When you buy a scented candle you can end up spending quite a bit of money. This is doubly true if you buy ones that retain their scent over long periods of time, or if you want to buy quite a few of them. You can create a scented candle at home for just a few dollars, and you can make it in any scent that you like. It will take quite a bit of time, and you will have to make sure that you follow some safety guidelines, but it will be worth it in the end.
In order to get started, first you will need wax. Paraffin wax is relatively common and good for making candles. It is also referred to as Gulf Wax. There is also candle making wax manufactured from soy. You will also need a pouring pot. This is a metal pot with a handle that you will use to melt the wax. A wax thermometer or a candy thermometer will also be required. This is to ensure that the wax does not catch fire. To color the candle you will need a liquid, powder, or chip pigment. Hobby stores will have a mold that you will use to pour the candle wax into. They are available in several different sizes and shapes. Finally, you will need a liquid or solid scent. Liquid scent is a little harder to work with. The advantage of a liquid scent is that it will last longer.
In order to melt the wax, you will need to have a heat source. It is usually not a good idea to use the stove because after you pour the wax, some of it will drip down the side of the pouring pot. The wax can’t be wiped up in its liquid form because it is very hot, and it is difficult to remove once it is solid. The wax will also ruin any cloth you use to clean it up. A hot plate is a better heat source since it can be scraped off at a later time with ease.
The next step is to melt the wax. For most pillar candles, you will need about a pound of wax. We will assume you are using a pound of wax for the remainder of the instructions. If you use more or less wax than a pound, just keep the proportions of everything else the same. Put the wax into the pouring pot and clip the thermometer to the side. Allow the wax to melt, and keep it below 300 degrees. This is because wax catches on fire at 375 degrees and it shouldn’t come close to this temperature.
Add the color to the wax and stir it in. Chip color is the easiest, although powder and liquid color is available as well. One diamond chip is good for a pound of wax. A quarter of a block is roughly the same. For a more pastel appearance, use about half of this amount. You can stir with anything you aren’t worried about ruining, or you can simply slosh the pot back and forth gently.
About an ounce of liquid scent should then be applied if you want a rich, full scent. For a solid scent, the amount varies, so you will need to follow the directions on the label. Again, stir or slosh the pot.
Get the mold ready. If there is a wick in the bottom, follow the directions to set it up properly. In some cases the mold comes with an adhesive or putty to keep it in place. Once the wick has been placed in the hole, the top should be tied to a long spoon or stick which will then be laid on top of the mold.
Pour the wax into the mold slowly. This prevent air bubbles. Tap the side of the mold when you are finished to release any remaining bubbles. Let it cool. A dent will often form in the center, which will need to be filled with more wax and allowed to cool again.
After about a day, the candle will be cooled and it can be removed. The segment of the candle at the bottom of the mold is the top of the candle. Trim the wick to about half an inch, and cut it off the bottom of the candle.