How to Make a Paraffin Candle
Making your own candles from paraffin wax allows you to customize the candles. Paraffin wax burns well and the wax itself is inexpensive. You can mix the wax with additives, essential oils and dyes. Paraffin wax has a natural white color and remains unscented until you add your preferred scent. Once you make your own paraffin wax candles, you can display them proudly in your home or give them away to friends and family members.
Things You'll Need
- Paraffin wax
- Double boiler
- Candle thermometer
- Candle dye
- Essential oils
- Milk carton
- Hot glue
- Tabbed and primed wick
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
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1
Cut the paraffin wax so that it fits into the top part of your double boiler. Place the double boiler over medium-high heat and melt the wax until it reaches 200 degrees F.
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2
Maintain a temperature of 200 degrees F. Do not allow the wax to reach a temperature above 300 degrees F because it will scorch and may catch fire.
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3
Slowly add candle dye to the wax. Paraffin wax does not require a lot of dye. You can either slowly add drops of a liquid candle dye or shave off a candle dye block with a potato peeler.
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4
Stir the candle wax until the dye mixes in thoroughly.
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5
Add essential oils to the paraffin wax. You may need to experiment with the essential oils because the oils have different strengths. A good rule of thumb is 1 oz. of essential oils for each pound of paraffin wax.
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6
Stir the essential oils until they mix well with the wax.
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7
Cut the top off a milk carton. Cut the milk carton down to your preferred size. Apply hot glue to the bottom of a tabbed and primed wick, and place it in the center of the milk carton.
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8
Pour the candle wax into the milk carton. Keep the wick in place by placing popsicle sticks on both sides so that it does not fall into the wax.
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9
Allow the candle wax to cool and harden. Melt more candle wax with the same color and scent and pour it over the sinkhole that formed after the candle hardened.
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10
Let the candle wax harden. Tear the cardboard off the milk carton. Trim the wick to ¼ of an inch.
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References
- Photo Credit candle flame closeup image by Andrea Massimiani from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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In a separate bowl, whip melted wax with a beater until frothy. Use this mixture to put " frosting " all over the outside of the hardened candle. Sprinkle the four sides of the candle with glitter. Absolutely gorgeous. I used to make these candles with my Mom. We used food coloring.
