subject: How To Make Fragrant Candles [print this page] Nothing sets the atmosphere quite like soft flickering candlelight and a delicious fragrance in the room. It is so exciting to be able to say: "I made it myself". If you have thought about trying your hand at making fragrant candles, never fear. It's not as difficult as you might imagine - and it is defiantly worth the effort. Scented, colorful and decorated candles make excellent gifts and home dcor for the holidays or any day.
The craft of making fragrant candles isn't different from making plain candles as you might think - so we'll start with the basics. The first step is to have everything laid out, including the molds ready to pour.
What you need simply amount to wax, wicks, fragrance, coloring, and optional embellishments such as glitter to dress up the outside of your candle. There is a wide variety of wax available - choose pure beeswax, or something that says pre-mixed. As a beginner, you don't want to experiment with mixing different types of wax just yet. If you wish to color your candles buy solid wax dye. For fragrance, you can buy oil or chips. For equipment you will need a double-broiler to melt the wax in, a candy thermometer, and candle molds to use for the candles. You can purchase molds or get creative. Any open topped, heat proof glass jar can be used for jar candles, but these must be preheated. You can use candy molds for tiny shaped candles.
When all your supplies are on hand you are ready to begin your fragrant candle making adventure. Begin by melting the wax. As simple as this sounds it can be the most tricky part. Don't get impatient, it will take time.
If you have temperature too high you can burn the melted wax while waiting for the rest of it to finish melting. Use your candy thermometer to keep tabs on the temperature of what has already melted. If it passes 350 degrees, you are in danger of it catching fire. Once the wax has melted, remove the wax from the heat and add your color. Add slowly to make a nice shade - but don't go for too dark. Even though it is a wax base, the coloring will not burn like regular candle wax. If you use too much, your candle may go out or burn poorly.
The most important part of fragrant candle making is, of course, the fragrance itself. This is added as soon as the coloring has completely dissolved and mixed with the wax. If you have chosen to buy solid, wax base, fragrance use it much like the coloring. Add slowly, and allow time for it to melt completely. If you have chosen to use fragrance oils, just add the desired amount slowly and mix well. It is best to remove the wax from the heat before adding the fragrance. The fragrance in candles is released by heat, so you want to be able to pour your wax as soon as the fragrance is mixed through.
The final step for making fragrant candles is pouring your candle into the mold. It's best to use use pre-tabbed, per waxed wicks for simplicity. Place the wick in the bottom of the container making sure it is centered. Carefully pour wax around it. If the wick sinks in the wax, it's alright - just straighten it up when the wax is partially set. Let your candle cool completely - preferably overnight. If you wish to add embellishments, do so once the candle has cooled completely and been removed from the mold using more melted wax as glue. The final step is to light and enjoy your fragrant candle!
