Art of Making Scented Candles – 4 Tips for Creating Captivating Wax Masterpieces

Jan 15, 2010 in Candle Making Tips

Scented candles increase the ambience of any room. If you are a soft, romantic person, you will enjoy the aroma of scented candles. Treat your guests to a touch of mystique and a sense of calm. Also, the warm glow of just about any candle enhances the elegance of a room.

Even before it is lit, the subtle fragrance of a scented candle will heighten your energy level,. When you arrive home tired and worn out from the day, the aroma & warm glow of a scented candle tends to loosen your tightness & lift your energy level.

Scented candles are great gifts for every season and all occasions; especially when they are hand crafted by yours truely.

1. Select Your Candle Making Fragrance

Fragrance oil is available in virtually any craft shop. You can also look for it on the internet. I would suggest that you opt for fragrance oils rather than going for cheap water or alcohol based fragrances. Since your wax mix will be oil based, your fragrance should also be oil based. Why? Oil and water do not mix so a water based perfume will not mix properly with the oil based wax.

2. Pick Your Wax

The basics of making scented candles are more or less the same as for ordinary wax candles. Begin by choosing your wax type. Available in the market is a versatile range of wax starting with the naturals, beeswax, palm & soy, and progressing to paraffin or gel wax. Decide on the aromatic intensity of your candles before making a wax selection. For instance, in case of gel candles, gel wax with less density holds less fragrance compared to gel wax with higher density.

3. The Art of Scented Candle Making

Now that we've talked about waxes, let's discuss the method for creating scented candles.

1st step is to melt your wax. I recommend using a double boiler. That means put the wax in a small pot. Now place that container into a slightly larger pot partially filled with water. Now heat the water. You'll need a thermometer to ensure the wax is not burnt. The temperature should be kept at 170-180 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the wax is melted, insert a wick into the mold and remove your wax from it's source of heat. Now add the fragrance oil that you have chosen. A mixture of 1 ounce of fragrance oil to 1 pound of wax will create a fragrance level equal to 6% of candle density. Appreciate that larger portions of fragrance oil means the candle to burn out sooner.

Next pour the melted wax/fragrance mixture into it's mold. The only job left is to let the whole thing cool before removing your candle from it's mold.

Congratulations! You're finished!

4. Try Different Things as You Go

You will gain expertise in all phases of candle making when you start experimenting. By using different fragrances and colors, you will perfect the art of candle making and thoroughly enjoy the process.

It's a great feeling to award your friends with a scented homemade candle knowing that they will find the fragrant essences both relaxing and invigorating.