I was given a candle making kit for Christmas three years ago, and I’ve never used it.
When I asked for it, I thought how wonderful it would be to craft my own candles, all fragranced and colourful and low-cost. I even kept a heap of old candle jars with remnants of Yankees past as a motivator.
Sadly, the box became like the unloved exercise bike sitting in the corner of the room, but instead of being covered in clothes, it was covered in other boxes.
No more!
This is the ideal opportunity to try it out; I invite Tracy and Tash round so that we can get off our wicks and eat strawberries.
Beginners try candle making
The kit I have, conveniently, has three different types of mould: spherical (Tash), pillar (me) and taper (Tracy). Translated, that means round, tubular and the old-style thin ones that you used to get on writer's desks in Dickensian times. Possibly.
Preparing the moulds
This step basically involves cutting the wick down and fixing it in place before you put the wax in.
But we’ve crumbled. We can’t figure out how to thread the wick through the hole in the bottom of the mould. As the wick has a bit of a wave to it, it’s difficult to weave through the bottom, so it’s a classic case of perseverance. Luckily no one’s teeth get involved.
Tracy threading the rocket
Once we’ve cracked it, we put some stopping putty (much like Blu Tack) on the bottom of outside of the mould so that wax doesn’t seep out when the candles are setting.
Melting the wax
The parts of projects that require adult supervision are always the best parts. That never changes, no matter how old you are.
Using two pans (one of which will now cook food waxier than any lemon that a supermarket can safely sell), we melt the wax. It’s like a bain-marie for melting chocolate, with your wax in the top pan and boiling water in the bottom one.
It melts surprisingly quickly, but do keep an eye on that water level.
At this stage we add colour and fragrance. We did one batch yellow, one batch blue. Putting dye chips into the melted wax creates a swirl more pleasing than putting milk in tea.
Make sure you know what colour you’re after before you get to this point because dye chips go a long way. The more you put in, the more vivid the colour.
Tash says that the fragrance smells like “yer nan’s perfume”. It’s pretty potent. I’d advise that you use the pipette provided, but as I didn’t find it until after the candles were made, I just put in a few drops.
The smell is as strong as a punch in the face, with a hint of vanilla.
Pouring and setting
It’s just that simple: pour wax into your mould. Tracy’s going with a blue candle, I’ve gone for mostly yellow with a blue-tinted bottom and Tash is doing a half-and-half job.
Two-hand Tash pouring wax into her mould
Be prepared for a wait after you’ve poured as the candles take quite a while to set. The moulds hold on to a lot of heat! The taper candle cooled the fastest but even then it wasn’t ready to come out of the mould without some serious chilling time.
We part ways and put our moulds in our respective fridges overnight once they’ve cooled.
The big reveal
As you’d expect, the mould is pretty chilly the next morning.
But normally when you’re trying to get something out of a container – ice cubes, honey, what have you – the advice is to warm it up. In this case, you’re better off keeping your moulds cold.
Sure enough, after a firm tap on the table, the candle shoots right out. It’s a beaut, with a lovely blue tinge at the bottom.
I finish up by cutting the wick and putting a sprinkle of glitter on.
Hey, we have candles! But now comes the real test: do they actually work?
We'll see you at the next power cut.
Thank you Tracy and Tash for your photography, videography and diamond chat. I’m lucky to have such great friends.
We used the Creative Candle Making kit, which is available for £29.99 from House of Crafts.
However, all you really need is wax, a container of some kind, a wick, some kind of rod to hold the wick in place, some sealing putty and a couple of pans. You can pick up supplies for cheap from Hobbycraft.
Interested in having a go?
For your own safety and sanity, don’t take advice from me. Here are two women who have their own candle making businesses – they'll help you get started.
First up is Lorraine Forsyth, who runs Daisy Blue, based just outside Glasgow. She taught herself how to make candles over the course of a year through a process of trial and error.
Why should people try candle making?
People should try it because it is fun and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they make lovely candles. Also, they can choose their own fragrances and so make candles which are perfectly suited to them.
What challenges might they face, particularly when they're starting out?
The challenges in candle making are huge. There are problems with fragrances blending properly with wax, selecting the right wick and the correct size of wick for your container.
Do you want to colour your candles or leave them white? What fragrances do you choose? Do you go for container or pillar candles?
How much do materials cost?
Materials can be as cheap or expensive as you like. It all depends on what containers you want to use, the type of wax you want to use, the quality of candle fragrances or essential oils you want to use.
Obviously there are minimum costs but with better quality/organic products, the price will increase accordingly. When you are able to buy in bulk, the price is more cost-effective.
Blue wax
People have different reasons for using different types of wax. Rowena Hughes, owner of Rosy Rosie, tells us a bit about why she prefers to use soy wax for her candles.
What are the advantages of using soy wax over other types of wax?
To start it is a sustainable material – made from soy beans – unlike some waxes that are a by-product of the oil refining process, or they use palm oil that is behind much devastating deforestation.
Importantly, the soy wax I use is made from soy beans that are non GM and are insecticide and pesticide free, so are sustainable and better for the planet. Organic soy wax also burns with less soot than most waxes, so all round it is a healthier burn which is especially important around children and pets.
It is much easier to work with than, say, beeswax (I have used beeswax – it makes a lovely candle but is jolly messy!) as it melts easily and holds perfume really well.
Also it washes out with soap/washing up liquid and water, so clearing up after a candle make is easier. Once the candle has reached the end of its burn you can just wash it out and either reuse the container, or in the case of mine, pop the tin or glass tumbler into the recycling.
Any other advice?
You could start with using a variety of containers such as old coffee cups or tea cups, bowls or small jugs i.e. items that you could pick up from car boot sales or second hand shops. After the candle has burnt, they could be reused.
My other advice for budding candle makers would be think about what sort of candle you wish to make. Container candles are a much easier place to start than say pillar candles which require moulds.
Make sure that the wick you buy is appropriate for the container you are you going to use as nothing spoils a good candle than when it 'tunnels' because the wick isn't big enough for the diameter of the container.
Have you tried candle making? How did it go? Comment below!
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