Homemade candles can be such a sweet, nostalgic gift idea, as well as creating a beautiful ambiance for your home this holiday season. Whether you crave the scent of warm cinnamon, sweet orange, or cool peppermint, find out how you can learn to make candles at home in just a few easy steps with this easy candle making 101 DIY.
Have you ever caught a scent—a just-lit candle, a whiff of perfume, herbs topping a warm dish—and suddenly find yourself returning to a memory from years ago? Our sense of smell is deeply tied to our memories, sometimes even triggering experiences long forgotten. That’s just one reason why homemade candles can be such a sweet, nostalgic gift idea, as well as creating a beautiful ambiance for your home. Whether it’s warm cinnamon, sweet orange, or cool peppermint, you can be sure the scents of these simple DIY candles will forever be tied to the sweet memories you’ll make this season—memories that will linger in your mind and your heart for years to come.
SUPPLIES
- Soy Wax Flakes
- 5’’ Cotton Wicks
- 4 oz. Jars (glass or tin will do)
- Good Quality Essential Oils (about 50 drops)
- 4-Cup Glass Measuring Pitcher
- Pan and Water (at least 4” deep and wide enough to place the glass measuring cup in)
- Wooden Clothespins
- Embellishments (personalized labels, ribbon, string etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP ONE
Place a wick in each of your jars, holding the wick straight up by clipping it with a clothespin. Rest the clothespin on the mouth of each jar to keep the wick upright.
STEP TWO
Measure out your soy wax flakes and place them in the glass measuring cup. You will use 1 cup of soy flakes per 4 oz. jar.
STEP THREE
Fill your pan with a few inches of water. Heat the water in the pan to medium low and place the measuring pitcher of wax flakes in the water. The water should be high enough and warm enough to melt the flakes. (It should not be boiling.) Allow the flakes to melt slowly.
STEP FOUR
Once the wax is melted, remove the pitcher from the pan and let it sit and cool for about 10 minutes (so that it won’t damage the essential oils when you add them).
STEP FIVE
Add 50 drops of essential oils per cup of wax (or per candle) into the pitcher of melted wax. Stir gently to mix. Add more for a stronger scent. If you want each candle to be a different scent, you will have to melt the wax in separate batches.
STEP SIX
Carefully pour the melted wax into the prepared jars, making sure the wick remains centered in the jar.
STEP SEVEN
Let the candles cool and solidify for 24 hours. Once cooled, trim the wick to ¼” before lighting.
STEP EIGHT
Add embellishments (labels, ribbons, string, stickers, etc.) to the jar for a personalized finishing touch!
homemade candles can be such a sweet, nostalgic gift idea, as well as creating a beautiful ambiance for your home.
OPTIONAL
If you want to get fancy, consider making a layered candle! Just make sure each layer dries before you add on another layer of warm wax. If you have dried herbs or flowers (rosemary, lavender etc.) sprinkle a few on the very top as the wax dries for a beautiful candle topping!
SCENT IDEAS
- Evergreen: balsam fir needle and eucalyptus
- Holiday Fresh: cinnamon and orange
- Spiced Cider: sweet orange and clove
- Snickerdoodle: vanilla and cinnamon
- Holiday Spirit: lemon, peppermint, and lavender
- Apple Pie: cinnamon, cedarwood, and lemon
- Candy Cane: vanilla and peppermint
- Light & Clean: lavender and lemon
- Romantic Evening: rose and jasmine
Photos by Loralie Hoffort | @highwoodroad
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