Scented candles make a great addition to any home, giving off a pleasant aroma that brightens up any room. While there are plenty of scented candles on the market, making your own scented candles is really easy and can be done at home using items you probably already have around the house.
Read below to find out how to make scented candles!
What are scented candles?
Scented candles are simply candles that have been infused with a scent, creating a pleasant aroma. The process of infusing the candle with this scent is called “scenting.” There are many different kinds of scented candle recipes you can make at home to give your home a fresh scent, ranging from simple room fresheners to homemade vanilla scented candles.
How do I make my own scented candles?
There are several ways to scent your own homemade candles, including wax tarts, soy wax melts and pillar/container/votive/tea light scented candles. When it comes to how to make scented candles at home there are 2 main methods: the hot method and the cold method. With both methods, you’ll need to prepare your scented candle recipe by making sure you have everything you need before you start melting the wax.
The Cold Method
This method involves using wax tarts or soy wax melts that are already pre-scented. Simply place the wax tart into your scented candle container and go! Soy wax melts can be placed directly in most glass containers, but if they’re too big you’ll want to break them up into small pieces.
The Hot Method
With this method, you will need to create your own scented candles by adding essential oil to either paraffin or beeswax. Paraffin wax comes pre-scented so you don’t have to worry about scenting it yourself, but is also more expensive than plain beeswax. Beeswax candles do not come pre-scented since a majority of people prefer unscented candles, but they are much cheaper than paraffin/soy wax candles.
To scent the wax, you will need to melt down your choice of wax along with essential oil. Use anywhere from 15-50 drops of essential oils per 1 pound (16oz) of melted beeswax or soy wax to create a powerful scent that won’t fade away. Other types of scented candles like pillar candles and votive candles can be made by simply adding 5 drops of your favorite essential oil into the wax before pouring it into the candle molds.
Steps in Making Scented Candles
1) Gather supplies. To make a scented candle, you will need: -A double boiler or two pots (one that fits snugly into another that holds boiling water), wax (or old crayons), wicks (you can also use twine or yarn if desired), and scissors (to cut wicks).
2) Cut your wick one inch longer than the desired length of your candle.
3) Prepare the bottom part of your double boiler and add water (making sure it doesn’t touch the top pot). Turn on the stove, and turn the heat to high. When water is boiling, reduce heat to low. Place a pound of wax into the top pot (assuming you’re using paraffin wax; if not, follow package instructions as they may vary).
4) Gently stir the wax as it melts. As soon as the wax is completely melted, remove from heat and pour some into your candle mold (less than half full). Add 10-15 drops of essential oil if desired and gently stir by hand to disperse the scent throughout the candle. Allow cooling for a minute.
5) Insert your wick into the candle, making sure it’s centered. To do this, simply lay the wick on top of the candle liquid and wait until it sinks to the bottom. Once you see that the wick has become fully submerged in liquid wax, carefully pull it back out until there are equal lengths on each side. Now trim off any excess pieces of wick using scissors.
6) Fill up your scented candle mold or container with melted wax to fill up 1/2-3/4 full (again, if you’re making pillar candles just fill up according to package directions). Add 10-15 drops of essential oil if desired and gently stir by hand again.
7) Allow cooling for a few minutes, then lay your wick in the center. For best results, place something heavy on top to weigh it down for a few hours before removing excess wax with a paper towel or cloth.
8) Enjoy! You have made your very own scented candles that are perfect for decorating your home or giving as gifts! These candles should burn clear through since they contain no dye and minimal ingredients.
What do I need to make my own scented candles?
To make your own homemade scented candles, the easiest way is probably through a melt and pour candlemaking process using a premade unscented candle. You’ll want to choose a size that best fits what you’d like to create.
In order to scent this type of candle at home, follow these simple steps:
- Container Soy Wax – a 4 oz hot pot or an electric fondue fountain works great too!
- Essential Oils – lavender, vanilla, orange, and peppermint are all great options for a fast-fading scent.
- Candle Dye – optional – choose from a wide variety of candle dyes
- Wax Tart Melts – these can be found at most craft stores or online
- Candle Wicks – 1/2 inch wicks work best and can be found at your local hardware store
What essential oils should I avoid?
There’s nothing worse than starting to burn a scented candle only to find that the smell is terrible! To ensure you’re not left with an unpleasant-smelling candle, it’s important to know what essential oils are not to use when making your own homemade scented candles. Some essential oil scents to avoid when making scented candles include:
- Basil
- Lavender, Spike Lavender, and Sweet English Lavender
- Clove
- Chamomile and Roman Chamomile
If you plan on creating a stronger scent for your homemade scented candles, be sure to limit yourself to 20 drops of essential oils per 16 oz of wax. A great way to test the scent of your scented candle is by placing it where you normally would light the candle and allowing the wax to sit for an hour or so. This will allow you to take in all of the notes of your essential oils before burning them together.
Do you have anything else that I should know?
When making your own homemade scented candles, it’s important to be mindful of how long you leave the wick while burning and how many times you burn it each day. Longer wicks can produce a larger flame which consumes more wax than shorter wicks.
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