Candles were first made by the Egyptians and Cretans from beeswax (wax extracted from bee hives) during 3000BC. Candle making evolved later and was made out of tallow and the pith or rushes around the first century by the Romans. The word candle is derived from the Latin word ‘candere’ which means ‘to flicker’. In the 18th century candles were made from various kinds of natural fat, tallow and waxes. Late into the 18th century colza oil and rapeseed oil were used as they were much cheaper substitutes. Today most candles are made from paraffin beeswax or soy or other plant waxes. In this article we will read about how to make candles at home.
Ingredients required:
- 500 grams paraffin wax
- 50 grams stearic acid
- A glass container
- A wick with a wick sustainer
- Color block
- Fragrance oil
- A metal pouring jug
- A thermometer
- A double boiler or a metal bowl used over a saucepan of boiling water
Method:
Mix the wax and the stearic acid. Boil water in the saucepan. Place the mixture of wax and stearic acid in the metal bowl inside the saucepan. Never keep the wax over direct flame as wax doesn’t boil but combusts. Add a few shavings of the color block and let it dissolve. Once the acid is completely dissolved in the wax add a few drops of fragrant oil. Add required quantity depending on taste. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the wax and don’t let it go above 80-90C.
Attach a pencil to one end of your wick. Pour a little bit of wax in the glass container you intend to use to keep the candle. Dip one end of the wick inside and support it using the pencil till the wax is solid again. Pour more wax into the glass till its about three-fourths full. Wax shrinks as it turns solid so poke a few holes in the wax and pour more so that you don’t leave any air gaps. Keep repeating till the glass is full. Leave for a few hours to set. That is it, now you have a homemade custom scented candle.
Tips:
Use only pure essential oils as they will last longer and would not release dangerous fumes.
Never heat the wax above 90C or set it directly on the gas. Wax will not boil and will simply catch fire and no one wants that. Keep stirring so the heat spreads evenly whenever on the stove.
Using different kinds of wax will change the temperature required to melt the wax and hence it it advised to refer to the packaging or at least observe caution.
If your candle burns with a lot of smoke you are using too long a wick, and if your wax seems to burn badly and in weird shapes the wick may be too wide. You can either deal with it or melt it and reshape it again.
After cooling leave the candles in a dark cool place and make sure they aren’t disturbed till they become completely hard otherwise it might lead to bubbles forming inside the candle. Although this wont hinder your candle in anyway except going out occasionally when it hits an air pocket.
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