Affordable, lots of fun and a little bit addictive, learn how to make soy candles with this fabulous DIY project.
Why not recreate the best candles or use your favourite fragrances to create your dream candle? Once you've got the technique down, you can try experimenting with different scent combinations and strengths.
Safety is of the utmost importance. Containers must be heat-resistant – vintage jelly moulds, tea cups or jam jars are all great choices – and always follow the instructions on the specific wax that you purchase.
What you'll need
- Soy candle wax – such as this from Eco Lux on Amazon
- Pre-waxed wicks – like these Alamania wicks and supports from Amazon
- Jug
- Fragrance oil – Amazon's Mystic Moments sells a range of different seasonal scents
- Heat-resistant vintage or glass containers
- Pan and glass bowl
- Scales
- Thermometer – like this from Amazon
- Spatula
- Glue dots
1. Measure your wax
The first step in learning how to make soy candles is to measure your container. Fill it with water and then tip it into a measuring jug to see how many millimetres it holds. Take 20 per cent off this figure for the amount of wax that the container will need.
For example: if your container holds 100ml of water, then you need to melt 80g of wax. Repeat this for each container.
2. Melt the wax
Place the wax in a heatproof bowl and suspend over a large pan of water, over medium heat. Ensure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Melt the wax and heat to 80°C . When it reaches this remove from the heat.
Now comes the best bit of learning how to make soy candles – adding the home fragrances. Let the temperature drop to 65°C before adding the fragrance oils: around 7ml of oil to 100g of wax.
7ml will give a good scent throw – though if you prefer a stronger living room fragrance, go up to 10ml. Stir to combine.
3. Prepare the containers
Warm the containers with hot water to prevent them from cracking, then dry them. Use glue dots to stick the wicks to the base of the container.
You can buy containers online – like these glass ones from Amazon – or you can reuse old candle holders, emptying them using the cleaning candle jar hot water method. You can also use glass jam jars, vintage metal baking moulds or vintage teacups – try Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace.
Stabilise the wick to keep it central. You can do this with metal wick holders – like these from Amazon – but you can also use a pencil or peg to support the wick when pouring the wax.
4. Pour into the containers and let set
Keep stirring the wax while you wait for the temperature to drop to 50°C and then slowly pour the wax into the containers. Leave for an hour, then poke a few holes around the wick using a cocktail stick to release any air. Top up with wax if needed and maybe add a few dried flowers.
Let the candles cure for a week before use. Trim the wick before lighting.
FAQs
Is candle making hard?
No, learning how to make soy candles isn't hard. In fact, it's surprisingly easy to create a whole host of deliciously scented candles. It is simply a case of carefully melting, mixing in fragrance and pouring into a mould. The hardest part is choosing which fragrance to try next!
Is it cheaper to make your own candles?
Yes, it is cheaper to make your own candles – it costs around £2.90 to make a 165-gram soy candle. Yankee Candles' small jar (122g) costs £9.99 each, while hand-poured soy candles from small makers start at £10 to £14 for a similar size.
Why do my homemade candles smoke so much?
If your homemade candles are smoking a lot, chances are the wick is too long. Before lighting the candle, trim the wick so that it is around 6mm/ ¼ inch long. Not only will trimming the wick reduce the amount of smoke but it will also ensure that the candle is long lasting.
