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Wicked Wicks Candle
DIY Homemade Soy Candles – A Step by Step Guide
The idea of making my own candles had never occurred to me until I was offered a handmade candle by someone. When it was first offered, I thought “Wow that’s really neat”, then the questions started coming to my mind.
How did you make them?
Whats the process?
Is it hard?
Where do you get the supplies?
How neat is that?!!
After experiencing my first encounter with a homemade candle, I was so intrigued I had to try it.
Hence, the birth of Wicked Wicks Candle, and in this Blog, I want to teach you how to make your own Homemade Poured Soy Candles.
How does the process Go? What Do I Do First?
Gather Materials and Equipment
For equipment you should have everything you need at home already. If it is your first time ever making a candle a candle making kit may be a great option for you. However, candle making kits are great for getting a feel for performing the process, as you continue to make candles you will notice that the quality of the materials provided in these kits are not the greatest.
Equipment/Tools Required
- Two Pots (For using the double boiler method)
- A pouring pot
- A thermometer that can read up to 180 Degrees Fahrenheit
- Measuring Cup
Materials Required
- Soy Wax
- Fragrance Oil (Optional)
- Candle Container, You should get wicked with this selection
- Wick (Cotton, or Wood)
- Candle Dye (Optional)
When buying a candle making kit all of these materials will be included. But, please keep in mind that these kits do not include materials of the best quality. If you would like to purchase better quality materials please try this link for a quality provider of candle-making supplies. Or if you are also a candle enthusiast and have some experience, please comment your preferences on our facebook page to share the knowledge!
A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Candle
Candles are an essential item in every home, and making them is a fun and rewarding DIY project. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of making your own candle, from selecting the wax to customizing the scent. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepping and Cleaning Your Candle Container
1. Remove any leftover wax from the container. If the wax is hard and doesn’t come out easily, you can use a butter knife or a spoon to gently scrape it off. Be careful not to scratch or damage the container.
2. Wipe the inside of the container with a paper towel or cloth to remove any remaining wax residue.
3. If there is any stubborn wax residue that won’t come off, you can place the container in the freezer for a few hours. The cold temperature will cause the wax to shrink and separate from the container, making it easier to remove.
4. Once you have removed all the wax residue, wash the container with warm, soapy water. You can use a mild detergent or dish soap.
5. Rinse the container thoroughly with water and dry it with a towel.
6. If there is still some residue or discoloration on the container, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water to gently scrub it off. Make a paste with baking soda and water, apply it to the container, and use a soft brush or cloth to scrub gently. Rinse with water and dry.
7. Center your wick in the middle of your container, and secure it in place by using a wick holder or clothes pin. Try to keep the wick as centered as you can, so that whenever you pour the candle the wick is centered all the way through! Extremely Important!!!
By following these steps, you can clean your candle container and reuse it for another candle or for other purposes. It’s important to clean the container thoroughly to avoid any leftover wax or scent interfering with your next candle-making project.
Later on in this guide we will talk more about the preparation of the candle jar, right before you pour your wicked soy wax. The preparation can literally make or break your candle!
Step 2: Melt your Soy Wax
Next, you will need to melt the Soy wax. You are using soy because paraffin is not it, check out this post about why we don’t use paraffin at Wicked Wicks Candle. Using a double boiler or a heatproof container and a saucepan, melt the wax over low heat until it reaches a temperature of 170-180°F.
The temperature of candle making is extremely important in different steps of the candle-making process. The soy wax that you are using will be most efficient at different temperatures when adding fragrance or color. When pouring the candle, I prefer to pour as close to the LOWEST temperature recommended by the manufacturer. Once you gain more experience you will see this has a very strong effect on the quality of the texture when pouring your soy candle.
Step 3: Add Color and Fragrance
Once the wax has melted, and met the temperature suggested by the soy manufacturer, you can add color and fragrance to your candle. If you want a colored candle, add a few drops of candle dye and stir well. Then, add your fragrance oil or essential oils and stir well again. You can check our shop for some of the fragrances we love at Wicked Wicks Candle.
This is one wicked point of making your own soy candle. Every part of the candle can be customized by you! Pick your favorite fragrances, mix your favorites, pick the color, etc. The sky is the limit and you can get as wicked as your creative mind can think of.
You can now begin cooling the soy wax by removing the heat source. Please pay close attention to the next step as it is detrimental to the end quality of your candle!
Seriously, It’s Wickedly Important. Heating your container will have a HUGE effect on the quality of your pour. All of the methods I mention have effects but, this one is a BIG one that people miss. Heating is Super Important.
Once you start heating your wax, obviously depending on your set up and goals, this is normally a good time to start heating your jars. Hopefully at this point you have already made sure your containers are nice and clean.
I heat mine in the oven with the oven cracked at the lowest setting possible. The idea behind this concept is to get the container to as close to the temperature of the Soy you are pouring. This helps with forming the texture and the frame of the candle. Whatever method that is suitable for your available equipment please try to get the container to the closest temperature of the soon to be poured soy you possibly can!
Step 5: Pour your Soy Wax into your Wicked Container
Once your wax has cooled to a temperature of 120-140°F, it’s time to pour it into your container. Remember I highly suggest pouring at the lower end of the spectrum suggested by the Soy manufacturer. It seriously makes a huge difference.
Pour slowly and steadily, making sure the wick stays centered. Fill the container almost to the top, leaving a small amount of space at the top.
Take a step back and admire how far you’ve gotten! You are almost done with your first custom hand-made soy candle. You are going to be so proud and excited to show your friends and family!
Check these out for custom wooden dough bowl to give as a really wicked gift you would like to give to someone you care about.
Step 6: Allow Your Hand Poured Soy Candle to Cool, Then Trim your Wicks!
The cooling process is undoubtedbly my least favorite part of the process. You’ve gone through everything and now you’re finally done but you have to wait. No one likes waiting, I want to burn my candle!! But it is an essential step of the process to ensure the best quality burn of your candle. It is usually best to let the soy cure for 2 days. Sometimes, I just cant stand it and I can only wait over night. But, for best results and quality 2 days is your best bet!
You are almost done! You’ve poured your beautiful Soy wax candle and you have reached the last step! Congrats! That’s Wicked!
Trimming the wick is absolutely essential for ensuring a clean and even burn. Whenever the wick is too long, it will often lead to uneven burning, undesired smoking, and could even cause the candle not to burn.
Trim the wick so that it is 1/4″ to 1/2″ above the top of your soy. Anything longer than 1/2″ can be hurtful so try to not go any longer than this.
Step 7: Show your friends and family, and burn your Wicked Candle!
Congratulations! Welcome to the hand-poured soy candle community! I hope you enjoyed the process and are now just as hooked as I am. Sign up for our newsletter to keep in touch about the new fragrances and research on Soy as Wicked Wicks Candle continues to further our education about these beloved Soy candles!
Have a Wicked Week my friend!
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We plan to offer more products in the future once we have researched, and tested some of these products ourselves. But for now we are only providing custom soy candles with cotton and wooden wicks.
Be on the lookout for future blog posts that go more in depth about our research and testing with some of the other candles on the market!! Thank you for reading and have a Wicked Day.
