candle making
Handcrafting soy candles and candle making is an exciting venture or hobbie. Many soy candle makers and manufacturers, including Lizzie Candle, began in the kitchen. Candle making requires perseverance, dedication, hard work, and a true love of candles. If you would like to try your hand at candle making, here's how to do it.
Cover your work area! Many a kitchen floor has been ruined with wax that contains a mix of dye and fragrance oil. So take heed! Cover your work area.
You will need the following items to make a soy candle:
- Stove or microwave oven. NOT A GAS STOVE!
- Double boiler with water if heating soy wax on an electric stove.
- Pouring pot for soy wax. Use glass for microwave.
- Glass thermometer
- Stirring implement, spoon or chop stick
- Scale for weighing wax and fragrance
- Paper towels
- Glass container like a jelly jar or canning jar. Kit may have a container.
- Soy Wax Kit for container candles from your local craft store or order from the internet. Kit needs to contain all ingredients including wax, wick, fragrance, etc.
Now that you have assembled your candle making items and covered your work area, first, wick your container according to kit directions. Contain your wick with a craft stick or other wick holder. Make sure your wick is centered in the bottom of the container and additionally at the top.
Measure your soy wax according to kit directions and place in pouring pot in double boiler containing some water or place directly into the microwave. Do not allow water to get into wax. Place glass thermometer in wax pot and keep a close eye on the temperature. All wax has a flash point and can catch on fire so be careful and think SAFETY!
Heat soy wax to approximately 130-140 degrees F. Add a small amount of candle dye and fragrance according to kit directions. Stir well to mix, and remove from heat.
Allow the soy wax to get a cloudy film on the top. This should happen around 100 degrees F.
Be patient! It takes time for Soy Wax to cool down. Pour the cloudy wax into your wicked container.
Allow the candle to set in place until it solidifies. This will take several hours. There is no need to repour a soy candle. If the top is rough you can heat it with a heat gun or hair dryer to smooth it out. Let your soy candle cure for at least 24 hours before burning.
Enjoy your first handcrafted candle.
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