So, you want to get into making your own candles? Welcome to the club. It seems like every other person on TikTok is suddenly a master chandler, pouring perfectly aesthetic candles that smell like a lumberjack’s dream or a forgotten library. And honestly, why not? With the price of a single fancy candle getting close to a full tank of gas, learning to make them yourself is less of a cute hobby and more of a sound financial decision.
If you’re going to dive in, you might as well start with the best season of all: autumn. It’s the undisputed champion of cozy scents. Pumpkin spice, apple cider, crackling firewood—it’s a sensory goldmine. This guide will walk you through making your own autumn-inspired candles without the fluff. Let’s get started before you spend $40 on something that smells vaguely like “Fuzzy Sweater.”
Why Bother Making Your Own Candles?
Look, we get it. The idea of handling hot wax sounds like a trip to the ER waiting to happen. But the benefits are pretty solid.
First, it’s cheaper. Once you have the basic gear, you can churn out candles for a fraction of the retail cost. Second, you control what goes in them. No more mystery chemicals or scents that give you an instant headache. You can create custom smells that don’t exist in stores, like “Rainy Tuesday Afternoon While Avoiding Responsibilities.” Finally, there’s the bragging rights. Nothing beats the smug satisfaction of telling your friends, “Oh, this? I made it myself,” as they admire your perfectly scented creation.
Assembling Your Candle Making Starter Pack
Before you can play mad scientist with wax and scents, you need the right equipment. Don’t worry, you don’t need a full-blown laboratory.
Here’s your shopping list:
- Wax: For beginners, soy wax is the way to go. It’s natural, burns clean, and is forgiving. Beeswax is another great option, but it can be a bit pricier. Avoid paraffin wax unless you enjoy the scent of fossil fuels.
- Wicks: These aren’t just strings. You need wicks properly sized for your containers. Too big, and you’ll have a bonfire. Too small, and your candle will tunnel, leaving a sad ring of unused wax.
- Containers: You can use pretty much any heat-safe container. Mason jars, old mugs, ceramic pots—get creative. Just make sure it can handle the heat.
- Fragrance Oils: This is where the magic happens. For autumn, think cinnamon, clove, orange, vanilla, and cedarwood. Essential oils work, but fragrance oils specifically designed for candles will give you a stronger, more consistent scent.
- A Double Boiler (or a makeshift one): You’ll need a pouring pot and a larger pot for water. Please, do not melt wax directly on the stove unless you enjoy cleaning up apocalyptic messes.
- Wick Centering Tools: You can buy these, or just use clothespins or a couple of chopsticks to hold your wick straight.
- A Kitchen Scale: Measuring by volume is for amateurs. Be a pro and measure your wax and fragrance by weight for consistency.
- A Thermometer: Crucial for knowing when to add your fragrance and when to pour. A simple candy thermometer works perfectly.
Your Step-By-Step Guide to Not Burning the House Down
Got your gear? Good. Now for the fun part.
Step 1: Prep Your Workspace
Cover your surfaces with newspaper or cardboard. Hot wax gets everywhere, and future you will be grateful for the easy cleanup. Set up your clean containers and get your wicks ready. Dip the metal base of a wick into a bit of melted wax and stick it to the bottom center of your container. Then, use your centering tool to hold the wick upright.
Step 2: Melt the Wax
Using your kitchen scale, measure out your soy wax flakes. A good rule of thumb is to double the volume of your container to figure out how much wax you need. Pour the wax into your pouring pot and place it in the larger pot with a few inches of simmering water. Heat it slowly, stirring occasionally, until it’s completely melted. Keep an eye on the temperature with your thermometer; you’re aiming for around 185°F (85°C).
Step 3: Add the Scent
Once your wax hits that 185°F sweet spot, remove it from the heat. This is the moment to add your fragrance oil. A general guideline is to use 1 ounce of fragrance per pound of wax. Stir gently but thoroughly for a full two minutes. I know, it sounds tedious, but this is how you ensure the scent binds with the wax and doesn’t just sink to the bottom.
Step 4: The Pour
Let the wax cool down to about 135°F (57°C) before you pour. Pouring too hot can cause cracks and sinkholes. Pour slowly and steadily into your prepped containers, leaving about a half-inch of space at the top. Try not to splash it all over the wick.
Step 5: The Waiting Game
Now comes the hardest part: patience. Your candles need to cool and cure. Let them sit undisturbed at room temperature for at least 24 hours. Don’t you dare put them in the fridge to speed it up; that’s a one-way ticket to a cracked, ugly candle. After they’ve hardened, trim the wick to about a quarter-inch.
Step 6: Cure, Cure, Cure
You’re not done yet. For the best scent throw (that’s fancy candle-talk for how well it fills a room), you need to let your candles cure. For soy wax, this means letting them sit for at least one to two weeks before lighting. Yes, weeks. It’s worth the wait, I promise. This allows the fragrance to fully integrate with the wax.
And that’s it. You’ve officially made your own candle. Light it up, pour yourself a drink, and bask in the autumnal glory you created. You’ve earned it.
