Making soy wax container candles is easy. You are working with lower temperatures than other waxes and being a 100% vegetable based product, all your equipment can just get washed in the dishwasher! These candles can be made without using a thermometer but you will get much more professional results if you do use one, especially if you get into using fragrances. Great for gifts or yourself on these Autumn nights.
You will need:
- Soy wax flakes – container blend
- Heat resistant containers (tea cups are very popular at the moment)
- Candle wick
- Optional: Fragrance & candle dye
- Heat proof jug and mixing stick
- Thermometer (candy thermometer is fine and will usually clip onto the side of your jug)
- Pen & paper for keeping notes
Instructions:
1. Measure the amount of wax flakes you will need. If you are making one teacup candle you will need about two teacups of flakes. If you melt too much wax, you can let it set and remelt it next time.
2. Prepare your wicks and containers – use pliers to attach clip to end of wick. Wicks should be a bit taller than your container to allow for stabilising while drying. Containers should be clean and dry. If they are old cups or glasses, not suitable to withstand the dishwasher, warming gently will be useful so they do not crack.
3. Stabilise wick by glueing wick clip to bottom of container with hot glue gun and using a spring peg and iceblock stick on the top to hold it straight.
6. If you wish to add fragrance, take your wax of the heat and pour in fragrance 6–10% depending on the oil. Stir for around 2 minutes so it is fully blended. The temperature will drop while you do this so needs to be approx 5degreesC hotter than pouring temperature. Pouring around 71degreesC is good.
7. Let your candle dry naturally in a room that is not too hot or cold. Your candle will dry in about an hour (depending on size) but will cure over approx 24 hours and then be ready to light!
Notes:
Colour: You will be mixing your colour with white soy wax so a concentrated candle colour will work better than the likes of crayons. Your colour will not be intense or strong. You can also use natural ingredients such as turmeric and paprika.
Fragrance: Different brands, blends and fragrances will all react differently to your candle… you will need to experiment to get the right amount for your fragrance throw.
Wax: Choose the appropriate type of wax for candles, container blends are designed to stick to the container and pillar blends are designed to use for moulded candles and votives.
Wick: If wick is too thick, wax will burn too fast. If too small, it will drown. Medium size for teacups is fine.
Keep notes of all your candlemaking experiments for future use!
Wax, wick, wick clips, etc can all be purchased through Hands with a range of products being available for sale on our website. Feel free to enquire if you need any further details.
