DIY Natural Homemade Candles: A Guide to Crafting Your Own Ambience

Creating your own candles can be a relaxing, rewarding project that allows you to customise scents and styles to suit your personal taste or create thoughtful, handmade gifts. Here’s a simple guide to making your own natural candles with ingredients that are easy to source.

1. Basic Supplies Needed:

• Natural Wax: Soy wax or rapeseed wax are great choices for a clean burn.
• Wicks: Cotton or wooden wicks work best with natural waxes.
• Containers: Use glass jars, teacups, or any heatproof container. We use vintage ceramics, soup bowls and preserve jars which look wonderful displayed on the table.
• Double Boiler: For melting the wax.
• Thermometer: To monitor the wax temperature.
• Essential Oils: For natural fragrance.
• Optional: Herbs or flowers for decoration, colourants, or additional fragrance oils.

2. Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare Your Containers
Ensure your containers are clean, dry, and room temperature. Centre the wick in each container, securing it with a little melted wax or a wick sticker.

Step 2: Melt the Wax
Fill a double boiler with water and place your wax in the top section. Heat until the wax melts completely (typically around 89c). Use your thermometer to check.

Step 3: Add Fragrance
Once melted, remove the wax from heat and let it cool to about 65c before adding essential oils. A good rule of thumb is about 10-15 drops of oil per 200ml wax.

Step 4: Pour the Wax
Carefully pour the wax into your prepared containers. Keep the wick centred with a wick holder if using a cotton wick. Let the wax cool undisturbed for at least 24 hours.

Step 5: Trim the Wick
Once the wax is fully set, trim the wick to about ¼ inch above the wax surface.

3. Customising Your Candles:

Scent Combinations: Experiment with different essential oil combinations to find your signature scent. Lavender and chamomile for relaxation, or citrus blends for a refreshing feel are great starts.

Natural Add-Ins: Consider adding dried herbs or flowers on top of the candles for an aesthetic touch. Just ensure they are placed away from the wick to avoid any fire hazards.

Layered Scents: Create a multi-layered candle with varying scents in each layer. Pour one layer and let it set slightly before adding the next for a beautiful, tiered effect.

4. Tips for Successful Candle Making:

• Wax Temperature: Pay careful attention to the wax temperature to avoid issues like cracking or poor scent throw.
• Cure Time: Allow your candles to cure for a few days before using them to achieve the best fragrance.
• Testing: Always test a small batch first to ensure your scent and wax combinations work as expected.

Crafting your own candles not only adds a personalised touch to your home but also can be a peaceful and creative activity. With these easy steps, you can start making beautiful, natural candles that are uniquely yours. Enjoy the process and the lovely glow of your handmade creations!

Our luxury candle making kit is perfect to get started on your candle making journey - check it out here.