Making Scented Candles – Tips on How to Make Scented Candles
by Brook Santello
Making scented candles is a very rewarding pastime. There’s no denying that candles add a real warmth and charm to a room, but scented candles go an extra step and bring a sense of elegance and even romance. No wonder that so many people are wanting to learn how to make scented candles.
What Kind of Fragrance?
Well of course the fragrance is a very personal thing and the choice is vast. What is important though is that you choose an oil based fragrance rather than water or alcohol based when you make scented candles. This is simply because candles are made up predominantly of oil so a fragrant oil will mix well with the candle wax. If you remember your chemistry, oil and water do not mix, so using a water based fragrance will result in the liquid separating from the wax. The fragrant oils are of course readily available in most craft stores or online.
Benefits of Making Scented Candles
One of the great things when you make scented candles is that the aroma can be noticed even when the candles are not being used. Just having them around the home will create an inviting and pleasant environment.
They also make perfect gifts and are so appreciated when they are made by your own hands. If making scented candles as a gift, you also have the opportunity to personalize them with color, fragrance and presentation tailored uniquely for the recipient.
How to Make Scented Candles
First choose the wax you would like to use. The choices today are numerous. You can use paraffin wax which is most commonly used, or you can try a natural alternative like beeswax, soy or palm wax.
Personally I don’t recommend palm wax, not because it’s difficult to with it, but because there are some environmental issues connected with palm oil products, so I choose not to use it.
There is also gel wax although the equipment and techniques needed are slightly different. Greater temperature control is needed, and with gel wax you need to consider the density of the gel as the more fragrance you intend to use, the denser the gel needs to be. For the purposes of this article I’ll take it that you are going to make scented candles with paraffin, beeswax or soy wax.
Ok, next is heating the wax. We use a “double-boiler.” This is when we have a big pot of water on the stove, and we take a smaller pot with our unmelted wax in it, and we place the small pot into the big pot. The layer of water in between the small pot and the heat source is to help prevent the wax from burning which can easily happen without the double-boiler. Heat the wax to around 170-180 degrees.
When the wax has melted it’s time to add the fragrance oil. Remove the small pot from the heat and add one ounce of fragrance oil for every one pound of wax. This will result in a 6% concentration.
Don’t add too much fragrance oil! More is not better! Adding lots of fragrant oil is not necessary to create a beautiful scent; in fact it could be over kill! Also, you may end up with pools of liquid within the candle.
Now is also the time to blend in any colors. Use a liquid candle dye and again be sparing. You don’t need much to create a great effect.
Pour the wax into your mold while securing the wick in the centre. Now let it stand and cool for 4-6 hours and remove from the mold. Depending on the mold you use you may need a releasing agent to separate the candle after cooling.
If making scented candles becomes a habit for you (and I hope it does), you can experiment with blending different fragrances and colors to come up with some favourite ‘recipes’. Learn how to make scented candles and you can become a ‘master chef’ of candle making.
Want to see the most complete guide available online for making scented candles along with all of the other amazing candles that everyone would love to make and have? All the secrets, tips, tricks and techniques you need to make candles just like the experts from your own home are waiting for you right here in the Ultimate Candle Making Guide
