Making Your Own Candles – First Steps
When I decided to learn how to make my own candles, I did quite a bit of research. I found literally dozens of candle making courses, most of which were not very easy to follow. I’ve written a free mini-course and an e-book that I think you will find very informative. Just sign up for the mini-course on this page and you will begin to receive daily emails for the next two weeks that will give you a basic knowledge of candle making. If you decide to purchase the e-book version of my candle making course, I hope you find it easy to understand and very enjoyable as you learn how to make your own candles.
Out of all the advice I received from experienced candle makers, there was one common thread…you must set up your work station correctly. Being organized and prepared will help you avoid mishaps and frustration.
Waxed paper is the perfect covering for your workspace. It will catch the spills and will easily release the wax for re-use. If you’re working on a wooden surface that is more prone to absorbing wax, use multiple layers of waxed paper. It’s best to avoid using thick towels as a surface cover because of the instability that results. Molds and containers should be on flat, hard surfaces to make sure your candle wax is level once it is poured and cooled.
You might consider using a layer of aluminum foil over the heating surface (including the drip pan just below the heating element or burner) before melting the wax. The purpose is twofold: the foil will deflect the heat and will provide a more even heat source (especially with a gas burner), and it will protect your stovetop from wax spills. Wax will ignite when it comes in contact with an electric heating element or an open flame. It also makes for a very messy clean-up at the end of your project.
The next step is to have all of your tools and candle making materials close by. Before melting the wax, gather your dye, scenting oils, wicks, and molds. Everything you plan to use should be on a counter top near the heat source. It’s very important to use a melting pot to pour the melted wax. If you use a double boiler to melt the wax, I recommend pouring the wax from the double boiler into the melting pot before filling your containers or molds. The melting pot has a heat-resistant handle and a spout to help control the wax as it is poured.
If you have unused melted wax at the end of your project, line a clean pan with waxed paper and pour the left over melted wax into it. Once cooled, the wax can easily be removed from the waxed paper and the pan needs no cleaning. Melted wax should never be poured down a drain.
Spoons and molds can be placed in boiling water to melt excess wax. Carefully remove the items from the hot water with tongs, and wipe clean with paper towels. Coffee and soup cans used during your project can be discarded. These are easier to replace than they are to clean. If you need to clean wax from glass containers, you can place them in the freezer (the wax will contract and easily break away from the glass) or place in a microwave for 1 minute intervals until the softened wax can be wiped clean with a paper towel.
Safety is an important part of candle making. You should have baking soda and a fire extinguisher on hand just in case a fire occurs. Water should never be poured onto a wax fire. The flame should be smothered with baking soda or sprayed with a fire extinguisher. Never walk away from wax melting on a stovetop. A thermometer should be used to monitor the temperature of the wax at all times. Wax should never be heated above 280° F.
And finally, always keep children and pets away from your work area when melting wax. Their curiosity can result in spills and burns. With the proper preparation, your candle projects will be safe, successful, and memorable.
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