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Container Candles
Container candles are the most popular candles around, and there is a number of reasons for their popularity. The fact that they are in a container, for example, allows for the usage of wax with a lower melting point, which in turn makes them spread their fragrance better.
If you are planning to start making your own candles, container candles are a good choice to begin with - you only need to get some wax and pour it into a first heat resistant jar, glass or sea shell that you find.
Well ok, joking aside, it's simple but not THAT simple. You still need to follow some basic procedures like getting the right tools and matereials, boiling the wax until it reaches a certain temperature and mixing the right amount of scent and color into it.
1. In fact, let's go through 10 simple steps needed to make a container candle.
2. Get all the materials - you'll need a suitable container, candle wax and pre-tabbed wicks, a double boiler or a wax melter, a thermometer, some fragrance oil and candle dye.
Position the pre-tabbed wick in the center of the container bottom by using hot glue or double back tape.
3. Keep the wick straight and centered by looping its end around a skewer-like piece of wood positioned horizontally on top of the container.
4. Arrange your double boiler - fill 1/3 of its bottom side with water (don't let water come in contact with the wax), put the wax in its top and let it heat up to around 175 degrees.
5. Add some scent and color to the wax and stir it thoroughly.
6. Prepare the container by heating it slightly in the oven (lowest setting) or by pouring hot water over it from the outside (be carefull not to let any water inside the container)
7. Slowly and carefully pour the wax into the container, but also leave some of it in the melting pot, as you'll need it later. Tap the sides of a container a few times to release the trapped air bubbles from the wax.
8. Let the wax cool - it usually takes around 6 hours. Sometimes the process can be accelerated, but with container candles its best to let it cool naturally.
9. The wax is going to shrink as it cools down, and this is where the leftover wax comes back into play - heat it again, this time to around 185 degrees (higher temperature will increase the adhesion between layers of wax), and pour enough to fill the gap that was left by shrinking.
10. Great job, your candle is done! You only need to wait for it to cool down (up to two days, if you want the scent to mix properly with the wax) and trim the wick to a desirable size.
It's not a part of making the candle, but there is also a step 11, which is entirely up to you - choose what you are going to do with your new masterpiece! You might burn the candle yourself or give it to someone as a special, unique handmade gift.