How to Make Wax Bars

Wax in warmers lasts longer than candles, because the wax in candles is actually burnt off, and not just melted.

Wax bars can be broken into small pieces of scented wax that can be used with candle warmers to spread scent through a house. Using a candle warmer makes the scent in wax last longer because nothing is burned off, and it does not present the fire danger that candles do. Making wax bars will only take about an hour or so, not counting the time it takes for them to cool.

Things You'll Need

• 8 ounces soy wax flake
• One double boiler or a large sauce pan and a smaller sauce pan
• 2 cups of water
• Wooden spoon or paint stirring stick
• Instant read thermometer
• 1 oz block of candle dye
• Knife
• Cutting board
• 1.5 teaspoons of candle fragrance or essential oil
• Ladle
• Several plastic break-apart candy bar molds, depending on the size of the bar
• Airtight container or zip-top bag

Instructions

1. Pour your soy wax flake in the smaller pot, or the top pot, and pour the water into the bottom pot. Stack the smaller pot on top of and/or inside of the larger one, and turn your burner on to medium. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon or stirring stick. Use your instant read thermometer to take the temperature of the wax as it melts. If the temperature gets over 180 degrees, pull the top pot out and set it off the burner for a few minutes, and turn the burner down a notch.

2. Place your block of color on the cutting board, and use your knife to cut it into smaller pieces. Starting at one end, slice off a small chunk. Add a few slices to your wax and stir it until the color melts. If your wax is not as vivid as the color you want, add more slices until it is. Stir until the mix is homogeneous and the wax and color are both fully melted.

3. Read the label on your oil, and find out if it has a low flame point. If it does, take your wax off the burner and stir, checking the temperature as it cools. When the wax temperature dips below the point where the oil will catch fire, add the oil to the melted wax.

4. Use the ladle to pour the wax into your candy bar mold. Set the mold on a level surface and allow to cool. When the bars are completely hard, turn the molds over and press in the center of the bars to push the wax bars out. Break off and use in your candle warmer as needed. Store the others in an airtight container or zip-top bag.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having trouble with the wax sticking to the mold, spray a little bit of non-stick cooking spray into the molds first.

• You can mix several fragrances together for a customized scent.

• If you hold the wax at temperatures of 180 degrees or more for very long, the wax will start to burn off and may turn yellow.

• Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand when dealing with wax, as it is a flammable substance and could cause a kitchen fire.

References

• Learn Crafts Online; How to Make Candle Tarts - Easy!; Stephanie Davies
• J & L Creations: Wax Instructions