How To Make Candles At Home: A Step-By-Step Guide

Whether you’re hoping to adopt a new hobby, switch careers entirely or simply unleash a bit of pent-up creativity over the weekend, learning how to make candles at home can be a wonderful activity—and it offers an exciting payoff, too. No matter the season, a whiff of your favorite scent throughout the day can be a welcome comfort. And DIY candles allow for endless customization: You can select a unique fragrance, try out different wax hues and so on. (As a bonus, a hand-poured candle makes for a lovely gift.)

Of course, all that said, candle-making can be intimidating at first—at least to a first-timer. But would-be candle-makers should take heart: Though there’s certainly an enormous degree of talent involved when it comes to the work of true artisan candlemakers, a basic DIY candle requires little more than melting wax, adding oils, monitoring the temperature of the whole concoction and finally pouring it all into appropriately sized vessels, which you’ll outfit with wooden or thread wicks.

To demystify some of the more daunting aspects of this process, though, we’re sharing a full guide to making your own candles at home, ahead (plus a comprehensive list of all required supplies). We tapped into the expertise of four longtime candle-preneurs—Johanna McClellan, founder of Toronto-based candle company Midtown Candle Co., Alyssa Andress, founder of Editorial Candle Co. and Billy Dortch and Jeff Schnell of Palm Springs Candle Company. All began their businesses from the comfort of their own homes, and all spent years experimenting and perfecting their craft. Here’s what they had to say:

How To Make Candles At Home: Initial Considerations

McClellan recommends asking yourself a few simple questions before diving into the candle-making process. In her opinion, doing a bit of preparation on the front end will also help to narrow down what specific materials are required for your chosen candle type.

• First, note that there are many different types of wax to choose from: soy, paraffin, parasoy, coconut, beeswax and more. McClellan suggests that first-time candle-makers read through this candle wax guide to learn more about the similarities and differences between the various waxes. Lone Star Candle Company offers a wide variety of options, and is beloved by candle-makers across the country.
• Next, you’ll want to decide on what type of wick you prefer, whether that be a wooden one or a pre-waxed cotton thread. Wooden wicks don’t just look a bit more rustic; they can also add a gentle, crackling sound to your creation, offering an even more cozy, cottage-like ambiance. But thread wicks could be easier to source, and are certainly more traditional.
• Colors, scents and vessels are three other aspects of your candle-to-be that you’ll want to keep in mind. “There are pros and cons to fragrance oils, which contain synthetic materials, and essential oils, which are more ‘natural,’” offers McClellan. “Choosing scents is personal, though some are stronger and can trigger allergies and sensitivities.” Your choice of vessel, however, is purely preferential: Glass jars and metal tins work well, with or without lids, and all sorts of sizes are available.

Should this preliminary selection overwhelm a novice, there’s no shame in opting for a basic candle-making set from a craft store, which includes everything you need—and often at a discount. In fact, these sets can be an excellent gateway into the more complex aspects of the process—and they can keep you from wasting or improperly using the more pricey materials in which you might invest further down the line. “It’s a good introduction to the process, and gives you an idea of what is needed,” adds McClellan.

DIY Candle Supplies: A Comprehensive List

An amateur candlemaker doesn’t need much more than the basics, but there are a few supplies and helpful accessories you might not initially think about when purchasing your starter kit. Luckily, Andress has supplied a comprehensive list of foundational tools. These are as follows:

• A heat-proof vessel(s), such as a glass jars, metal tins and ceramic tumblers
• Candle wax
• Wicks and wick stickers (hot glue—as in, the kind that’s dispensed by a hot glue gun—can also be used)
• Wick-centering tools or wick holders
• Candle-safe fragrance or essential oil(s) of your choosing
• A heat-proof pouring pitcher
• A large pot or double boiler
• A stove (or other heat source that can be used to safely melt the wax)
• A candle thermometer (optional)
• A heat gun (optional)

It’s important to keep in mind that candle-making requires a great degree of trial and error. Your first batch might not come out as anticipated and sometimes uncontrollable elements such as external temperatures and humidity levels can make things go awry. For that reason, it can be a good idea to have a variety of materials on hand; they’ll give you the freedom to carry on after you make mistakes, or even try totally new approaches if your chosen method isn’t working as planned.

Billy Dortch and his husband, Jeff Schnell, who together founded Palm Springs Candle Company, echo these sentiments. “There’s a lot of science involved here, such as precise weight and temperature measurements that must be followed exactly,” Dortch says. “We have to consider everything from the temperature at the time of fragrance and wax combination, to the amount of time spent stirring, to the temperature of the jars when pouring... Even a slight variation can cause major issues.”

In other words, a bit of experimentation is expected as you undertake your first project. Invest in a few extra supplies to account for those inevitable mishaps.

As for choosing fragrances, Dortch says it might just end up being your favorite part of the process. “We’ll order fragrances from several suppliers, pour a glass of wine and start smelling,” he says. “Once we find a combination we really like, we experiment with precise ratios to get just the right smell.” Dortch adds that you can combine varying amounts of fragrance by placing cotton swabs into jars and smelling the finished product.

As a side note, Andress adds that there’s really only one unspoken rule here: to combine scents of the same “family.” “But rules are meant to be broken,” she says. “Find what you like and go for it.”

A Step By Step Candle-Making Guide

While step-by-step instructions do vary by candlemaker, Andress offers this basic breakdown of how to create a candle from start to finish.

1. Double-check your supplies: Before you begin, assemble all of your supplies in one place—and be sure to calculate the precise measurements for your ingredients. Not only will this ensure that you’ve got the correct amounts of wax and oils for the specific number of jars you want to fill, but it’ll also help you cut down on any unnecessary expenses. (Store-bought waxes typically indicate their yield amounts on the packaging.)
2. Prepare your wicks: Secure the base of each of your wicks to the center of the jar's bottom. To do so, you can use a wick sticker, which is sometimes included with the wicks themselves, or you can dab a small amount of hot glue into the center of the vessel to hold things in place. There are other methods, such as wick-centering tools, wick holders and wax dots, but our experts preferred to stick with the methods described above. Next, secure the top of the wick in place using a clip or wick holder, if necessary.
3. Melt your wax: For beginners, Andress recommends the double boiler method to gently melt wax: It ensures a controlled melting process, and it’s a process that can be replicated in almost any home without specialized tools. Add the wax into a small, heat-resistant pouring pitcher, then place that inside a larger pot of simmering water and watch it closely until the wax is fully and evenly melted.
4. Add a fragrance: Once your wax is melted, you’ll be able to add in your fragrance—but note that different types of wax require different fragrance make-ups, certain precise temperatures might be required before fragrance is added (in which case, a thermometer will come in handy) and, more generally, this step might just require some experimentation before you’re pleased with the power and balance of the resulting scent. Beginners should consult their wax or fragrance packaging for guidance on exact temperatures and ratios. Once you’ve done so and are ready to incorporate the fragrance, stir the mixture for several minutes to ensure that everything’s evenly distributed. (At this point, you can also add colorful dyes to your candle if you’re hoping to color the wax.)
5. Transfer the prepared wax into your vessels: Here, once again, many professional candle-makers opt for the precision of a thermometer before transferring over the wax into the containers; it helps to ensure that the wax is at the proper temperature. Though all waxes and fragrances will perform best at different temperatures, finding the correct one for your supply list is important: You can avoid cracks in your vessels, unbecoming scents and other unfortunate results if you do so. Once you’re ready, protect your hands from the heat, then pour the wax straight from the pitcher into your prepared jars or vessels and allow the candles to cure.
6. Cure the candles: Depending on your chosen materials, this process could take one to two days (for many paraffin waxes) or up to two weeks (for many soy waxes). Air bubbles and uneven surfaces, which typically appear around the wick or at the edges of the jar, can be smoothed out with a heat gun or hair dryer.

It’s a long and methodical process, to be sure. But all of our expert candlemakers assure newer candle-makers that it’s entirely worth the time and effort. “It's somewhat of a meditative, slowed-down process that is quite different from our other high-stakes jobs,” says Dortch. “It's a nice change of gears to be working with our hands—and to be taking things at a different pace.”