How to Make Scented Candles From Scratch

Making your own scented candles is a rewarding and creative hobby that combines artistry with a touch of chemistry. Moving beyond pre-made kits allows for complete control over the ingredients, leading to a truly personalized and high-quality final product. This detailed guide will walk you through the essential supplies, the best wax choices, and the precise steps to craft beautiful, fragrant candles right in your own kitchen.

Section 1: Gathering Your Essential Supplies

Before you begin the candle making process, it is crucial to assemble all your materials. Precision is key in this craft, so using a kitchen scale and a thermometer is non negotiable for consistent results.

Basic Supplies and Equipment:

• Candle Wax: The base of your candle. Popular choices include soy, coconut, beeswax, or a blended wax.
• Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil: The source of your scent. Purchase oils specifically tested and approved for candle making, as not all essential oils perform well when heated.
• Wicks: Pre-tabbed wicks with a metal base are the easiest to use for container candles. The size and type must be chosen according to your wax type and the diameter of your container to ensure a clean, even burn. Consult a wick guide from your supplier.
• Containers or Vessels: Heat-safe containers such as glass jars, ceramic pots, or metal tins. Ensure they are clean and dry.
• Digital Kitchen Scale: Essential for accurately measuring wax and fragrance oil by weight.
• Pouring Pot: A dedicated metal pitcher with a handle and spout for melting and pouring wax.
• Double Boiler Setup: A large saucepan and your pouring pot to melt the wax indirectly, preventing scorching.
• Thermometer: A candy or digital thermometer that measures temperatures up to at least 200∘F is necessary for accurate temperature control.
• Wick Centering Device: Tools like a clothespin, chopsticks, or specialized wick bars to hold the wick upright and centered while the wax cools.
• Stirring Utensil: A dedicated spoon or spatula for stirring the wax.
• Scissors or Wick Trimmers: For trimming the finished wick.

Section 2: Choosing Your Wax and Calculating Your Recipe

The type of wax you choose significantly impacts the candle’s performance, scent throw (how well the scent fills a room), and overall burn quality.

Popular Wax Types for Scented Candles:

1. Soy Wax: A natural, eco friendly wax derived from soybeans. It offers a clean burn with minimal soot and is generally a good option for holding fragrance, often referred to as a great “scent throw.” Soy wax is soft and best suited for container candles.
2. Coconut Wax: Another natural option, often blended with soy or other waxes. It provides a creamy texture, burns slowly, and has excellent fragrance retention. It is typically a more expensive, luxurious choice.
3. Paraffin Wax: The traditional, inexpensive choice. It boasts an excellent scent throw and comes in different melting points for various candle types (pillars, containers, etc.). However, it is a petroleum byproduct and may produce more soot.
4. Beeswax: A natural byproduct of honey production. It has a natural, subtle honey scent that can interfere with added fragrance oils. It burns very slowly and cleanly, making it a good choice for those who prefer a more natural, lightly scented candle.

The Importance of the Fragrance Load

Fragrance load is the ratio of fragrance oil to wax by weight, and it is the single most important factor for a strongly scented candle. Adding too much oil can cause the fragrance to ‘bleed’ out of the wax or create a fire hazard by producing excessive soot.

• Standard Fragrance Load: Most waxes can hold between 6% and 10% fragrance oil. For beginners, a 6% to 8% ratio is a safe and effective starting point.
• Calculating Your Amounts (using an 8% load example):
  1. Determine Total Wax Needed: Weigh your empty container and then fill it with dry wax flakes to the desired level. Weigh the filled container, then subtract the container weight to find the net weight of the wax flakes. Let’s assume you need 10 ounces of wax for one candle.
  2. Calculate Fragrance Oil Weight: Multiply the wax weight by your desired fragrance load percentage (expressed as a decimal). 10 oz (wax)×0.08 (8% load)=0.8 oz (fragrance oil)
  3. Total Batch Weight: 10 oz (wax)+0.8 oz (fragrance oil)=10.8 oz (total batch weight)

Section 3: Step by Step Candle Making Process

Follow these steps carefully, paying close attention to the temperatures, as they determine how well your scent bonds with the wax.

Step 1: Prepare the Vessel and Wick

Clean and dry your container thoroughly. Attach the wick to the center of the container’s base using a wick sticker or a small dot of hot glue. Secure the top of the wick by looping it through a wick centering device, such as a pencil or wooden stick, and resting it across the top rim of the container. This ensures the wick stays perfectly centered during the cooling process.

Step 2: Measure and Melt the Wax

Using your digital scale, measure the exact amount of wax flakes or blocks you calculated in your recipe. Place the wax into your pouring pot. Set up a double boiler by filling the larger saucepan with a few inches of water and bringing it to a simmer. Place the pouring pot into the simmering water.

Allow the wax to melt fully, stirring gently to help break up any solid pieces. Use your thermometer to monitor the temperature. Do not let the wax exceed 185∘F as this can damage the wax’s structure. Aim for the specific melt temperature recommended by your wax supplier, typically between 170∘F and 185∘F.

Step 3: Add the Fragrance Oil

Once the wax is completely liquid and has reached its target melt temperature, remove it from the heat source. This is the critical moment for adding scent. Allow the wax to cool down to its specific fragrance add temperature, which is typically between 135∘F and 160∘F. Adding the fragrance too hot can cause it to burn off or evaporate, resulting in a weak scent throw.

Measure the calculated amount of fragrance oil using your scale and pour it into the melted wax. Stir gently but thoroughly for at least two minutes to ensure the fragrance oil is fully incorporated and chemically bonded with the wax. This is essential for a good scent throw.

Step 4: Pour the Wax

Allow the scented wax to cool further to its ideal pouring temperature, usually between 125∘F and 145∘F, depending on the wax type. Pouring too hot can lead to sinkholes or wet spots where the wax pulls away from the container glass as it cools.

Carefully pour the wax into your prepared container, pouring slowly and steadily. Fill the container to your desired level, typically leaving about half an inch of space from the rim. Ensure the wick remains straight and centered.

Step 5: Cool and Cure the Candle

Allow the candle to cool and solidify completely at room temperature on a stable, level surface. Avoid moving it or placing it in an area with drafts or extreme temperature changes, which can lead to cracking or an uneven surface. This setting process can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight.

Once the wax is fully hardened and cool to the touch, you can remove the wick centering device. Using scissors or a wick trimmer, trim the wick to about one-quarter inch.

The final and most important step is curing. Curing is the time required for the wax and the fragrance oil molecules to fully bond. This process significantly improves the scent throw. A minimum cure time of 48 hours is recommended, but most candlemakers agree that a cure time of one to two weeks results in the best performance. Store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight during this period.

Section 4: Tips for a Perfect Candle

• Wick Size Matters: An improperly sized wick will cause tunneling (burning down the center, leaving wax on the sides) or excessive smoking. Always consult a wick guide.
• Test Small Batches: Before committing to a large batch, make a single test candle to check the fragrance strength and burn performance.
• Prevent Sinkholes: If a small dip or sinkhole appears near the wick after cooling, you can gently reheat the surface with a hairdryer or a heat gun for a few seconds, or do a small “re-pour” with reserved melted wax.
• First Burn Rule: The very first time you light your finished candle, allow it to burn until the melted wax pool reaches the edge of the container. This “memory burn” sets the stage for all future burns, preventing tunneling.

With patience and attention to detail, you can master the craft of scented candle making, creating customized, high-quality products that fill your home with beautiful fragrance.