Tools and Materials
Tools
Materials
Candle wax
Pre-tabbed candle wick sized for your wax and container
Candle-safe container
Wick sticker or another adhesive recommended for candle making
Candle fragrance oil, optional
Candle dye, optional
Candle safety label
Choose Your Wax, Wick and Container First
The pouring step gets most of the attention, but the combination of wax, wick and vessel determines much of how a candle performs.
Which Candle Wax Should Beginners Use?
Soy wax is a common choice for beginner container candles because it’s widely available in flakes and is easy to measure and melt. Paraffin, beeswax and wax blends can also work, but each formula behaves differently.
Instead of choosing wax based only on appearance or scent, read the manufacturer’s directions before you buy. Look for its recommended melting temperature, fragrance load, pouring temperature and cure time.
How Do You Choose the Right Wick?
A wick isn’t one-size-fits-all. The wax type and inside diameter of the candle container are two of the biggest factors in selecting a starting wick size. Fragrance, dye and other formulation changes can affect performance too.
A wick that’s too small may produce a weak flame or leave a tunnel of unmelted wax around the container. A wick that’s too large may create an overly tall flame, excessive heat or a melt pool that becomes too deep.
Use the wax or wick manufacturer’s sizing chart as your starting point, then test the finished candle.
What Containers Are Safe for Candles?
Choose a container made or approved for candle use. The vessel needs to tolerate repeated heating as the candle burns.
Avoid assuming that any attractive drinking glass, vase, ceramic piece or repurposed container is automatically candle-safe. Ordinary glass can crack under heat and porous vessels aren’t appropriate for holding melted candle wax.
For a first project, a straight-sided candle jar or metal candle tin keeps things simple.
How Much Wax Do You Need?
A digital scale gives you better control than measuring wax by volume. If you’re following a wax manufacturer’s recipe, use its recommended batch weight.
For an unfamiliar container, you can first determine the vessel’s capacity, then make a small test batch rather than filling several jars at once.
That test candle is useful for more than checking quantity. It also lets you evaluate wick size, scent strength and burn performance before committing more materials.
How to Make Candles Step by Step
These directions explain the overall process for a DIY container candle. Because wax formulations vary, use the exact temperature recommendations supplied by your wax and fragrance manufacturers.
1. Prepare Your Work Area
Cover your work surface and clear away anything that could be damaged by hot wax. Keep children and pets out of the work area.
Place your containers on a stable, level surface away from drafts. Gather your tools before you start melting wax so you aren’t searching for supplies while handling a hot pitcher.
2. Clean and Wick the Container
Make sure the candle container is clean and completely dry. Attach the metal wick tab to the center of the bottom of the container using a wick sticker or another adhesive intended for the job. Press it firmly into place.
Keep the wick upright with a wick-centering tool, clothespin or craft sticks across the top of the vessel. An off-center wick can cause one side of the candle to heat more than the other.
3. Weigh and Melt the Wax
Weigh the amount of wax required for your recipe.
Create a double boiler by adding water to the lower pan, then place the wax in a heat-safe pouring pitcher or upper vessel. Heat gradually and stir gently as the wax melts.
Use a thermometer throughout the process. Don’t heat wax based on appearance alone.
Different waxes have different processing temperatures, so follow the instructions for the product you’re using rather than assuming every candle wax should reach the same temperature.
4. Add Candle Dye, If Desired
If you want a colored candle, use a dye formulated for candle making and follow its directions.
Add a small amount first. Wax can look darker while it’s melted than it will after cooling, so more dye isn’t always better.
5. Add Fragrance
For scented candles, choose a fragrance approved for candle use and check how much fragrance your wax manufacturer allows.
More fragrance doesn’t automatically create a stronger candle. Too much can interfere with the way the candle sets or burns.
Some candle wax formulas call for fragrance to be added at a specific temperature so it blends thoroughly with the wax. Stir gently for time recommended by the fragrance or wax supplier.
6. Let the Wax Reach Its Pouring Temperature
Remove the melted wax from heat and monitor it with the thermometer.
Pouring temperature varies by wax. Some formulas are designed to pour relatively warm while others perform better after cooling further.
Follow the wax manufacturer’s instructions for the smoothest, most predictable result.
7. Pour the Candle
Check that the wick is still centered, then slowly pour the melted wax into the container.
Leave the amount of headspace recommended for your vessel or recipe. Avoid pouring directly onto the wick. A slow, steady pour can help reduce splashing and unnecessary air bubbles.
Once filled, reposition the wick if needed and leave the candle undisturbed while it sets.
8. Let the Candle Cool
Allow the candle to cool naturally at room temperature. Keep it away from fans, open windows and other drafts that can cool one side faster than the other.
Don’t refrigerate or freeze the candle to hurry the process unless your wax manufacturer specifically recommends it.
Small surface imperfections don’t necessarily mean the candle failed. Soy wax in particular can develop cosmetic variations as it cools.
9. Trim the Wick
Once the wax has cooled completely, remove the wick-centering tool and trim the wick to about 1/4 inch to help limit high flames and soot.
10. Let a Scented Candle Cure
Cooling and curing aren’t quite the same thing.
A candle may become solid within hours, but some scented waxes perform better after they sit for several days. Certain soy-candle formulations, for example, may benefit from a longer cure before testing scent performance.
Check the directions for your wax instead of relying on a fixed 24- or 48-hour rule.
Candle Safety Tips
A homemade candle should get the same care as a store-bought one.
Before each burn, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch. Place the candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts and anything that can catch fire.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep candles away from children and pets and don’t move a candle while the wax is liquid.
Don’t use water to extinguish a candle; it can cause hot wax to splatter and may damage a glass container. Allow the candle and wax to cool completely before touching or moving it.
Make Your Own Candles With Help From Lowe's
Making your own candles is a simple way to turn a few basic materials into something for your home or as a thoughtful handmade gift. Once you’re comfortable choosing wax, wicks, fragrance and containers, it’s easy to experiment with different scents and styles. Gather your candle-making supplies, protect your workspace and enjoy the process of creating a candle at home. Lowe’s can help you find many of the tools and materials you need to get started.