How to Make Scented Candles

Scented candles are more than just creations of art; they are timeless gifts you can give someone you really care about.  You see scented candles used as decorations on a table, or used as focal points in an otherwise bland living room.  Some people use them to relax before a massage or before they start meditating.

Scented candles don’t contribute much to a room’s light, but it adds poetry and beauty to a room’s ambiance.  If you’re wondering how to make scented candles that stimulate a person’s romantic mind, you’re not alone.  Many entrepreneurs are on the prowl for the best methods of creating the most elegant and fragrant scented candles at home.

First, decide on the fragrance oil you’re going to use.  Oil based fragrances are better for homemade candle making compared to water or alcohol-based perfume because oil blends easily with wax.

If you use fragrant oils to add scents to your candles, the fragrance from your candle will continue to spread across the room while the candle is lit.  This is because the aromatic components are thoroughly interspersed with the wax.  Moreover, the fragrance from oils will pervade any room even after you stop burning the candle.

In reality, the process of handmade scented candle creation is similar to the process of making ordinary candles.  The only difference is the addition of scented oils.

You have to be extra careful with the type of wax you use for making your scented candles.  Some wax types already have an innate fragrance, which could blend with the scent of your oils and create a strong aroma that is hardly pleasing.  You can choose between soy, beewax, palm, paraffin, and gel types.  Most of the inexpensive scented candles you see being sold in shops are made of paraffin.  This is the most common type, and the easiest to make.

However, if you want classier scented candles, you must invest in getting gel waxes as your raw ingredient.  High density gel wax types can hold more fragrance, and can last longer than low density gel wax types.

Steps to Creating Your Scented Candle

  • Melt your wax.  Begin by using a double boiler to melt your wax.  If you don’t have a double boiler at home, you can use two pots, one smaller than the other.  Fill the bigger pot with water, but do not exceed the middle line.  The water will overflow when you place the smaller one inside the bigger pot.  Next, slice the wax for easier melting and place the wax inside the smaller pot and turn up the heat.  Watch the wax melt as the water around the smaller pot heats up and starts to boil. 
  • The double boiler set up is for protecting your wax.  Never heat the pot with the wax in it directly because the wax will burn instead of melting gently.
  • When the wax is melted, pour the scented oil according to the proportion stipulated in your recipe.  If you don’t have a recipe, just use an ounce of oil per pound of wax.  Be careful not to use too much oil so that the wax will not be too soggy.  Wax that is too soft is hard to mold in the right shape.  This is also the best time to add dye.  Stir the wax and then pour in candle molds (don’t forget to add the wick before the wax solidifies).
  • Let your scented candles cool for the rest of the day.

You should keep a record of how you did the last batch of scented candles so you can replicate the process again.  If the scented candles come out beautifully, you can mass produce your candles just by using the same process and proportion of materials.


Candle Making Molds

The form, or the shape, of a candle is a huge part of what makes handmade candles beautiful.  As soon as an enthusiast or a collector sees a handcrafted candle with a unique shape, he is immediately intrigued.  The wax will take on the shape of the mold after it has cooled completely. 

Candle making molds come in different sizes, shapes and styles, and are made out of a variety of materials.  Choosing the right molds for your candle business is important if you want to become globally competitive.  You can make the most elegant designs just by manipulating the shape of the wax using various types of molds.

The most common candle making molds come in geometric shapes.  You can buy these molds in bulk if you plan on mass producing your homemade candles.  One main thing to consider when choosing molds for creating geometrically shaped candles is symmetry.  Triangular molds should produce perfectly formed triangles.  The same goes for round, rectangular and square-shaped molds.  There are custom molds that you can purchase at a higher price.  These are designer molds that will let you create more unique candles.  Asking a designer or a metal artisan to create custom molds for you is a given if you want to stand out as a top candle brand.

The Different Types of Candle Making Molds

  • Aluminum and Steel
    Aluminum molds are used widely by candle makers because they are relatively cheap and readily available.  Aluminum can resist extreme temperatures, which means that it won’t get deformed easily even with repeated use.  Aluminum molds are widely used in creating votive and pillar candles.  Besides aluminum, steel is also a heat-resistant material you can use if you don’t want your candles to come out deformed.  Aluminum is more lightweight than steel, and can be stacked together when not in use.
  • Rubber
    Rubber molds are also used by candle makers.  It’s easier to remove the wax from the rubber mold after cooling, which makes rubber the material of choice if you don’t want to waste too much effort creating candles that come out chipped, deformed or cracked.  The rubber can be stretched to release the candle after the wax has set.  The only downside to using rubber for molding is the smell of the candle wax after cooling.  The pungent smell of rubber transfers to the candle wax while the wax is hot and the smell lingers even after the wax has cooled, which can affect the quality of your scented candles.
  • Polyurethane, Latex and Silicon
    Polyurethane, latex and silicone molds are used for taper candles and tea lights.  These are used to lessen the probability of release lines from forming on your candles.  As a result, your candles will have a smoother finish that looks elegant on a formal dining table.  Latex spray can be used to create custom molds.  All you need to do is spray latex on the inside of a container you want to use as a mold.  This is useful for creating specialty candles for special occasions (Christmas, birthdays etc.).
  • Plastic Molds
    Plastic is the most brittle among the candle making mold materials, but it is also the least expensive.  There are strong plastic variants that can last for months, but most of the cheaper plastic molds give out after a few sessions.

In summary, get the metal molds for mass producing block, votive and pillar candles.  They will last for years if cleaned and stored properly after each use.  Rubber candles are great for making unscented candles or the ordinary type of candles meant for religious ceremonies, rituals and processions.  Plastic molds are good for practicing your candle making skills.  Plastic molds are relatively easy to clean, and suited for home use.


Candle Making Wax

The art of making candles is a popular hobby and for good reason.  People adore scented candles.  Couples use them to express love and to create a romantic mood.  Candles have always been a part of family traditions. This means being able to create these candles in bulk can be a good source of income for you.  Another idea is to specialize and create only one type of candle.  This way, people will associate your brand with a candle type.  This will make it easier for you to sell your candles to your target market.

Part of the crafting process is knowing what candle making wax to use.  Fortunately for all of us, these waxes have become more available and diverse.  Every city has a resident craft supplier, which means the supplies you need for creating candles are available at any time.  If you cannot find candle making wax in your area, you can always order these at wholesale prices online.  It’s no secret that people are starting to become aware of the best online merchants to go to for candle making supplies.

Because the need for candles is always high, you have to make sure you create the most beautiful candles that will blow your competition out of the water.  Some people want quaint designs, while others want simple, minimalistic designs so they can add their own later.

The wax we use for candles is from refined petroleum.  This type is called paraffin wax.  If you’re new to candle making, I suggest this candle making wax type because it is the most available.  This is also the cheapest type of wax so you don’t have to worry over spending too much on practice.

Paraffin wax is mass produced and inexpensive.  If you just need to practice, this is the best type of wax to use.  Even after you’ve learned enough candle making skills to become an expert, you can still use this to mass produce homemade candles.

Some of the more popular type of waxes include beeswax and vegetable waxes, like soy wax.  These are refined from plant or animal byproducts and are considered natural.  The process of producing these waxes is more complicated compared to paraffin wax.  Because it takes a lot of time and effort to produce these waxes, they are relatively more expensive than paraffin wax.  Should you still use these natural waxes if you want to turn your hobby into your home business?  Yes, absolutely.  You can price the beeswax or soy candles higher because they last longer than paraffin candles and they smell better when burned.

You can also try creating gel candles.  This is extremely popular because you can decorate the clear gel with accessories and add more fragrance ingredients depending on the density of the candles.  Low density gel wax is recommended for scentless candle making.  The medium density gel wax can be used for manufacturing mildly fragrant candles.  The high density gel waxes can be used to craft candles that give off a lasting scent.

Your mind must be spinning with so many candle making wax options.  You don’t have to worry about that for now.  Just envision what type of candle you want to create, and eventually sell, to make the decision easier.  Pick the type that works best for your purposes.