How to Make Candles

Candles add a warm glow that makes your home feel cozier. It is easy to make candles at home. You can customize your candles to suit your decor and fragrance preference. 

Soy candles make the perfect handmade gift for the holidays. You can find more gift ideas in this earlier post.

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How to Make Candles at Home

By making your candles, you can control the quality and type of ingredients in your candles. In other words, you can use high-quality soy wax and essential oils. 

You can choose the size and type of vessel for your candles. 

Candle Supplies

• Soy Wax
• Jars (vintage-style)
• Wax melting pot
• Double boiler
• Thermometer
• Wick holder
• Wicks
• Wick stickers
• Essential oils (be sure they are recommended for candle making)
• Garnishes 
• Tweezers
• Jars or other vessels 
• Wax stirrer 
• Baker’s twine
• Gift tag (printable)
• Candle-making kit (I recommend purchasing a candle-making kit) 

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Candle making supplies

I wanted to make a variety of candles. I like to use a garnish or decoration on the top of the wax, so I know what fragrance they are. 

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Candle jar

I used a vintage-style Ball jar to look perfect with my antique jar collection.

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Vintage Santas and jars

Measuring and Heating the Wax

I use two times the amount of wax my vessel will hold to measure the wax.

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Measuring the wax

Place your melting pot inside a double boiler or a saucepan with a few inches of water over medium heat. 

Next, pour the wax into the melting pot.

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Pour the wax into the melting pot

Gently stir the wax until melted. 

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Stir and melt the wax

Melting Wax

Continue to heat the wax until it reaches a temperature of 180 degrees F.

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Heating wax

After the wax reaches 180 F, carefully remove the melting pot from the double boiler and place it on a trivet to cool to 130 degrees F.

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Cooling wax

Add Fragrance 

Next, add essential oils (fragrance) to the wax.

Note: I add one tablespoon of essential oil for an 8-ounce container. Then gently stir (to avoid bubbles) for two minutes. 

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Add essential oil

Attach Wick

Apply a wick sticker to the bottom of your wick, then place the wick in the bottom of your vessel. 

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Attach wick

Wax Pouring 

Be careful pouring the hot wax into your jar or vessel. Fill the jar up to 1/2 to 1/4 inch from the top. 

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Fill jar

Then, add a wick holder to keep the wick in place while it cools on a level surface for 24 hours.

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Wick holder

If you plan to add a garnish or decoration to the top of your candle, then you will need to observe it until you see it turn opaque then with tweezers gently place your garnish on the wax.

Trim Wick

Trim the wick to size.

Note: since I wanted to put the lid on my jars for gift-giving, I had to trim the wick below the top of the pot. 

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Trim wick

Gift Giving and Printable Tag

Candles make an inexpensive gift everyone will enjoy. Add an adorable tag with baker’s twine and your gift is ready.

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Peppermint jar candle gift

I used an Xacto knife and ruler to cut my tags; however, you can also use scissors or a paper cutter. 

You can use the printable tags for all your gifts. 

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More Candle Ideas You Might Enjoy:

Christmas candle holders made with re-cycle jars.

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DIY Christmas Candle Holders

More Handmade Gift Ideas:

These gorgeous handmade candle holders would make a lovely gift.

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Handmade candle holders

Handmade Christmas ornaments are always appreciated. Make some rustic vintage-inspired ornaments for gifts. 

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Handmade Rustic Ornaments

Want a Stress-Free Holiday?

Want to enjoy all the holiday season has to offer, but it all seems overwhelming? Then, join me as we enjoy a stress-free holiday season with a ton of inspiration, money-saving ideas for decorating, gift-giving, and so much more.

Join HERE! And have the best of everything this holiday.

Thank you for your visit today. I hope you found some sweet inspiration. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Merry Christmas,