Best Way To Learn How To Make Candles

Best Way To Learn How To Make Candles

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In the information age, information is everywhere, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So how can you learn to make candles when there are hundreds of thousands of webpages, YouTube channels, and blogs telling you how? Use this as your one-stop shop in figuring out just how to make the best candle in your first try. 

Best Ways to Learn How To Make Candles

  • Purchase a candle making starter kit. 
  • Check out successful candle making YouTube pages. 
  • Check out successful How-To websites.
  • Read a blog!
  • So how do you pick out the best tutorial for you? Read on to find out more and check out links to the places that can help you the most.

Purchase a candle making starter kit

A very easy and cost-effective way for you to learn how to make a candle is simply purchasing a starter kit. When you purchase a kit, you should be looking for the type of wax you would like to work with. Because certain waxes are harder to work with than others, finding one that is soy wax or paraffin wax is best for beginners. 

You should also consider the container. Kits will occasionally include molds, but because those are harder to use, many will simply provide containers. Make sure you like the way they look, as they will house your finished candle. 

Best Way To Learn How To Make Candles

Your scents are also key in deciding the kind of kit you would like. If you don’t like the scent, you won’t want to burn your candle. Make sure you like your scent in your candle making starter kit before you purchase. 

If you want to work with dye, make sure you like the colors that the kit provides. Many may not provide dye, as it is not necessary in the candle making process. 

Lastly, consider the equipment provided. You should have the proper items to create your candle, like a reusable melting pot, a candle making thermometer, candle wicks and clips, mixing spoon, and a way to keep everything organized. 

Some of the best kits on the market are:

Most kits cost between $25 and $50. 

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Check out successful candle making YouTube pages

In our media age, it’s easy to find information online. If you’re more of a hands on, visual learner, YouTube has some great links and channels that will help guide you through the candle making process. The best channels include:

For these, it’s not just all about viewers. They can show you how to make natural candles, how to add things into your wax, working with beeswax, and even Candle Making 101. 

Check out successful How-To websites

If YouTube isn’t your thing and you’d prefer to read, there are plenty of ways that you can learn how to make candles online. Finding the right website is easy when considering candle making. Some of the best include:

Most of these websites don’t just show you how to make a candle. They provide tips, candle making business information, troubleshooting guides, marketing ideas, and more.

Read a blog!

Best Way To Learn How To Make Candles

There are tons of blogs out there that can tell you how to make your first candle—including this one. When you’re starting out, here’s what you need to know to make your first candle. 

  • Make sure you have the proper supplies and ingredients. As you’ve read before, especially when considering purchasing a kit, you’ll need a number of items before you can start. Choose your wax, wick, container, fragrance, and optional dyes. Most beginners work with paraffin wax, using cotton braided wicking for the wick. You also need a container in which to place your finished candle. In terms of equipment, you should have something to heat up your wax in, a mixing bowl, a heat safe mixing spoon, thermometer, wick clips to keep them in place as your candles cure, and enough newspaper or wax paper to protect your counter space. 
  • Protect your tabletop. Wax can be messy and sometimes dangerous. Make sure you put down newspaper or wax paper to protect your area. 
  • Decide on your candle. If you’re using a kit, this is easy. If you’ve purchased the items separately, find the fragrance you want to use and the container you want to place it in before you start. 
  • Place the wick in the container. Kits sometimes come with wick glue or glue dots. Make sure you center the wick and glue it down with the metal wick bottom before you start. Use wick clips to make sure that the wick stays centered in the candle. 
  • Heat up the wax. Using an electric stove or hot plate, try heating up the wax in a double boiler. Note that whatever you use may be ruined for all other activities later, so use something that you intend to continue using for candle making. 
  • Add your fragrance and optional colorant. Once your wax is heated up, allow it to cool a little before adding your dyes and fragrances. Be sure to mix it up well before you move it to the final container. Fragrance oils have a limit to how much you should put into your wax—make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and measure out your fragrance oil. 
  • Put the wax in your container. Waiting until the wax is cooler helps in this scenario. Make sure you leave enough space in your candle for it to harden, as it will expand. 
  • After wax is completely cooled, remove the wick clips and cut down the wick. After about a week of curing, you can remove the wick clip and cut down the wick with scissors. 

Here are some tips and tricks to make your candles come out high quality the very first time

  • Measure your items. While you might want to just go with your feelings, it’s important to measure your wax to your container and the fragrance oil to your wax. It can create issues with burning if you don’t do both. 
  • Don’t create too large of candles your first try. The larger the candle, the harder it is to create. Don’t get too excited and make too large of a candle on your first try—as you learn, you can always move up. 
  • Let your candles completely cure on their own and don’t move them too early. It takes about a week for a candle to properly cure. Don’t put it in the freezer to make it cure faster—it will only make the candle fracture. Your candle could crack too if you move it too early—place it in a safe place where it can cure properly in the time in needs. 
  • Don’t pour your wax too early. Allow your wax to cool slightly before placing it in your container. 
  • Check your wick size. If you’re not working from a set, make sure you have the proper wick size for your candle size and your wax type. Test them out if you’re not sure!
  • Don’t buy too many items. If you’re just starting out, it may be tempting to purchase a bunch of items that you think you might need. Start small, or even purchase a kit before you move forward with the hobby. 
  • Use the right supplies. Some YouTubers will try to convince you that candles can be made from crayons. Crayon wax is different from candle wax and will not burn properly. Also, make sure your candle containers are thick enough, as thin glass containers can actually explode. Wine glass thickness or more is safest. Food coloring is water soluble, not oil soluble, so it will not mix into your candle wax. Additives such as glitter can actually catch fire and clog wicks. 

Whether you’re watching a YouTube video or reading a blog, you too can find the best process in making your first candle. Just make sure you stay safe, keep your work area clean, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—the only way to learn from your mistakes is if you make them! In the end, your candles should be made with enthusiasm and excitement for the hobby, and that’s what matters most. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What candles are the easiest to make?

There are several steps you can take when making a candle. For the easiest route in candle making, choose a paraffin wax container candle with a zinc core wick, with essential oil fragrances and a solid dye block as colorant. 

What are the most popular candle scents?

According to the New York Times’ Strategist, in 2020 the most popular scents included musky, woodsy scents— scents like ginger, rum, and vanilla. They also reported that fresh and clean scents like lavender and vanilla were popular, and also citrus scents such as palo santo, mint, amber, and peppermint. 

Looking to start your own candle making business, check out my startup documents here

Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.