How to Make Candles Step by Step

Homemade candle making is a hobby that also serves a purpose. You will always have candles at the ready should the lights go out or if you want to create a romantic mood. Making candles at home doesn't require a lot of equipment, but does require a bit of time and an awareness of safety issues. Working with hot wax, either paraffin or beeswax can cause burns if dripped onto the skin.

Things You'll Need

• Candle molds
• Newspaper or old baking sheets
• Candlewicks
• Scissors or a sharp knife
• Chopsticks or wooden dowels
• Roasting pan
• Empty coffee or vegetable cans
• Paraffin
• Hot pads
• Beeswax
• Tall empty cans (such as an asparagus can)
• Candle scents (optional)
• Candle dyes (optional)

Instructions

Making Molded Candles

1. Place molds on newspaper or old baking sheets to keep the workspace free from accidental wax spillage. Molds can be purchased at hobby shops, or you can use cardboard toilet paper or paper towel tubes, yogurt cups or other containers around your home.

2. Use scissors or a sharp knife to cut the candlewicks approximately 1 to 2 inches longer than the height of the molds.

3. Wrap one end of the candlewick around a chopstick or thin wooden dowel and center the wick over the mold, letting the chopstick hold the wick in place on top of the mold.

4. Fill an old roasting pan half full of water and bring to a boil over medium high heat.

5. Place a block of paraffin into a clean, empty coffee or vegetable can.

6. Place the cans in the boiling water and allow the paraffin to melt.

7. Add scents or dyes to the melted paraffin before pouring into the molds, if desired. Stir with a chopstick or wooden dowel to distribute the scent or dye evenly.

8. Use a hot pad to lift the can holding the melted paraffin and pour immediately into the mold.

9. Allow to cool several hours, or overnight, before removing the candle from the mold. Paper molds can be ribbed away from the candle, while plastic molds may allow you to bend the mold to pop the candle out.

Dipping Beeswax Tapers

1. Fill the roasting pan half full with water and bring to a boil over medium high heat.

2. Shave beeswax into a tall can, such as an asparagus can, until the can is 1 inch from the top full of beeswax. Do this with two cans.

3. Set the cans containing the beeswax into the roasting pan and allow the wax to melt. Turn the heat to low.

4. Wrap a 14-inch length of candlewick around a chopstick or wooden dowel leaving approximately 6 1/2 inches of wick on either side.

5. Dip one side of the wick into one of the beeswax cans.

6. Dip the other side of the wick into the second can.

7. Hold the wick by the chopstick and dip stand of the wick into the two cans, dropping the wicks to the bottom of the cans and pulling the straight up and out of the wax.

8. Continue dipping until the tapers have reached the desired size.

Tips & Warnings

• For either of these methods, beeswax or paraffin can be used. Scents and colors can be added to the beeswax once it is melted. Stir to evenly distribute the additions throughout the wax.

• It is not safe to melt paraffin directly over the heat source. Always use a double boiler method when melting paraffin or beeswax to avoid spills and possible fire hazards.