DIY
How to Make Your Own Scented Soy Candles at Home
A fun project for candle lovers.
Nothing is more relaxing than the soft crackle of a burning wood wick and subtle aroma of your favorite scent, but when a good quality candle ends up costing you around $50, you start to wonder if it’s really worth it — though there are some spectacular ones on the market.
You’ll be pleased to know that it’s surprisingly easy and affordable to make your own soy candles at home and you get the added bonus of being able to create a bespoke fragrance that you might not necessarily find in store.
Here is a step-by-step guide to making soy candles with just a few supplies bought online and equipment found in the house.
Soy Candle Supplies You’ll Need
- Containers made to withstand heat
- Wooden wick
- Thermometer
- Pouring jug
- Wick holder
- Fragrance oil
- Soy wax flakes
Once you have all the necessary equipment you can begin making your custom soy candle following the steps below.
Step 1: Melt The Wax
Using the double-boiler method (just like chocolate), melt the wax over a simmering pot. A Pyrex jug works best for holding the wax to melt because it allows for easy handling. To measure out the amount of wax needed use this formula:
Volume of the container (ml) x 0.77 = Soy Wax (g)
If you don’t have scales handy then you can quickly calculate the wax required by simply using the container to measure two full scoops of unmelted wax.
When the wax melts down this should roughly fill the container.
Step 2: Prepare the Container
Place the wick in the centre of the candle, make sure to keep it centered.
Step 3: Add the Fragrance Oil
Once the wax has reached 80 degrees Celsius, take the wax off the heat and transfer it into the pouring jug. After transferring the wax to a pouring jug, add the fragrance oil and stir for about two minutes.
Add between 6-10 percent of fragrance oil to grams of melted wax.
To calculate this follow this formula:
Soy Wax (g) x 0.08 = Fragrance Oil (ml)
If you do not know the volume of wax then calculate 8 percent of the volume of the container.
Container (ml) x 0.08 = Fragrance Oil (ml)
Step 4: Pour The Candle
When the wax has cooled to 131 degrees, pour into the container. Be sure to check the wick is still centered after pouring as it can move sometimes.
Step 5: Let The Candle Set
Leave the candles to cool and set over 24 hours before burning.
About Soy Wax
Soy wax is fast becoming the preferred wax used to make candles due to its many superior qualities including:
- Superior scent throw
- Longer burn time
- Little to no soot
- Burns evenly and clean
This story originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.
