How to make candles at home, according to people who do it for a living

Start with a candle-making kit.

If you want to have all the items you need to try your hand at candle-making, jump in with a kit “so that you can have all of the essentials in one package,” says Suncera.

“[A kit] can help you build a solid foundation because they’ve already done the work of determining the proper wax, container, and wick combinations,” adds DeJesse. “You can then choose to purchase additional scent samples if you’d like to further experiment.”

Note: This product is only in stock from 4/29. 

Get the right wax and wicks before anything else.

Once you’re comfortable venturing outside kits, you’ll need to pick out the best candle-making supplies.

Deciding on what wax to use is important since it will influence how a candle burns and takes on fragrances. “Soy wax is relatively easy to get started with and it burns cleanly, unlike paraffin wax,” says DeJesse. Suncera agrees: “It also mixes well with fragrances and retains the smell — referred to as cold and hot throw — very well.”

Another key component of a candle is the wick. There is a range of wicks to choose from and the wick will influence how a candle burns. “Your choice of wick will depend on the wax you use,” says DeJesse. “In general, CD and LX wicks are very reliable in soy wax.” Cotton wicks are also a favorite of Suncera’s because they “are eco-friendly and produce a clean burn.”

Gather a few more supplies once you feel invested in candle-making.

If you want to reduce expenses or get a feel for candle-making before purchasing a lot of materials, you can initially use scissors instead of a wax trimmer. “While you don’t necessarily need a wick trimmer for candle making, you will need to trim your wicks prior to burning your candles,” says DeJesse.

That being said, if you really get into candle-making, a trimmer can be a worthwhile and affordable investment. “I prefer to use a wick trimmer since I make the candles in bulk and find it easy to clean after each use,” says Suncera.

A pouring pitcher makes it easy to transfer hot wax.

Making candles requires melting wax, so you’ll need to have a double boiler available. “When starting out, you can use your own pots to make a double boiler,” says Suncera. Another option is to use a pot you already have at home to heat up water and then buy a pouring pitcher to easily pour the wax into the containers.

Metal candle tins are more durable than glass.

Candles often come in a variety of sizes and receptacles. While reusing glass jars is possible,  DeJesse strongly advises making sure the container is fire-safe before using it. 

When you’re considering what type of receptacle to use, it’s key that you choose something that has consistent diameters. “By keeping the diameter as a fixed variable, it will be easier to determine the proper wax and wick combination,” DeJesse explains. “Getting this right is important because it’s what affects whether or not you get a full melt pool — i.e. the wax melts all the way to the container edges.”

For a more specific rec, Suncera uses metal tins. “I prefer them because I don’t want to risk breaking a glass jar and I can reuse the tins for testing other candles once I have burned the original one.”

A digital scale helps you get accurate measurements each time.

Making scented candles requires measuring the amount of oil to the quantity of the wax to ensure there isn’t too much or too little fragrance. “A digital scale is essential for weighing the correct amount of wax and fragrance oils,” says Suncera. 

A thermometer ensures you mix ingredients at the exact temperature needed.

Temperature is a key factor in scents binding together right. “A thermometer is necessary to ensure you mix the fragrance at the correct temperature and pour at the optimal [one],” says Suncera.

Q-tips are a great, low-cost way to experiment with scent combinations.

Mixing scents takes time to learn, and when you’re experimenting with new combinations, you’re going to want to test them out before adding them to the wax. An easy and affordable way to do that is by using Q-tips. 

“Dip the Q-tips into the scents, combine them in a small jar, and after a minute or two, give it a sniff!” says DeJesse. “It’s a quick, inexpensive way to see if scents will work together.”

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