Basic Scented Candle Making Instructions

You've always wanted to make scented candles. Even without lighting them, their fragrance seems to fill a room. You'd love to watch it gently glowing as you breathe its fragrance; or to make as long-lasting gifts for friends and family. And now with these easy candle making instructions, you can.

The greatest dilemma is in choosing the scent - there's an endless variety out there! Single fragrances or combinations of several, they're all available at candle making supplies stores everywhere. Whichever you choose, make sure to use oil-based candle making fragrances. Alcohol- or water-based fragrances won't combine with candle wax.

You also need to choose from the 3 types of waxes offered. The most common is paraffin wax processed from petroleum. Also available are natural waxes: soy and palm wax from renewable vegetable sources; and beeswax from, well, bees. Beeswax though, has a faint honey-like fragrance which is pleasant on its own. And lastly, gel wax. Eye-catchingly transparent, use the high density gel wax to better absorb your fragrance oil.

Now that you have your wax and scents, make sure your equipment is at hand. You will need a double boiler - just set a small pot or tin in a bigger pot with boiling water on the stove. You will also need a stirrer made of plastic or metal, thermometer that measures up to 300 degrees F, jars, containers or molds for your candle, wicks, and of course, your chosen fragrance oil. As a safety precaution, have a chemical fire extinguisher on hand.

Next, take your molds or containers and place them on old newspapers to catch any spills. Position your wicks by tying each to a pencil or stick and setting it on the rim of the mold.

Then, it's time to melt the wax. Melt paraffin, soy or palm wax in the double boiler until it turns watery and reaches 170-180 degrees F. Gel wax is heated in a pot directly over heat, to a syrupy texture and measures 200-220 degrees F. Stir gently and don't turn the heat up too high; candle wax can ignite. Be patient, it will melt.

When the wax has thoroughly melted, turn off the heat and take the pan off the stove. Slowly blend in your fragrance oil. For every pound of wax, add 1 oz. fragrance oil. You can make adjustments more or less on your next batch. Remember, you just want a tantalizing hint of scent, not a direct assault on the nose. Pour into the prepared molds making sure the wicks are centered. The candles will take at least 6 hours to cool and harden completely after which they are ready to be released from the mold/s.

Nothing says "You are special," better than a unique homemade scented candle. And all it takes is a candle making guide and a few of your own creative candle making ideas.