Making Scented Candles

I still remember my first day at "Candle Making 101" class. I was nervous and excited, and couldn't wait to see if I had the skills in making candles. I have loved placing scented candles around my house as it gives a pleasant aroma whenever you walk inside the house. Candles are pretty much an inexpensive way to beautify a room/house. You can use it for birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties, romantic affairs, and much more. Scented candle making can also teach you the art of relaxation and help you learn a new art and crafts' skill. Let's take a look at how easily candles can be made.

Soy Wax Scented Glass Candles

Try making these candles from soy wax and place them in attractive glasses to embellish your home. Here are some simple scented candle making instructions to help you understand the basic techniques used for the craft.

Materials Needed

• Soy wax
• Decorative glasses
• Scented oil
• Candle wicks
• Colored chips
• Wax dye
• Double boiler
• Thermometer

Step #1: Take a double boiler and add water to it. Boil it over medium heat as you will need it to melt the wax and not burn it. You can also make yourself a double boiler if you don't already own one. Take a bowl and place it perfectly over the pan with water.

Step #2: One lb of soy wax will fill at least 4 small-sized glass container. Keep the soy wax in the boiler and place the thermometer to check when the heat reaches 180ºF. Make sure you don't overheat the wax.

Step #3: Place some newspapers on your workstation while the wax is melting. Place the candle wick in the glass containers. Once the wax melts, remove the bowl from the heat add pour your choice of scented oil (1 lb wax = 1 oz oil).

Step #4: The wax dye that you bought will go in the wax now. Although you need to work fast and have the scented oil and the dye ready before you take the wax off the heat. Add few drops of dye in the wax depending on the intensity of color you wish for. Keep stirring the wax so that the color won't form in one place.

Step #5: Take a look at the thermometer which should indicate that the wax's temperature is 170ºF. Carefully pour the hot soy wax into the glass containers. Line up the wicks in the middle so that it fits perfectly in the center of each candle. Fill the containers till you wish and let the wax turn solid. Ta-da, you have successfully finished the steps to making candles.

Beeswax Scented Pillar Candles

Normally, you will find beeswax in blocks of wide sheets with honeycomb patterns. As you are making the candles with beeswax, it is important to know that the wax itself has a sweet, honey scent. You can choose to blend another fragrance to the beeswax and create a new aroma. I would suggest almond and vanilla oils that will infuse itself with the delightful perfume of the beeswax.

Materials Needed

• Beeswax sheet
• Candle wicks
• Scented oil
• Wick clips
• Double boiler
• Wooden Spoon

Step #1: Follow steps 1 and 2 if you wish to add more diversity in the fragrance of your decorative candles. But if you are satisfied with the sweet aroma of the beeswax and don't want to add anymore fragrance to it, then skip the steps and start from step 2 in this illustration.

Step #2: If you have melted your beeswax, then let it turn solid. For the regular beeswax sheet, place it over a flat surface, keeping the short side towards you. Take the candle wick and cut a small piece of it so that you are left with 1 inch on each side of the sheet.

Step #3: Take the wick and press it slightly inside the edge of the wax that's closer to you. Don't push it too hard, use gentle pressure with fingers so that the candle wick can set in its place.

Step #4: Now the wax will have to be rolled up and over the wick. Do this step slowly and carefully. Make sure you roll the wax tightly around the candle wick so that there is no air bubbles formed in your candle. Also, don't put a lot of pressure while rolling, or else you will deform the end shape of the candle. Another advantage of doing this process slowly is to keep a straight line.

Step #5: Once you roll the entire sheet, put a slight pressure over the edge of the wax. This will help it stay in place. You can also make the candle's margin bigger by adding another layer of sheet to this one.

Step #6: Pick a side, whichever one looks prettier, to be the top. Cut the extra wick coming out of the wax so you can get a flat base. Leave at least ½ inch on the top.

Step #7: You can also change colors of your pillar candles. Place the candles on top of some old newspapers. Mix a batch of acrylic paint; select your choice of colors. The acrylic paint will prevent the paint from separating over the candle.

Step #8: Use brushes to apply the paint over the candles and make rings of different colors, shapes, stripes, and designs. You can also place stencils over the flat pillar candles and create some designs. Keep the candles aside to dry the paint. Voila, your attractive pillar candle is ready!

Making scented candles is a fun way to relax and de-stress yourself. However, be careful while you're working with the hot wax. In case you have never had the chance to make candles, there are many "scented candle making kits" available in the market.