How to Make Candles

Candles set the mood. Whether you want romance, soft lighting or eerie effects, you can take even more pleasure in candles when you make them yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wooden Skewers
• Old Nylon Stockings
• Candle Dyes
• Candle Molds
• Candle Scents
• Candle Sprays
• Candle Wax
• Candle Wicks
• Stoves
• Aprons
• Candy Thermometer
• Double Boilers
• Pot Holders
• Scissors
• Wooden Spoons
• Scissors
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fire Extinguishers
• Pot holders

One-Piece Mold

1. Choose your wax, mold and wick or check related eHows below to find out how to make your own.

2. Melt wax in a double boiler until it reaches pouring temperature. (See Related eHows.)

3. Tilt the mold and pour the wax smoothly down the sides. Fill mold to within a couple of inches from the top.

4. Gently tap the mold to release air bubbles in the wax.

5. Poke a skewer or chopstick down along the wick occasionally to release air bubbles forming there.

6. Watch for the candle to shrink as it cools. Top off the wax to the original level.

7. Put the cooled candle and mold in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or so.

8. Turn the mold upside down over a clean towel. The candle should slide out.

9. Hold it by the wick only and polish the candle with a nylon stocking, or spray it with candle spray or clear shoe polish spray.

10. Untie the wick and trim it to ½ inch above the top of the candle.

11. Even out the bottom of the candle by heating it on a warm skillet or hot plate and letting it melt until the base is level.

Two-Piece Molds

12. Lubricate both mold halves and fill almost to the top with melted wax.

13. Allow the wax to cool.

14. Fasten a wick tab to one end of the wick and press it into place on one half of the candle.

15. Pour a little more heated wax onto both halves and press them together.

16. Remove the mold and trim the wick.

Tips & Warnings

• The wick can be inserted after the wax is poured. It's a matter of personal preference. This is done by sinking the wick tab in the hot wax.
• Be sure that small children and pets are kept out of the candlemaking area.
• Wax is flammable at high temperatures and should never be left unattended.
• Use a fire extinguisher or baking soda rather than water if you have a wax fire.
• Don't pour wax down your sink - it will cool there and plug up the pipes.

[chambermaid]

on 1/9/2009 Step 11 is really useful ... I've been making candles for years, and never thought to even out the bottom that way. Thanks!

[amandaford]

on 2/1/2008 Hi Everyone,

The eHow Experts are building a discussion surrounding around Valentine's Day in the eHow forums. If anyone needs some relationship tips or maybe just need a general Valentine's day question answered, feel free to join in the discussion at this URL:

http://www.ehow.com/community/forums/topic_33827_valentine’s-day:-in-love?-broken-hearted?-alone?-how-do-you-deal?.aspx

Thanks,
The eHow Experts

[gemit]

on 2/12/2007 I got a candle for christmas and it smells horrible - what can I do?

on 2/22/2006 To create those expensive country-store cake candles, take any regular pillar or votive candle, bought from the dollar store. Then buy some wax chunks, or tarts in your favorite fragrance. Melt the wax tart/chunks down until liquid. Remove from heat, whip like an egg with a fork until frothy. Once frothy, take the fork and spread the mixture (quickly) all over the votive or pillar like icing a cake. You may dip your completed works in a wax quick-dip for an overall seal.

on 11/22/2005 You can buy the cheap candles (the kind that have no smell), take out the wicks, and melt them down. Add vanilla flavoring to the hot wax. Place the wick in the jar while pouring the hot wax. Cut the wick down to size. A container made of thick glass works best. Place the candle in the refrigerator. You now have scented candles! This works well with any flavoring or great smelling perfume.