Candle Making Tutorial
Simple Container Candle Making
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Copyright 2003-2004 CandleHelp.com
Container candles are perhaps the easiest of all candles to make. These are instructions to make a simple container candle, and include no additional steps or optional additives. For advanced container candle techniques, visit http://www.candlehelp.com/. For a selection of different containers to use to make your container candles, click HERE.
What You Will Need - Supplies
Container Candle Wax
One or more Containers
Wick for container candles suitable for your size of container candle. (for assistance on selecting your wick visit our reference section on Choosing Your Wick)
Wick Clips
Steamer Pot or old Sauce Pan to create a double boiler
Standard Size or Small Size Melting Pot with pour spout
Wood Stir Sticks, chopsticks, or something else to stir the wax
Thermometer
Scissors
Candle Fragrance (optional)
Color Dye Chips (optional)
Note: The Flower Pot Container used in these instructions uses about lb of wax and 3 inches of wick to make.
Also a good idea to have around:
Paper towels
Wax Remover
Aluminum Foil
Newspaper, butcher paper, or scrap paper to cover work surfaces
Fire Extinguisher (just in case)
How to Set Up Your Work Area
- Put down newspaper or butcher paper on tables and countertops to catch spills and for easy cleanup.
- Have paper towels and Wax Remover on hand for cleaning stovetops.
- Wrap stove burner bowls in tin foil to catch drips of wax, and for easy cleanup afterwards.
Prep your Container
The wonderful part about container candles is that they really are not very much work. There is nothing you need to do to prep your container!
However, before you begin, you may want to tab your wick in preparation for pouring your candle. If you do not know how to tab a wick, visit our reference section for simple instructions on How to Tab a Wick.
Melting your Container Candle Wax
You will need either a steamer pot or deep sauce pan, and you will also need a melting pot with a pouring spout. These two items create a double boiler to melt your wax.
A simple double boiler using an old sauce pan and a meting pot with a spout.
Fill the bottom part of your double boiler (the steamer pot or the deep sauce pan) with about two inches of cool water, and place on the burner set to high temperature.
Place pieces of container candle wax to be melted into the melting pot with a pouring spout, set the melting pot in the water, and attend to it as the wax liquefies. (When the water begins to boil, turn the heat down to medium low or low.)
If you have a large block of wax and need instructions on how to safely break it into smaller pieces, please visit our section on How To Break Up Wax Blocks
When the wax is entirely liquid (i.e., when there are no solid chunks any longer in the pot) you have successfully melted the wax.
Our container candle wax melts at about xxx degrees F. The wax will continue to grow hotter as it remains in the double boiler. The temperature of the wax should get to 190 degrees F.
Adding Dye
After the wax is entirely melted, add your candle dye, if you are using any. Each of our diamond shaped dye chips colors 1 lb of wax. Use more or less candle dye for lighter or darker colored candles. Drop a dye chip (or part of a dye chip) into the melted wax, and stir until the dye chip is entirely dissolved into the liquid wax.
Adding Fragrance
Adding fragrance is the last thing you do before you pour the candle. This is because the potency of the fragrance can be reduced if subjected to high heat for too long.
After the wax is entirely melted, and after you have added candle dye (if you are using candle dye), add your candle fragrance, if you are using any. The standard ratio for our candle fragrance oils is one ounce of fragrance oil per 1 lb of wax. Use more or less fragrance for lighter or heavier scented candles. Add the candle fragrance to the melted (and colored, if you are making colored candles) wax in the melting pot, and stir thoroughly to get even distribution of the candle fragrance.
Pouring the Container Candle
When your container candle wax has reached 190 degrees F, pour it into your container. Fill the container to the level you want your finished container candle to be.
Place the Wick
The wax at the bottom of the container will begin to cool and solidify very soon after pouring.
Place the wick now, centering it at the bottom of the container. The quickly cooling wax at the bottom of the container will solidify around the wick tab. You can use a stir stick to maneuver the wick tab to the center.
To keep the wick centered as the container candle cools, you can use a jiffy wicker bar, or place a stir stick such that it props the wick upright in the center.
Set the Candle
Allow the candle to cool. As the candle cools, the wax will shrink, which tend to pull the wick off center. To counteract this, periodically tug the wick back to center.
2nd Pour
The second pour is made after the wax in the container has cooled completely. The reason for making a second pour (pouring more wax into the container after the first pour wax has cooled) is that the wax from the first pour will have shrunk into a sink-hole around the wick, which you will plainly be able to see. This is normal, as wax expands when melted and contracts when it cools.
To make the 2nd pour for the container candle, re-heat the wax you saved from the first pour in the double boiler. If you are using a glass container, it is better if you can reheat the 2nd Pour wax to about 5 to 10 degrees F hotter than the temperature of your first pour wax. (If the wax of your first pour was 190 degrees F, then heat the 2nd pour wax to 195 or 200 degrees F before pouring.) This will melt the 1st pour wax slightly and minimize the appearance of seams where the two wax pours meet.
Set the Candle
Once you have made the 2nd pour of wax to fill the shrinkage sink hole in the center of the candle, let it sit undisturbed until it cools completely.
Trim the wick to inch before burning.
Finished Container Candle
That is all it takes to make a simple container candle! Your candle is now finished. Burn it, give it as a gift, or use it to decorate your home or office.
Final Notes:
http://www.discountcandleshop.com/ and http://www.nwcandlemaking.com/ offer a variety of containers for you to use in making your own container candles!
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
