Unfortunately, the internet doesn’t have too many useful guides on the topic. For that reason, I’ve decided to make an article that covers this topic so that even beginners can easily enjoy the wax they have created!
Before You Start
Making wax at home is different from making industrial wax which is made with the use of different high-end tools and human resources that no household can match. With that in mind, you should arm yourself with patience and be prepared for a steep learning curve.
The wax is quite sensitive and any major deviations from the recipe could result in work that is not usable. Since one of the reasons for making wax at home is saving money you should opt-out for the affordable, natural ingredients rather than artificial ones, which could cost a fortune.
Oil Types Matter
Candle popularity owes its credit to essential oils which are used in the process of making. If you don’t use the oil in making candle wax, the candle will have no fragrance. In that way, the sensory feeling and the pleasant atmosphere are seriously lacking from the equation.
With that in mind, you should invest a certain amount of money into buying the best essential oils for candle making. The type of oil you will use depends on your taste and preferences because you are free to choose from the myriad scents available on the market.
The Importance of Coloring Your Candle Wax
Adding colors to the wax does a wonderful job of improving the general aesthetics of the candle. If you are keen on experimenting, you can use various colors to create different colors for each room you want to decorate (or even make a color blend to get a colorful candle collage).
- Resin Powder – Although there are numerous resin powders available on the market, I got the best results with Mica Powder Pure that is offered in 50 different colors.
- Dye Flakes – They usually come in packs of 16 colors and they are suitable for nearly all types of wax. One of the things I like about them is that they tend to keep the quality over time.
- Colorful Wax Block – Although it is not the easiest method to color wax, coloring blocks do an excellent job in maintaining the quality and they don’t clot over time. Moreover, they are suitable for paraffin and other wax bases.
- Candle Dye Chips – They can be used for paraffin, soy, beeswax, and vegetable wax with the same end result quality. Since it is quite easy to use them, candle dye chips are becoming increasingly popular in the candle-making business.
- Liquid Candle Dye – Liquid dyes can be used to color more than 20 pounds of wax and with them, you don’t have to wait for the liquid to melt. They don’t produce gas nor do they disturb the wax fragrance.
The procedure of How to Make Candle Wax from Scratch:
Because we have already covered the basics of ingredients necessary to make candle wax from scratch, it is time to move to the practical part of the process. Arm yourself with patience, because the making of candle wax can take more than two hours of your time.
Step 1: It is a good solution to start with mixing one pound of mineral oil with resin powder (if you want to use that for coloring). The sufficient amount of resin sits at approximately 1.25 ounces. It is vital to take time to carefully stir and mix ingredients carefully, and not just pour ingredients together.
The secret to creating the perfect candle wax lies in the perfect balance between ingredients that are done through correct sipping and mixing. After you are done stirring, you should start to see a gel-like formation. That is the end result of this phase since it will keep the fragrance for a long time.
Step 2: After you conclude the first phase, you can keep the mixture away for an hour to an hour and a half.
Step 3: Once the clock ticks away, mix the foundation again to remove any lumps that could have been formed while the mixture was cooling down. After that, you should put the formation into the boiling pot and start heating it. Since this process requires using high temperatures, make sure to take all necessary precautions to avoid injuries.
Step 4: At this point, you can start cooking the mixture using the low flame, while gradually increasing the temperature. You should check on the consistency and appearance of the candle wax, because you may have to lower the temperature at some point. With that in mind, it is important to start the process once you are sure that there is enough time on your hands.
Step 5: The gel-like mass will turn clearer when you start to boil it. It will continue to harden, and at this point, you can use a thermometer. Don’t allow the temperature to climb above 428 degrees Fahrenheit. You should wait for it to reach the optimum temperature and continue with mixing while keeping the same temperature.
Step 6: After two hours the gel will form a liquid texture and you should cool it down. Now you need to pour the liquid wax into a container and keep it aside for a while. Another important thing to remember is not to allow the wax to get in touch with your skin because it can cause serious burns. When cooling down the gel you shouldn’t put it in the freezer, but opt-out for cold water.
Step 7: Once the liquid becomes hard enough, close the container tightly because you don’t want the wax to come in direct contact with air and moisture. It can negatively affect the consistency and the formation procedure, so it is best to use a container that has a sealing.
Step 8: The hard trial of wax making is over at this point. However, it is time to make a solid work into an excellent one. You should decorate the candle wax because it will add to the visual appearance, which is especially important if you want to use the candle as a gift. There are many methods you can do, but I will provide a personal favorite.
Step 9: Once the foundation is cold, put it in a glass container that is sturdy enough. Since heat can affect the glass negatively, be sure to cool the wax entirely.
Step 10: At this point, you can cut a wick in proportion to the size of your candle. Then, glue the cord at the bottom of the glass container. Make sure the wick doesn’t move too much and that it stands firmly through the wax. Pro tip: cut the wick longer than the size of the glass container is so that the top of the wick remains above the candle surface.
Step 11: Cut the portion of the hardened wax gel and heat it again at the maximum temperature of 428 degrees Fahrenheit, until the gel becomes a liquid. After that, pour the molten liquid wax into the glass container again. As always, make sure to wear oven gloves to avoid burning. An extra tip is to use color to the liquid wax if you want to render a unique texture of the candle.
Summary
Although many people stray away from making candle wax, despite wanting to, those who are persistent can benefit a lot. It is true that it takes a certain level of skill and patience to achieve usable results, but once you master the bases, it gets a lot easier.
First, aim to get usable foundations, and then you can move to more advanced techniques of shaping and coloring your candles. With some patience and thorough reading of the instructions given above, you’re on your way to becoming a wax-making master!
