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This article was written by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield.
There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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If you want a way to make your home smell great, a custom scented candle is the perfect way to add more ambiance. Making your own candle is as easy as melting the wax, mixing in your favorite essential oils, and pouring them into heat-safe containers so they can set. Because you’re adding the scent yourself, you can even customize how your candle smells by mixing different oils together. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through just how easy it is to make a scented candle and recommend the best fragrances to use.
This article is based on an interview with our arts and crafts specialist, Claire Donovan-Blackwood. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Attach a wick to the bottom of a heatproof container, like a metal or glass jar. Add twice the container’s volume worth of soy wax flakes to a double boiler over high heat.
- Stir essential oils into the melted wax when it reaches 185 °F (85 °C). Take the double boiler off of the heat and let the wax cool down to 185 °F (85 °C).
- Pour the wax into your container and let it harden for 24 hours. Finish up by trimming the wick with a pair of scissors.
Steps
Making Homemade Scented Candles
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![Step 1 Choose a heatproof...]()
Choose a heatproof container for your candles. Choose a metal, ceramic, or glass vessel because they’ll hold up to the hot wax and heat from burning your candle the best. It could be a bowl, mug, cup, or any other solid container you have at home. You may even use a container from an old candle you recently burned. Just be sure to wash out any debris inside and dry the container off before using it.[1]- To check if your container is heatproof, fill it with boiling water and let it sit for 2–3 minutes. Then, pour out the hot water and immediately fill the container with cold water. If the container cracks or gets damaged, then choose a different one for making your candle.[2]
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![Step 2 Melt soy wax...]()
Melt soy wax flakes in a double boiler. Fill the bottom pot of your double boiler halfway with water and place it over high heat. Then, fill up your candle container twice with the wax flakes and pour them all into the top pot of your double boiler. Place the pot with the wax on top of the one with the water so the wax can melt without the risk of it burning.[3]- Weigh the wax you’re using on a kitchen scale before melting it so you know how much you’re using. This will make mixing fragrances easier later on.
- Alternatively, you may use beeswax, which already has a natural honey scent. However, beeswax doesn’t hold additional fragrances as well as soy.
- Avoid using paraffin wax for making candles. Even though paraffin holds scent the best, it’s made from petroleum and can release chemicals and soot deposits into the air.[4]
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![Step 3 Add essential oils...]()
Add essential oils to the wax when it reaches 185 °F (85 °C). Check the melted wax with a candy thermometer until the wax reaches the correct temperature. Once the wax is hot and ready, add about 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of your favorite essential oil for every 4 ounces (110 g) of wax to naturally scent your candles. Pour the oil into the melted wax and stir it together with a chopstick.[5]- Commercial fragrance oils have stronger scents, so only use 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) for every 1 pound (450 g) of wax. Just be aware these oils may have synthetic compounds that are released into the air when you burn them.[6]
- If you want to dye your candle a different color, add 3–4 drops of candle dye at a time to the melted wax and fragrance. Dip a piece of white paper into the wax and let it dry to see how the color will turn out.[7]
- Avoid adding more fragrance to your candle because too much may prevent it from burning properly.
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![Step 4 Attach a wick...]()
Attach a wick to the bottom of your container with a wick sticker. Start with a wick that’s longer than the container height. Take the backing off of a wick sticker and place it onto the metal bottom of the wick. Place the wick’s metal piece centered in the bottom of your container, and press it down firmly so it stays in place. Lay a popsicle stick or pencil across the top of the container, and wrap the loose end of the wick around it so it doesn’t fall down.[8]- If your container is larger than 3 1⁄2 inches (8.9 cm) in diameter, use multiple wicks to burn the candle evenly.
- Alternatively, dab some hot glue or melted wax onto the bottom of the wick instead of a sticker to attach it to your container.
- If you can’t easily reach the bottom of your container, then push the metal piece down using a pencil or chopstick so it adheres firmly.
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![Step 5 Pour the wax into the container once it cools to 135 °F (57 °C).]()
Pour the wax into the container once it cools to 135 °F (57 °C). Take the melted wax off of the heat and let it cool down so it sets properly inside of the container without leaving gaps. Check the temperature of the wax every few minutes with your thermometer. Once it cools to 135 °F (57 °C), slowly pour the melted wax into the container, leaving about 1⁄2–1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) of space between the wax and lip.[9]- Lay old newspapers down over your work surface so you can easily clean off the candle wax if you accidentally spill.
- Try adding natural scented ingredients to the candle after pouring it. You could add dried flowers, crushed herbs, cinnamon sticks, or cloves for added scents and decoration.[10]
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![Step 6 Trim the wicks down to 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) after 24 hours.]()
Trim the wicks down to 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) after 24 hours. Let the wax completely harden and set for 24 hours after pouring your candle so air bubbles don’t form. When the wax has dried and solidified, unwrap the end of the wick from the pencil or popsicle stick. Use a pair of scissors to cut the wick down to size so it burns properly.[11]- Alternatively, use a wick trimmer, which is made specifically to reach into candle containers to cut the wick shorter.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use vanilla extract?
Community AnswerVanilla extract can be added to make scented wax. Check out Add Scent to a Candle for some tips.
Video
Tips
Warnings
- Avoid using paraffin wax because it’s derived from petroleum and could release harmful chemicals when they’re burned.[20]Thanks
Things You’ll Need
References
- ↑ https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/z_unfiled_stuff/candlemaking.pdf
- ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-make-candles
- ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-make-candles
- ↑ https://nsunews.nova.edu/soy-candles-paraffin-candles/
- ↑ https://hellonest.co/the-complete-guide-to-diy-essential-oil-candles/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/e2RHQ6LVr-w?t=492
- ↑ https://helloglow.co/how-to-color-candles/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/e2RHQ6LVr-w?t=368
- ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-make-candles
- ↑ https://www.dryadeducation.com/media/pdf/complete-guides/A531%20Candle%20Making.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/e2RHQ6LVr-w?t=761
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8125361/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/
- ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermint-oil
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9774566/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201812/sleep-better-these-7-essential-oils
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7491497/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8643535/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30019646/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-candles-bad-for-you/
About This Article
The simplest way to make a scented candle is to add fragrance to a regular candle. Choose a fragrance option such as an essential oil, a synthetic fragrance oil, or a commercial candle-making scent. Light your candle and let it burn until there’s a large puddle of melted wax around the base of the wick. Then add a drop of your scent to the melted wax using a dropper or pipette. Take care not to get the scent too close to the flame, since it could catch fire. The scent should start to diffuse as the candle keeps burning. Add more drops of scent as needed. To learn how to use other ingredients, like spices and herbs, to add scent to a candle, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"All of the above helped, as I'm looking to making candles for family gifts this Xmas. If I can, I may make to order, so this page has been more than helpful."..." more
