In the 2000s, candles went from being a nice thing to have around to being a status symbol in home decor, thanks to the rise of high-end perfumers and candle-makers. The candle market does even better in the winter because candles make great gifts. But it’s not enough to just buy or make scented candles. Care must be taken for the candle to last as long as possible.
Today, we’re going to talk about candles and give you a recipe for making your own scented candles.
How To Take Care Of Candles
- Keep wick trimmings and matches away from the wax pool. Debris in the wax can act as a second wick, making your candle burn faster.
- Wicks that are too long or crooked can cause high flames, smoke, or soot. The easiest way to avoid this is to cut the wick to 5mm after the wax has been set.
- Light regular-sized candles for 1.5 to 2 hours at a time. When a candle burns for less time, it can “tunnel,” which doesn’t look good.
- Put out a candle if its flame gets too high or keeps flickering.
- Never touch or move a candle that is already lit.
Candles With Scents
Ingredients
- 2 kg paraffin or soy wax
- Scented or essential oils, mica, or candle powders in different colors (optional; the amount you need depends on the color you want, so start with 1/2 teaspoon and go from there)
- Double boiler (or use a heatproof bowl and a saucepan)
- Thermometer
- Candle moulds (for example, small glass jars, tins, and pots)
- Put oil on
- Wicks
- Hairdryer
Method
- Grate or chop your wax or paraffin to start. It will melt faster if you cut it into smaller pieces. Set up a double boiler if you are going to use one. If you don’t have one, bring a large pot of water to a boil and set a heat-safe bowl on top of it. Add the wax to the top of the pot or bowl and let it melt, stirring it every once in a while. Use a thermometer to make sure the wax doesn’t get hotter than 90°C.
- Once the wax has melted, add the oil or mix of oils you want (about 30ml of oil is enough for a 250ml candle) and, if you want, color powder. Do this quickly over the heat so that the coloring agent can mix well. Once everything has been added and mixed to spread the color and oil, take the pan off the heat. Set aside and quickly prep your mold.
- Spray a little oil on a temporary mold to make it easier to take off. Next, put in the wick by tying it to a pencil and placing the pencil across the top of the mold so that the wick hangs vertically. Pour the wax in until the top is about 2 km away. Sometimes the middle of the candle shrinks, so if you need to, you can add a little more wax. Use a hairdryer to smooth the top and get rid of any air bubbles or holes.
- Cut off the wick and wait at least 24 hours before removing the candle from a permanent mold or lighting it.
