How to make soy candles
Making candles at home is becoming very popular. Some people want to save money over store-bought candles; others want to get creative and make unique candles.
In this article, we will show you how easy and fun it is to make your own soy wax candles. People love them because they are handcrafted, personal, and cheap. The best part, though, is that you can sell your candles and start a fun and profitable full time business.
It takes a lot of special equipment and you can do it right in your home.
Soy candles have become very popular these days. People were always drawn to the flame and wonderful fragrance provided by the soy wax candles.
Here are the supplies you need: soy wax, wick, molds, fragrance oil, thermometer, and dye chips.
Purchasing supplies does not cost a lot if you consider that with what you would pay for making 2 or 3 candles, you can make 20 of your own. You can also add any container fragrance or color combination you want.
First thing you need to do is get the soy wax melted. In a short while it will melt completely and become liquid. You will want to heat it up at 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85° C). Now, add the dye and stir it up. Remove the pitcher from the heat and add the fragrance.
You are almost ready to pour the soy wax into the molds. This is a very important step that ensures the soy wax candle’s success. Reduce the temperature of the soy wax to somewhere between 150-160 degrees F (65° – 71° C). Use the thermometer to verify the temperature.
The next step is preparing the mold. You should warm them up a little. The best thing you could do is put them into the oven for 10-15 min before you use them. If your soy wax temperature is around 150 degrees F (65° C), you are ready to pour it into the molds.
Fill each mold with soy wax all the way to the top. If you are using a pour pot, it works better if you slightly heat it up. This prevents the wax from hardening in a cold pour pot.
After we let the soy wax cool (we do not recommend a water bath or any other type of fast cooling process because it could damage your soy wax candles) and a thin skin has formed on top of your soy wax candle, it is time to insert the wick.
Push the wick into the candle until it reaches the bottom of the mold. This should be done quickly so that the skin does not get too thick.
From my point of view, now comes the hardest part of the soy wax candle making process. You must wait.
Avoid touching, moving, and examining the candles for the next 5 hours. If you followed this little guide step by step, in about 5 hours you should have yourself a perfect soy candle. When the soy wax candle is ready, you should be able to hold it by the tip of the wick and carefully pull it out of the mold.
Congratulations, you have just made a soy candle! Your friends and family will be impressed, and I am sure they will want one of your candles.
How to make gel candle
If you love burning a beautiful candle and buying one every day seems too expensive, you should try making them yourself. Most people prefer gel candles.
Gel candles are made from 5% polymer resin and 95% mineral oil .The resin used begins in powder form and solidifies when it is exposed to mineral oil. The gel wax can come in a high density that gives you the ability to suspend dense pigments like glitter or others (non-flammable).
In addition, low-density gel is not thick enough to support embeds. The only drawback here is that the denser the gel is, the longer it will take to set and pour.
Gel candles make a beautiful gift for friends, family, or to you. Gel candles can add a touch of elegance to your home decor. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and scents. Gel candles can be found in fruit jars with labels or gift tags, in fancy glass bowls, wine glasses, and mugs .You can even dress up your gel candle jars with ceramic, shades to make them look like a miniature lamp. Many times gel candles come decorated with miniature shapes embedded within them. Wide varieties of scents are available also, from lemon to roses.
We will show you now how to make your own gel candle. When making gel candles, the procedures followed are the same as those used in making wax candles. The same steps are involved, like melting and pouring into the mold etc. However, the method and equipment needed for making gel candles are different than wax.
You will need gel, container (a glass one will work better), zinc wicks (don’t use cotton wicks because they absorb to much gel), fragrance oil, and liquid color dye.
Start by placing some hot glue in the center of the container bottom. Then stick the wick in it and let the glue set. Cut the gel into small pieces so the melting process works faster. Melt it in a stainless steel pot at medium heat. You should get the temperature at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93° Celsius) and you should use a thermometer because overheated gel looses clarity. Maintain the 200 degrees F (93° C) temperature and all the gel should melt nicely.
Now it is about time to add the color dye and fragrance to the melted gel, a little bit at a time until you get the desire colored and fragrance. You can always add more dye to make the color stronger but you cannot take the dye, so be careful not to drop too much.
Now you should heat the container in an oven to 150-160 degrees F (65° – 71° C). This will reduce the appearance of bubbles. It is time to pour the gel into the container. Do this very slowly and carefully. Pull the wick up. Roll it on a stick to keep it straight. Let the candle cool. Trim the wick and you are done.
Fun accessories can be added for your gel candle including glitter, sand, and labels. Sand creates a nice base candle. Glitter makes an otherwise boring candle sparkle beautiful. Labels can add a homemade touch to your candle
One of the benefits of a gel candle is that gel takes longer to burn as compared to wax candles. This means that your gift will last longer. Gel candle making is not only fun, it is easy and can be learned and mastered quickly.
How to make scented candles
Candles, particularly scented candles, are very popular these days. They add a warmth scent to the home that many people adore. However, because of their popularity, they have become very expensive to purchase. Making these candles at home can cut the cost, and provide a fun project for those who like to craft.
Items you need: wax, wick, scent, a double boiler, and candle mold. Have all these items ready and together. Cover your work area with some newspapers so that clean up will be easier.
Now put the wax into your container and then place it in a pan of water to act like a double boiler. Place the pan of water on the stove at medium heat. Remember not to let the water boil too hard because it could reach the wax.
As the wax melts, it is time to prepare your mold. Make sure it is clean.
After the wax has completely melted, place the thermometer into the container so that it does not touch the bottom or the sides. When the wax has reached 80º C (176° F), it is ready to pour.
Now add the color chips in small pieces at a time to ensure your wax will have the color you desire. You can always add more if you choose but if you have a too dark color for your liking; it is very difficult to add more wax to tone down the shade.
At last, it is time to add the desired scent. About half a teaspoon of the scent will work fine; if to much scent is added be aware that your candle may not burn properly.
After adding the scent, stir very well and then pour the scented, colored wax into your mold. Now carefully lift the wax container from the water and dry the outside with a clean cloth. This will keep the water from reaching into your candle. Slowly pour the wax into the mold until you have reached the proper height. Return the wax to the water and keep hot until the candle is done.
As it sets, the wax will start shrinking. You will need to add more liquid wax. First, use a skewer to poke the candle, inserting it into the candle as it cools. Do not touch the sides or the bottom of you mold. This will add air into the candle, which help keep its shape when removing it from the mold. Then pour more liquid wax from the pan into the hole that has been created from the skewer.
When completely cooled, at about four or five hours, you can remove it from the mold. If the candle sticks to its mold, place it in the refrigerator for an hour; this will help shrink the wax. Do not put it in a freezer, as this will crack the candle.
If you want this process to work faster you should place the poured candle into a cold “bath”. This is rather necessary for many kinds of wax. Using cold water, place the mold into the sink. The water level must be higher than the candle level. This will keep your candle free from the water line when it is finished.
Inserting the wick is relatively simple. If you do though, have problem applying it, after the removal of the skewer, you should wax the wick by dipping it into the liquid wax, letting it harden before placing it into the finished candle. Let the candle cool for a couple of hours and you are done. You have managed to make your personal scent candle to enjoy or give as a gift.
