How to Make Candles: A Step-by-Step Guide

Give a person a candle, and they’ll have home decor for days. Teach a person how to make candles, and they’ll have home decor for a lifetime…or so goes a crafter’s version of the famous quote. There’s a reason candles are a go-to gift—they’re mood setters, relaxation promoters, and coziness creators. They’re also an integral part of interior design, especially with the growing popularity of scentscaping, or choosing signature fragrances to make your house smell good.

“Candles placed in various rooms in a signature scent keep your home smelling fresh and inviting all year—it’s classic and chic,” says interior designer Sherrell Neal of the Houston-based Sherrell Design Studio.

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You likely have a candle or two in your home right now, but have you ever tried making your own candles? Here, we’ve gathered general tips about DIY candle making and created a step-by-step guide to whipping up your own wick-centered flames.

What candle wax is best?

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There isn’t one wax that’s necessarily the best, but depending on your goals, some wax types are better than others. Paraffin wax is affordable and holds both fragrance and color really well. However, it’s derived from petroleum so it’s not the most sustainable choice. Soy wax, on the other hand, is natural and slow-burning. Though it doesn’t hold fragrance as well as paraffin, it’s still a solid option. Beeswax is environmentally friendly and has a long burning time. And it does have a natural honey scent, but it won’t hold fragrance oils as well as the other two. Finally, coconut wax is vegan, sustainable, and holds a scent well. The downside? It can be pricier than the rest.

How do you make strong-scented candles?

Generally speaking, the more fragrance oil you add to your melted wax, the more aromatic the candle will be. And as mentioned above, the type of wax you choose has an effect too. The basic ratio is one ounce of oil per pound of wax. Troubleshooting to find your ideal formula is a good idea, but this is a decent place to start.

As for the fragrance itself, essential oils are a go-to for DIY scented candles. You’ll also want to consider the scents that’ll give you the most bang for your buck. Lavender, lemon, orange, cinnamon, and peppermint are all powerful aromas. Use a single scent or blend oils for a more complex fragrance. You’ll end up with an aromatherapy candle worthy of your favorite wellness room.

Is it cheaper to make your own candles?

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Homemade candles can certainly be budget-friendly, especially when you consider that a single store-bought candle can easily cost $30 or more. If budget is a concern, especially if you’re making a large batch of DIY candles, using synthetic scents will be substantially cheaper than essential oils. You can also buy your wax in bulk on Amazon. For example, a 45-pound bag of microwavable soy wax beads costs $129, about the same price as a single high-end multiwick candle.

How profitable is selling homemade candles?

There’s plenty of competition in the candle industry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t blaze your own trail. To stand out in a crowd, create unique aromatic blends, especially ones that pay homage to the time of year or area where you’re selling your goods. For example, whip up cinnamon-scented votives for autumn or an ocean-inspired fragrant candle for coastal communities. Another idea is to play with shape. Use molds to create sculptural or twisted taper candles, which are popular right now. Or customize the outside of a pillar candle with pressed flowers, burlap, or twine tied into a bow.

1. Gather your supplies

Depending on the wax you choose, you may not need everything here (wax from Siblings, for example, is microwavable so you can skip the double boiler). But for a basic tutorial, these are the candle-making supplies you’ll need:

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