How to Make Handmade Candles

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

Making handmade candles is a fun and rewarding way to add a personal touch to your home or create thoughtful gifts for friends and family. Whether you're new to candle-making or looking to refine your skills, this simple guide will walk you through the entire process. Plus, we’ll cover everything you need to make eco-friendly, non-toxic candles that burn beautifully.

Materials You’ll Need for Handmade Candles

Before you begin, gather all the supplies you’ll need to make your handmade candles. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Organic soy wax, coconut wax, or beeswax (eco-friendly and non-toxic)
• Cotton wicks
• Essential oils or fragrance oils for scent (choose phthalate-free for non-toxic candles)
• Candle containers (glass jars, tins, or molds)
• A double boiler (to melt the wax safely) 
• A thermometer (to monitor wax temperature)
• Wooden stirrers or popsicle sticks
• Wick stickers or glue dots (to hold the wick in place)

These are the basics, but feel free to get creative with your containers and scents to match your style.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Handmade Candles

Step 1: Melt the Wax

Start by melting your wax in a double boiler over medium heat. Organic soy wax is a popular choice for handmade candles because it's natural, burns cleanly, and is easy to work with. Place your wax in the top of the double boiler and let it melt completely. Stir occasionally to break up any clumps. Keep an eye on the temperature with your thermometer—it should be around 170-180°F for adding fragrance later.

Step 2: Prepare Your Wick

While the wax is melting, it’s time to prepare your wick. Take your candle container (glass jars or tins work great) and place the wick in the center. To hold it in place, use a wick sticker or a small drop of hot wax. You can also use a clothespin or popsicle stick to hold the wick upright while pouring the wax later.

Step 3: Add Your Fragrance and Color

Once your wax reaches about 170-180°F, it’s time to add fragrance. Essential oils or fragrance oils work best for this, and you can customize the scent to your liking. Add about 1 ounce of fragrance oil per pound of wax, but feel free to adjust based on the strength of the scent. If you’re adding color, now is the time to stir in any dye chips or liquid dye. Be sure to mix well so the fragrance and color are evenly distributed. 

(Natural Vegetable Dyes are a great way to add color to your candles in a nontoxic, chemical-free way. Be sure to research what you use for safety.)

Step 4: Pour the Wax

Carefully pour the melted wax into your prepared containers, making sure to leave a little room at the top. Ensure that the wick remains centered as you pour. It’s helpful to pour slowly to avoid air bubbles. Let the candles sit undisturbed while they cool and harden. This can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, depending on the size of the container.

Step 5: Trim the Wick

Once your candles have completely cooled and the wax has set, it’s time to trim the wick. Use scissors to cut the wick to about 1/4 inch above the wax. This helps prevent smoking and ensures a clean, even burn when you light the candle.

 

Tips for Perfect Handmade Candles

Making candles is a creative process, but there are a few key tips to keep in mind to ensure you get the best results:

• Avoid Tunneling: To prevent tunneling (when only the center of the candle melts), let your candle burn long enough the first time so that the entire top layer of wax is melted evenly.
• Temperature Matters: Adding fragrance at the right temperature is key. For most waxes, adding oils at 170-180°F will help preserve the scent. Make sure to read the wax package details, It should have the desired tempatures listed. 
• Experiment with Scents: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different scent combinations. Popular options include lavender, vanilla, eucalyptus, or seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice or apple pie. Every scent is different, we found that Vanilla takes 
• Read Candle Safety Tips: Candles are fun but can be dangerous if not handled with care. Read our candle safety page here for more info.

 

Why Choose Handmade Candles?

Handmade candles offer a personal touch that mass-produced candles can’t replicate. Plus, by using eco-friendly ingredients like soy wax and essential oils, you can create candles that are not only beautiful but also non-toxic and safe for the environment. When you make candles at home, you control everything from the scent to the container, ensuring your candles fit perfectly into your home or make thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

Now that you know how to make handmade candles, it’s time to gather your supplies and start creating! Whether you’re making them for personal use or to give as gifts, handmade candles are a simple yet rewarding craft that brings light and fragrance to any space.

 

Explore Our Handmade Candles

If you’re feeling inspired by the candle-making process but don’t have the time to make your own, check out our collection of handmade, organic soy candles. Each candle is hand-poured with love in our New Jersey studio, using only the finest ingredients like non-toxic, phthalate-free fragrance oils. With scents ranging from coastal-inspired fragrances to cozy fall favorites, we have something for every home.

Ready to bring the warmth and glow of handmade candles into your space? Explore our collection here.