How to Make Candles Using Fragrance Oils
When making homemade candles, adding fragrance oils allows candle makers to create a truly customized scent. By simply adding the oils to the wax mixture, you can make a candle that suits your mood any time of the day. Customized candles also make great gifts that don't cost a fortune.
Items Needed:
- Candle wax
- Candle wicks
- Fragrance oils
- Jars
- Purchase candle-making wax or use the remnants of old candles around the house to create a new, larger candle. Wax designed specifically for burning will provide the best results.
- Purchase or make homemade wicks. The string used for wicks must be treated so it burns slowly and stays lit, so a regular string isn't appropriate for use as a wick. To make wicks, cut lengths of any type of cotton string or twine and soak for 10 to 15 minutes in a mixture of eight tablespoons of borax to three cups of warm water. Hang the strings to dry for several days, then dip each string into melted wax several times. Make wicks in bulk and store then for future use.
- Gather molds or purchase special candle molds for candle making. Any glass jar works as a candle mold, so it is not necessary to purchase specialty jars.
- Use a double boiler pan to melt wax on a stovetop. A normal pot will work as long as the candles are melted over a low heat and tended to carefully.
- Pour the essential oils into the melted wax and stir thoroughly. The amount of oil used depends on personal preference. After adding oil, carefully waft some of the steam and smell the mixture to sample the scent.
- Pour the wax into the jar or mold once the mixture is complete.
- Tie the wick to the center of a skewer or pencil. Center the wick above the jar and carefully place it in the center of the wax. Allow the candle to cool off and harden, making sure not to move or bump the wick in the process.
- Place a lid on the jars to preserve the scent until it is time to burn the candles.