Hello Beauties,
Today I am going to be teaching (at least attempting to) you how to make a candle from the ground up. I have come across some cool different waxes lately, and one that I have fell in love with is ice wax. When creating a candle using this type of wax, your candle comes out looking crystalized and really cool looking. I did decide to take this a step further and layer the candle to make an ombre look, but you by all means do not have to do that.
The items you will need are:
Ice Wax (#ad)
I do purchase this in 10 lb bags, to get the most for your money, but you definitely do not need to do this. It all depends on the size of candle you are wanting to make.
VineVida Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil (#ad)
You do not need to purchase this fragrance, but do make sure you do purchase a fragrance oil, not an essential oil. Fragrance oils are made for candles and help hold the fragrance and deliver the best scent throw.
8 oz mason jars (#ad)
Mason jars are very forgiving and can withstand the heat of the wax, but again, this is only a suggestion, you can choose whichever size or type of jar you prefer. Just be sure that they are able to withstand the heat that candle wax gives off.
2.3-2.6" diameter wicks for suggested mason jars (#ad)
When making candles, you want to make sure that you use the correct wick. Too big of a wick will create too much carbon, which will then make your jar smokey and full of soot. Too small of a wick and your candle will not burn completely, as the wick is working too hard to create a full wax pool.
Mica Powder (#ad)
I like to use this when making my layered candles, because as I layer the candles, I am able to add a bit more powder, to brighten up the candle as I go. Again, totally optional.
10.5 qt melting pot (#ad)
Now this is a total splurge I made, because I realized that I was making so many candles that using a smaller device or double boiler was not time efficient for me. I love it and it definitely has paid for itself time and time again.
Of course, you can go and pick whichever items you wish, but these are suggestions that I prefer, especially with the type of wax and layering you will do.
You want to start by melting your wax. Ice wax is pretty forgiving and I like working with it because when it starts to harden, you cannot see the flaws, as it crystalizes cools. So, there will always be a different look each time you make a candle, no matter what you do.
While your wax is melting, this is the best time to start prepping your candle jar. Make sure you are getting the correct wick size, as if it's too big, you will create too much carbon, leaving soot. If you have too small of a wick, that wick will have to work really hard to try to create a wax pool, which then ends in tunneling. Finding the size of your candle is pretty easy-all you need to do is figure out the diameter of the candle, and find a wick that accomodates that size. If you jar is 2.2", wick up and use one that can cover a 2.25-2.5" area. Here is a link to wicks to get you started: 1.8-2.2" diameter candle wick ((#ad) or 2.3-2.6" diameter candle wick (#ad). Now you will want to make sure you stick that wick as close to the center of the base of your candle as possible. Most wick kits will come with a wick clip or popsicle stick with a hole. You use that to stabilize the wick and keep it centered.
Once you melt your wax, you will want to pour in your fragrance oil at 180-185 degrees fahrenheit, which will blend the oil and melted wax to give you the best scent throw for when your candle is ready.
After adding your fragrance oil, you can add in your coloring (again optional).
Give your wax a good stir, and off you go to pouring it into your jar. Make sure your candle wick stays centered and fill the wax up to about where the lid sits (not the flat part, but the part you twist to secure the lid). Now the waiting starts. Place your candle in a place where you know it won't be disturbed or moved, so it is able to harden evenly.
After about 24 hours, your candle should be set. If you notice any pits in it, you can use a heat gun or blow dryer to melt that top part, just to even out your wax. If you do end up having to melt part of your candle, just wait for it to set. After it has set long enough, you can trim the wick to about 1/4" from the top of the wax. Now, you will want to put you lid on, and let your candle rest for up to 2-3 weeks. This allows for the most fragrance throw the longer the fragrance is able to sit and marinate in the wax.
Congratulations, you have just made your first candle using your own supplies. You will notice the candle comes out looking crystalized, which I think is a really cool look and very unique. If you aren't a fan, you can do this same thing with a soy wax or other wax of your choice.
I hope this was helpful and had clear instructions. Please feel free to message or leave comments on anything or if you have questions.
xoxo,
Bubbly Scents
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