How to make candles with your own hands - step by step master classes of making at home and photo design ideas

Creating candles is a fascinating and creative process that requires compliance with technical norms and standards. In this article we propose to get acquainted with the rules and peculiarities of candle making.

Choosing the material

The first thing is important to understand what kind of candle you plan to make. What material will it be made of, what shape and size will it have, will you be using dyes and aromatic additives? The specifics of choosing a material for candles are available below.

Types of wax

Wax is the base of the candle. Most often needleworkers use 3 types of wax:

Palm wax .

The material melts at temperatures above 60 degrees. As it cools, it crystallizes, due to which an aesthetic velvet pattern appears on the surface of the product. If a palm wax candle is poured into a mold with patterns, they will be covered in a delicate "fringe" reminiscent of frosted patterns on windows.

Benefits:

• 100% natural and eco-friendly material.
• Does not leave greasy stains on your clothes or furniture.
• Has a special pattern.
• Longer burning time.

Disadvantages:

• Fragile material, prone to cracking and chipping.
• You can cast candles only in metal or glass containers. In plastic and silicone, the appearance of a special pattern is excluded.
• Aromatic oils destroy the palm wax structure. Only synthetic perfumes can be used.

Beeswax

Candles made from beeswax have benefits for humans. As such a candle burns, it releases substances and essential compounds into the air that have a positive effect on the body, especially the respiratory system.

Benefits:

• Burning for a long time, do not form soot.
• Beneficial for the body.
• Propolis in the composition of the candle is a natural antiseptic that can disinfect the air in the room.
• It is possible to color with food dyes.

Disadvantages:

• Allergies are possible.
• If you buy wax with extra flecks and grime, you will have to melt it and strain it.

Soy

The material is made from the purest soybean oil, which is extracted from real soy by long processing.

Advantages:

• No soot when burning.
• Rather high price gives the advantage of long burning (in contrast to the chemical analogue - paraffin).
• Environmentally friendly product.
• High level of fragrance return and its even distribution in the room.

Disadvantages:

• Soy wax is difficult to work with when temperature and humidity levels change.
• Can leave traces of frost on the product if the technology is not followed.

By studying the pros and cons, you have the opportunity to choose the most suitable material for you.

How to Choose the Right Wick

For the wick, it is recommended to use natural threads, preferably cotton. Natural threads perfectly absorb the melted material and ensure stable and even burning.

To be sure that the thread is natural, light the tip of the thread. If the product melts and forms a small ball, then you are dealing with synthetic. When choosing a synthetic wick, you must be prepared for its rapid combustion and unpleasant smell.

Rules and Recommendations:

• The larger the diameter of the candle, the thicker the wick.
• For stability, the wick can be wrapped in a thin wire.
• It is recommended to soak the wick in wax to light the candle quickly.

Creative needleworkers often use white and colored mouliné thread as a wick. Want to make a wick with your own hands? Follow the directions below:

1. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 of boric acid in a glass of water.
2. Soak the cotton thread for 12 hours.
3. Dry the product, then twist the thread into a bundle or pigtail.

You can buy a quality wick at professional needlework stores.

Preparing supplies

Before starting the process, make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials.

The most important thing is the shape for the candle. You can use any containers that can withstand heat of about 100 degrees.

Important! Silicone molds are ideal for creating candles.

It is possible to use any other containers, provided that the walls of the product treated with a layer of oil or dishwashing liquid. This will ensure easy removal of the product from the mold.

Examples of containers:

• Plastic soap molds.
• Molds for playing in the sandbox.
• Tetra Pak.
• Glass vases, goblets, goblets.
• Tin cans from canned goods.

In addition to the candle mold, you will need:

• Melting utensils, namely a water bath pan and a tin container to melt the wax.
• Wick.
• Scale.
• Beeswax, soy wax, or palm wax.
• Dyes. Optional.
• Fragrance oils. As desired.
• Decor. As desired.
• Thermometer.

The list of materials can vary depending on the task.

Candle decoration with your own hands

Even the simplest candle can become a work of art. Below we will tell you what materials to use and how to decorate a candle aesthetically.

Scenting candles

To enjoy not only the burning of the candle, but also its fragrance, you can use natural oils. Scented candles can purify the air, relieve fatigue, and fill the home with a wonderful aroma and relaxed mood.

When choosing a scent for a candle, consider the following information:

• Use coconut, sandalwood, orange, verbena, rosemary or eucalyptus oil to lift the mood.
• Jasmine can unleash your sensuality and help with insomnia.
• Lavender helps you relax after a hard day and also serves as an insect repellent during the warm season.
• Tea tree oil will give you peace of mind and confidence.
• For relaxation use chamomile, melissa or ylang-ylang oil.
• For a romantic mood use vanilla, neroli, cinnamon or rose oil.

Oils have great power and influence on the psycho-emotional state. Understanding how this or that oil affects a person - you can control and manage their condition.

Candle Décor

Creating a unique candle is almost impossible without special decoration. As a decor you can apply:

1. Dried flowers, dried flowers. Small flowers can be placed in the not yet frozen wax in the form. Dried flowers in the form of spikelets of wheat can be used in the decoration of the already finished product.
2. Cinnamon, anise and other spices.
3. Decorating with napkins - decoupage. A simple way: wrap a beautiful napkin around the finished product, and then wrap the candle with tracing paper. Heat the candle until the tissue is glued into the candle. Remove the tracing paper.
4. Linen fabric and twine as gift wrap.
5. Beads, shells, etc.

There are no limits to the choice of decorations. Let your imagination run wild!

Dyes

A snow-white candle is a classic, but if you want bright colors, we recommend resorting to the use of special candle dyes. Such products are sold in bars in professional offline and online stores. You can also use children's wax crayons as a dye. This is the easiest and most budget-friendly way to give a candle the desired shade.

An interesting fact: there are crayons on the market with a pearlescent glow to create the most extraordinary products.

Candle recipes

After learning the basic nuances in theory - you can safely move on to practice. Important rules:

1. Before you start work, secure yourself and your workplace. Place a silicone mat on the work surface. Wax is easily removed from such a product.
2. Use an apron and gloves to avoid getting burned.
3. Remember not to melt the wax over an open fire or in a microwave oven to avoid fire.

Next, we suggest that you get down to the subject of melting wax.

How to Melt Wax

You can use any pot and a simple metal jar in the process of melting wax.

Work process:

1. Pour water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
2. We place the container with the wax in the saucepan.
3. We melt the wax, bring it to the right consistency and take it off the fire.

As you have already noticed - the process is quite simple.

How to Install a Wick

Installing the wick is done in a few steps:

1. Drop some wax on the bottom of the mold or candle jar.
2. Place the wick stand in the wax and press it in as hard as you can. It is important to act quickly, as the wax hardens very quickly. A number of needleworkers use superglue or double-sided tape to fix it in the jar.
3. If the thread turns out to be too long, it can be cut at the final stage.
4. Wrap the remaining length of wick around any stick (pen, chopstick, brush, etc.) and place the product horizontally on the jar. This is important so that the wick stays upright.

Once the job is done, the wax can be poured.

A beeswax candle

To make a beeswax candle, useful for the body, we will need:

1. Wax.
2. Wick.
3. Scales.
4. Scissors, jute or ribbon.
5. A couple of sprigs of dried flowers or any other decorations.

The work process:

• Lay out all the materials and tools on a work surface.
• Cut a sheet of wax in the right size length and width.
• Measure out the wick with a margin and place it on the sheet at the base, lightly pressing it into the material.
• Roll up the candle from the wax.
• Cut off excess wax and wick. The remnants of wax can be wrapped around the resulting candle, and then - decorate the candle with the prepared decorations.

The process is simple, does not require work at the stove and takes very little time.

Scented candle

If you are attracted to special scents, then it's time to prepare a scented candle yourself.

Materials needed:

1. Soy wax.
2. Wick.
3. A container for a water bath.
4. Essential oils or specialized candle flavorings.
5. A metal or glass candle container with a wide "neck".
6. Professional dyes or crayons (optional).
7. A wax or candy thermometer.

Work process:

• Cover the work surface with newspapers or papers. This will protect the furniture from traces of wax.
• Choose a container for the future candle. Metal or glass is the best option, because they can withstand high temperatures. It is important to wash the container with soap and water and wipe it dry.
• Pour dry wax into the container. Double the amount you get - this is the necessary amount of material. Under the influence of temperature, the volume of wax will decrease.
• Melt the wax in a water bath and heat it above 80 degrees. We track the temperature with a thermometer.
• If desired, color the wax with dyes or crayons.
• Place the wick into the container with a drop of wax, double-sided tape, or superglue.
• Wrap the wick around a pen or stick.
• Add fragrance oils when the wax has cooled a little (to ~60 degrees). Oil placed in hot wax may flare up or burn out quickly and lose its original fragrance. It is recommended that no more than 10 drops be added to one small candle. A more exact proportion: 10-15 milliliters per 450 grams of wax.
• Pour the wax into a container and leave it until it cools.

Recommendations: don't rush the process of pouring the wax into the container - this is fraught with air bubbles. It is important to leave about 2-3 centimeters of space, so that the wax does not leak out during use. The remaining wax should not be thrown out in case you need to fill the holes and pores that have appeared.

Shea butter and avocado oil massage candle

The massage candles are made of soy wax, which is safe for the skin. The products have an excellent therapeutic effect and serve as an ideal tool for relaxation and skin care. The secret lies in the use of solid oils.

To work you will need (in % ratio):

1. Avocado oil, shea butter -5%.
2. Soy wax - 85%.
3. Vitamin E (in an oil solution) - 0.2%.
4. Natural oils of ylang-ylang and patchouli -4.8%.

Work process:

• Melt the wax.
• We prepare and fix the wick.
• Add all remaining ingredients to the melted wax.
• Pour the wax into a container or a mold, and leave it to cool.

The container may be a coconut shell or a glass object with a hole of large diameter for easy scooping of liquid for the massage. It is possible to add aromatic oils at your discretion.

The process of making candles does not require professional skills, the product can be made even by a beginner. Create unique candles for interior decor with your own hands!

Photo design ideas homemade candles

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