How to make scented soy candles quickly & easily. A how-to guide to DIY candle making using pure essential oils.
For my Birthday one year, strange one that I am, I asked for some wax and candle wicks to make my own candles.
I was very excited to receive them but actually forgot about it until a while later.
Spurred on by the excitement of finding a use for my jar collection, one rainy Saturday afternoon I did a bit of Googling of homemade soy candles then got straight to making my own soy candles.
It was pretty straightforward to make soy wax candles at home - melt, pour, leave to set, but what I didn't realise was that soy wax is a lot easier to work with than paraffin wax, which I'd asked for.
It made nice homemade candles but soy wax makes them a much prettier white colour so that was what I tried next.
Disclaimer: When I originally wrote this post I didn't know about the potentially harmful health effects of artificial fragrances and fragrance oils (which you will see in some of the original images).
These days, when I make a scented candle I use pure essential oils.
Why you'll love these
There are lots of reasons to make your own candles but my top ones are:
- Choose your fragrance - make your scent exactly as you like it.
- Choose your size - Make your candles whichever size you like in whichever candle containers you like - a good use for the recycled glass jar collection.
- Save $$ - It's less expensive than buying fancy candles.
- Saves waste - You can reuse your favourite candle container.
- Can control the strength - so if you like a much stronger scent you can make it.
What you need
WAX
Obviously, one of the essential ingredients of candle making is candle wax.
Make sure you get pure soy wax flakes and try to get non-GMO if possible.
There are lots of places to buy them online just do a Google or check out my resources below (contains affiliate links).
CANDLE CONTAINERS
You will need something to make your candles in.
Glass jars, ceramics and even shells make beautiful homemade candles - just make sure that your item is heat-proof up to high temperatures.
Generally if something is oven-safe then you're ok.
You can also re-use old candle jars.
How to clean old candle containers
Step 1 - Prepare
Get out all your old candle containers and boil the kettle.
Step 2 - Fill
Pour the freshly boiled water as close to the top as possible and leave to cool.
Step 3 - Remove wax
Once the water cools, the old wax will solidify at the top. Lift it out.
If there's any stuck to the bottom give it a little nudge with a fork & it will lift right out.
Step 4 - Clean
Once the wax is all removed (repeat step 2 if not), give them a little wash with dishwashing liquid & warm water to remove any black marks then dry.
WICKS
You can use cotton or wooden wicks. I've worked with both. It depends on the look you are trying to achieve. For first time candle makers, I would recommend using cotton wicks.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Make sure you're using pure essential oils. Using artificial fragrance will give you a nice dose of some potentially nasty side-effects that are best avoided.
GLUE OR TAPE
This is to hold the wick to the bottom of the container. You can also get a special wick sticker or use glue dots but I don't think they're necessary for first timers.
SCISSORS
Scissors are to trim wicks. If you're going to make a lot of candles, get some wick trimmers.
HEAT-PROOF CONTAINER
This is for melting the wax in. You can use a pot or I prefer to use a pyrex, microwavable jug and do it in the microwave.
Another great idea is using a milk frother jug with a handle. They're great cause they have a pouring spout.
STIRRER
I used a popsicle stick so I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it after.
MEASURING CUP
This is to measure how many cups of soy wax flakes.
WORKSPACE COVER
It's best to cover your work surface to make clean up a little easier. A big sheet of paper works perfectly.
How to
Now come the technical parts of how to make soy candles.
Step 1 - Add wicks
Measure out the height just by holding it next to your container then add a few centimeters on the bottom and top.
To attach the wicks at the bottom I was very professional.
I used sticky tape. Just fold it around itself to make it double sided then secure it to the bottom of the jar.
Use a skewer to press the wicks down and stick it to the bottom.
You can get fancy little things to hold it there but sticky tape works so I'm not wasting money on something else.
A word of warning though - don't try using a hot glue gun.
The glue will melt when you add the hot wax and the wick will float up from the bottom (yes I'm telling you this from experience).
Once it's attached to the bottom you will need something to hold with wick taut and centered.
You can wrap it around a skewer.
My bag clips were the perfect size to fit over the jars so I used them.
Alternatively, if you can get your hands on wood wicks they come with a little weighted stand that will hold the wick in place.t
Step 2
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Step 3
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Step 4
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Step one - the wicks
First up you have to add the wicks. Measure out the height just by holding it next to your container then add a few centimeters on the bottom and top.
To attach the wicks at the bottom I was very professional.
I used sticky tape. Just fold it around itself to make it double sided then secure it to the bottom of the jar.
Use a skewer to press the wicks down and stick it to the bottom.
You can get fancy little things to hold it there but sticky tape works so I'm not wasting money on something else.
A word of warning though - don't try using a hot glue gun.
The glue will melt when you add the hot wax and the wick will float up from the bottom (yes I'm telling you this from experience).
Once it's attached to the bottom you will need something to hold with wick taut and centered.
You can wrap it around a skewer.
My bag clips were the perfect size to fit over the jars so I used them.
Alternatively, if you can get your hands on wood wicks they come with a little weighted stand that will hold the wick in place.
Step two - the wax
For the wax, you'll need to work out the capacity of your jars then use double the amount of flakes.
For example, if you jars hold 1 cup of liquid then you will need to measure out 2 cups of wax flakes.
Pour them into a heat-proof jug and then microwave for 1 minute. Take them out, give them a stir and microwave again for 1 minute and stir.
I used a paddle pop stick for the stirring.
If they're not melted then continue the microwave-stir 20 seconds a time until all the flakes have melted. Make sure you use an oven glove to take the jug out because it gets mighty hot - safety first!
If you don't want to use a microwave or don't have one, then a double boiler is the next easiest way to do it.
Put your heatproof bowl or jug into a large pot and pour enough water in the pot so you have a few inches of water come up the sides.
Heat until it starts to bubble then leave at a simmer until the wax melts.
I've also discovered using a coffee pot with a handle.
I have one dedicated to candle making so I just leave leftover wax in it.
It also means you can pour wax more easily.
Step three - scent the candles
How to choose your essential oils for homemade candles
There's a lot that goes into choosing your scent for making your own candles so we put together a separate quick tutorial. Learn how to choose scent for homemade candles here.
I also recommend using ceramic or glass container for mixing the oils as plastic can absorb the scent.
Once you've stirred in your fragrance, pour the wax into your containers (almost to the top of the container) then leave them to set for at least 12 hours.
You will notice that some of mine have little cracks. That is because I wanted them to set quickly so I could write this post.
I popped them in the fridge when they were nowhere near set so I'm guessing the bits around the outside set first then the inside sank a little as it set.
The moral of the story - be patient.
Then it's time to marvel at your perfect little creation. I was marvelling even more after an afternoon of shopping.
I saw a candle nearly exactly the same as this for $19 in one store and in others, bigger versions were selling for more than $50. I'm thinking maybe I should go into business.
How to make scented soy candles - video
They make a lovely gift especially considering you can tailor the container and 'flavour' to suit the person you're giving them to.
Happy candle making!
What about you? What would you make a candle in and what's your favourite candle scent?
How to make scented soy candles
Equipment
- Sticky tape
- Skewers
Materials
- Glass jars or old candles in jars
- Boiling water
- Candle wicks
- Soy wax flakes
- Essential oils
Instructions
- If you are using old candles, pour the boiling water into the old containers and leave to cool.
- Remove the wax floating on the top.
- Use dishwashing liquid and hot water to clean up any excess wax or soot.
- Dry the glass containers.
- Cut small pieces of sticky tape and fold to make double-sided tape then place in the middle of the bottom of each jar.
- Cut the wicks so that about 4cm comes out the top of the jar.
- Use a skewer to press them into the sticky tape so they stick to the bottom.
- Place a skewer over the top and wrap the wick to hold it up in the middle.
- Measure out the soy wax flakes (you will need double the amount - eg if your candle is 1 cup capacity, you will need 2 cups of soy wax flakes).
- Place the flakes in a heat-proof jug and microwave for 1 minutes.
- Remove and stir then microwave for 1 minute again then stir.
- If there are still solid flakes, microwave for 20 seconds at a time until dissolved.
- Add the fragrance oil, stir and then pour the wax into the jars.
- Make sure the the wicks are in the centre then leave the wax to set for 12 hours.
- Trim the wicks to 1 inch.
Notes
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Lucy says
Hi! What's the size of the cup of you candles?
Claire says
Hi. Mine were quite small - probably only about 1/3 of a cup
Sarah says
Hi Claire,
Thanks for your instructions, I made my first batch of candles today. I made three candles and all 3 have sunk at the top near the wick. I ran out of wax each time (I am a bit impatient when it comes to measuring) so I had to pour then melt more wax (which only took about 3 mins), would this be the reason? Do you pour the wax when it reaches a certain temperature?
Thanks heaps!
S
Claire says
Yes that seems to be a common problem Sarah. I find you need to let the first pour settle a little and then top it up. I hope that helps.
Sheryl says
Using those Ikea clips as wick holders is pure genius! I've been struggling with icy-pole sticks and clothes pegs to hold the wicks in place, while I had a bag of clips sitting unused in the drawer. Thanks for the tip!
Claire says
You're very welcome! Isn't it funny how it's the simple things we don't think of?
Tracey says
I just read the post from the kindy teacher & it reminded me of an experiment I did in candle making to entertain some kiddies in the school holidays. We were living in a rural area at the time so it meant a significant delay to order products. I used what we had at home or could buy in the supermarket. I used copha instead of wax, grated a small amount of the kids crayons to add colour, empty jam jars, & used some fragrance oils that we had at home or could buy locally. For the wick we used a 3 ply braided cotton string that I found laying around the house & coated it with melted copha & let set. The kids loved it & got creative with fragrances & colours...even coloured layers. All in all an inexpensive fun activity to do with the kiddies. They were really proud of their creations.
Claire says
What a brilliant idea Tracey. I bet they loved it!
Tracey says
Hi. I've been making soy melts for quite some time now. I've not had much luck in candle making. The melts are easy once you've worked out which soy wax blend to use & the pour temps, the percentage of fragrance, & pour temp. I've combined all this knowledge in to my candle making experiments & have found that the biggest hurdle is establishing what type of wick to use. The wick effects how the candle burns ie the size of the melted wax pool, the scent throw, & the burn time. This is why I've stuck to making melts, less variables. Can anyone suggest a simple guideline for establishing wick size? Thank you in advance :)
Claire says
Good question Tracey! I read that cotton was the best type to use.
Deb says
Hi Claire, just wanted to mention to Irene that I'm currently researching essential oils in soy wax candles and a lot of info says that they don't recommend essential oils as they can catch on fire very easily? I am interested in making a essential oil candle but currently researching still.
Claire says
Thanks for that Deb! Yes I think you need to use the special candle scents.
Erin says
Hi Claire, thank you so much for posting this recipe! Like yourself, I love the arts and crafts, I am a Kinder teacher and yes there is definitely an art and craft corner in my classroom haha! I have been wanting to get into candle making for a long while now, but hadnt quite found the right recipe to follow. Yours is amazing and exactly what I was looking for, simple, easy to follow and includes photos. I've ordered my very first kit and cannot wait to get into it! I just have one question regarding the scents and how much/how many drops go into the mixture?
Erin :)
Claire says
Hi Erin. Yay! Now I can totally imagine the arts and crafts corner. I can't wait until my little one gets into it. That is a tricky question. It was a bit of trial and error with the scents and it depends how strong you like your candle. I would start with just a couple of drops per 100ml of wax. Sorry I can't be more specific. Happy candle making!
Rachel says
this looks like so much fun, i recently purchased some (really expansive) candles but have been afraid to light them for fear of wasting them (i know what a waste)!!!! so this seems perfect for me. just one question about the wax... which type of soy wax did you use because i looked on the natural candle supplies website that you gave and there were multiple types. also, roughy how many candles will a 1kg bag of wax flakes make? thanks soon much:)
Claire says
Hi Rachel. Oh I know the feeling not wanting to waste the expensive candles. I would go for the advanced soy wax flakes. Now this is just an estimate but 1kg of flakes should make about 500ml of liquid wax. Happy candle making!
Rachel says
tThanks claire!!!! i've been doing some reading up on this and some places mentioned that if there is no metal tab and the wick burns to low it can heat the container or the surface it is sitting on. have you experienced any problems with this using sticky tape?? THANKS!
Claire says
Hi Rachel. I don't think I've paid enough attention to it when it gets low sorry. I can see that could be a problem I guess if it burns right down to the tape. Maybe best to make a new one before it gets that low :-)
Jenny says
Hi! Claire
Do you have a tip with regards to how to make the flame glow steady without flickering too much.
I make soy candles in mason jars or in cups.
Thanks
Jenny.
Claire says
Hi Jenny. The only thing I can think of is keeping the wick trimmed short. I hope that helps!
Alex says
Hey, about to make some candles for Christmas gifts. How did you work out how much fragrance to add? Is there a formula you used or did you just put a random amount in?
Claire says
Hi Alex. I wish I could tell you a formula but I randomly added just a few drops. Good luck!
Alex says
Thanks heaps :) ill give it a shot & just hope for the best!
Claire says
No problem Alex. Good luck!
Irene says
Once again, I don't know what im doing wrong. My candles keep setting on fire. Ild like to successfully make them. Also what does "flashpoint" mean?
Claire says
Hi Irene. I'm sorry this keeps happening but I'm not sure why. I haven't heard of 'flashpoint' before.
Irene Linney says
Hi I made a candle a few weeks ago. when I lit it after a couple of minutes it set on fire. Why is that? Ild like to continue making them but only if I find out what ive done wrong.
Claire says
Irene I'm not sure about that. Could it be the type of wick or the scent? Was it special candle scent?
jess says
what type of soy wax do you use?
Claire says
Hi Jess. If you click through the wax links you can see the one I used. Hope that helps!
Tammie says
Hi Claire, I found your blog a few months ago now and have been making my candles since then ... even getting orders from family and friends!! One thing I've come across with some candles, after a little while, they end up with a white ring around the outer edge at top of the vessel. Looks like hardened dry wax but its not as it still feels the same as the rest.
Do you have any idea what may cause this?
Claire says
Hi Tammie. So glad you like it! That is really strange. I'm not sure what causes it but I did a bit of a Google and it says something to do with temperature changes. Are you using colours?
Bec says
Hi there, my mum found a new passion in candle making and she unfortunately suddenly passed away earlier this month. She was selling them also so I've decided to keep her passion going! I have the recipes but not the method so Thankyou so much I can keep doing this for mum. Also with the coloring of them you can get special candle coloring. Mum had made some vibrant blue ones and they looked great! Thanks again 'mothers love' can continue :-)
Claire says
I'm so sorry about your mum Bec but that's wonderful that you're keeping her passion alive. I'm so glad I can help and thanks for the colouring tip!