Want to learn how to make homemade soy candles? Making your own soy candles at home is really easy and fun. Here’s a full DIY soy candle tutorial that will teach you how.
Make Homemade Soy Candles
My friend Liz is always inspiring me with her creativity. She’s the one who taught me how to make soap, and when I saw her soy candles, I so much wanted to make those, too!
After trying for months to plan a get-together so she could teach me how to make them, and each time having it fall through (due to busyness, sickness, etc.), I finally decided to teach myself! This tutorial is the result of all my research.
What You’ll Need
Affiliate links included below. Read my full disclosure here.
Here are the basic supplies you’ll need:
- Half-Pint 8 oz jelly jars
- Melting Pot/pitcher or an old saucepan to melt the wax in (link goes to melting pot I have)
- Larger pot to use as a double boiler
- Soy Wax (the link goes to the exact wax I used)
- Wicks
- Scale (any digital scale should work)
- Thermometer
- Glue gun, superglue, or wick stickers
- Mixing spoon (I use an old wooden spoon I found at a flea market)
- Clothespins or something to hold the wicks straight (try these wick bars)
- Fragrance oil For each pound of wax I used about 1-2 oz. fragrance oil.
- Newspapers to protect counters
- Paper towels
- Candle warning labels (optional)
How to Make Soy Candles
First, lay out some newspapers to protect your table/counter.
Then stick the wicks on the bottom of the clean jars using a glue gun or superglue. This just keeps the wicks in one place so they’ll be straighter and not slide all over the place.
Put clothespins over the jars. I’ve decided that sticking the wick through the metal coil part of the spring holds the wicks better than actually clipping it.
Add a few inches of water to the larger pot and set it on the stove. Let the water heat while you weigh the wax.
Weigh the Ingredients
Using your scale, weigh the wax into your melting pot.
The first time I made candles, I only made three. 1 lb. of wax filled three 8 oz. jars.
The second time I made candles, I made six, and I used about 2.03 lbs of wax, and that filled the six (8 oz.) jars perfectly.
Remember to use the tare function on the scale, so you aren’t including the weight of your melting pot in the wax weight.
I also weigh out my fragrance oil (in a different container) at this time, if necessary.
Melt the Wax
Add the melting pot filled with wax to your pot of simmering water. The wax will slowly begin to melt. Make sure you watch it carefully (don’t walk off and leave it), as wax can catch fire (burst into flames) if it gets too hot.
Continue heating, stirring with your spoon, until the wax is completely melted.
Use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the wax (I keep it in there the whole time it’s melting–just attach it to the side of your pot if you can–with less wax this may not be possible). There are different opinions on what temperature you should heat the wax to (and it also depends on the type of wax you’re using), but I let mine get to about 170-180 degrees.
Once you have the wax at the right temperature (170-180 degrees), remove it from the heat.
Add Fragrance Oil
After removing wax from the heat, add your fragrance oil Stir to completely blend in the scent with the wax. (I used 2 oz. of fragrance oil to 1 lb. wax).
Pour Wax Into Jars
You can pour the wax into the jars at any time after adding the fragrance oil (or, if you’ve decided to omit the fragrance, you can pour when the wax is the temperature you’d like). Around 135 degrees is recommended. There are a lot of things to consider when pouring your wax, and one of them is that if you pour at too high of a temperature you might get “sinkholes,” which are little holes that form in the top of your candle as it cools.
The first time I made soy candles, I poured at 140 degrees, and the tops of my candles were smooth and perfect. The second time, I decided to go with the instructions for my particular wax and container, and I poured at 155 degrees–and got sinkholes. So, the next time I will be pouring at a lower temperature.
The trick is that you don’t want the wax to cool either too quickly or too slowly. A friend recommends pouring at around 100 degrees. I will definitely be using a lower temperature next time. At least 130 to 140 degrees, and definitely not at 155 like I did last time!
So, after you’ve added the fragrance oil, pour the wax slowly and carefully into the jars. You don’t want any splashing to occur, as this can make air pockets in your candle. So just pour as slowly and evenly as you can.
Let the Candles Cool
Readjust your wicks to make sure they are centered and straight. Then let the candles cool, undisturbed.
As they cool, you will notice that they will start to have a cloudy sort of appearance.
Clean Your Supplies
Right after pouring candles, I clean my supplies by simply wiping them with a dry paper towel. Wipe the thermometer, the stirring spoon, and the melting pot thoroughly. This prevents the wax from drying and hardening on these items, and they’re very easy to clean if you do it right away.
Allow to Cool for 24 Hours
Eventually, the candles will be completely cooled and solid. You can then remove the clothespins from the wicks.
Enjoy the delicious fragrance permeating your kitchen (if you made scented candles)! When my husband and children came into the kitchen, they all wanted to know what the delicious smell was!
Let your candles cool completely at room temperature for at least 24 hours before burning. I’ve read that it’s best to wait a couple of days before burning them, but if you just can’t wait, at least wait 24 hours.
Trim the Wicks
After the candles have completely cooled, you can trim the wicks. You’ll want to have them at about 1/4″ before burning them (and I don’t have them trimmed that short in these photos).
Decorate Jars for Gift-Giving or Leave Plain
You can use the lids that came with your Mason jars (which looks simple and lovely):
Or, you can embellish them a little bit with decorative lids and maybe a bit of fabric or jute:
Add tags and a label to the bottom with instructions. I added a label that just said to keep wicks trimmed to 1/4″, etc.
I packaged up these two for a friend’s birthday gift:
We love having candles lit, especially in the fall and winter. But we burn them all year long and enjoy their warm glow.
Troubleshooting
There are so many variables to deal with when you’re making soy candles. And I’ve only made them twice, so I don’t have all the answers! But I thought I’d address a couple of things that can affect how your candles turn out.
1. Frosting
This happened to me with my first batch of candles. It was cold in the house, and I made the candles late in the evening. My husband turned the thermostat down before bed (as we always do), and it got very cold in the kitchen where my candles were cooling . As a result, they developed what is called “frosting,” and it basically just has a whitish look around the sides of the candle. You may be able to see it in the photo below:
The two candles below also have “frosting,” which is the white look on the sides. Thankfully, since they are white candles, it’s not really very noticeable, and it doesn’t affect how the candle burns. But to prevent this, try to make candles when it’s warmer outside or when you can keep the heat turned up so that the room temperature is about 70 degrees, which is considered the ideal room temperature for cooling candles.
2. Sinkholes
This is what happens when you pour at too high of a temperature. The “ideal” temperature apparently varies (different people have different opinions), but lower is better!
The first time I poured at 140-ish degrees, and the tops on my first batch were perfect and smooth. The second time I poured at around 150-155 degrees, and most of the candles got some little “sinkholes” in the tops of them. You might be able to see in the photo below, that the wax isn’t perfectly smooth on the top:
So, simply pour your wax at a lower temperature and you can probably prevent or solve the sinkhole problem!
The good thing about sinkholes is that they don’t affect the way your candle burns. But when you’re wanting to give them as gifts, they are less-than-perfect.
3. Off-Centered Wicks
Make sure to center your wicks after you pour the wax into the jar! I moved my candles (it’s best to leave them undisturbed while they’re cooling), and the wicks slid ever-so-slightly to the side. When they were completely cooled, I noticed that they weren’t perfectly centered, and I was disappointed that I had forgotten to re-center them.
So, learn from my mistakes, and maybe your first try will turn out perfect! Regardless, I have had so much fun making candles, and I plan to continue making them. They make wonderful gifts!
January 2014 Edit:
I just wanted to add a little note here and say that all of the candles I made back in April and May (2013) have burned beautifully (including the ones with a bit of “frosting,” and the ones with a few small sinkholes). I saved the best ones for gifts, and gave some at Mother’s Day, birthdays, and Christmas. Everyone loves to receive a handmade candle for a gift! I enjoy using my candles, too. It’s almost time to make some more!
October 2014 Edit:
I cannot give advice about selling candles, as I have no experience with this. Most of the candles I’ve made have been for our own use, other than the few I’ve given away to family and friends. I did label the ones I gave away with some basic candle safety and burning tips, and I recommend you do the same. In this tutorial, I’m simply sharing my own experience with soy candle making, and I can’t make any guarantees about success or candle safety.
Would you prefer a kit that’s already put together for you?
Try one of these candle making kits.
List of Candle Making Supplies
Affiliate links included below. Read my full disclosure here.
Here are the basic supplies you’ll need:
- Half-Pint 8 oz jelly jars
- Melting Pot/pitcher or an old saucepan to melt the wax in (link goes to melting pot I have)
- Larger pot to use as a double boiler
- Soy Wax (the link goes to the exact wax I used)
- Wicks
- Scale (any digital scale should work)
- Thermometer
- Glue gun, superglue, or wick stickers
- Mixing spoon (I use an old wooden spoon I found at a flea market)
- Clothespins or something to hold the wicks straight (try these wick bars)
- Fragrance oil For each pound of wax I used about 1-2 oz. fragrance oil.
- Newspapers to protect counters
- Paper towels
- Candle warning labels (optional)
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Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and is intended for entertainment purposes only. No guarantee is given about the suitability, completeness, or accuracy of the instructions contained here. I accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented here. Use these instructions at your own risk, and please take safety precautions when working with heat, wax, and candle-making supplies.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Sharing here.
Stephanie W. says
December 19, 2018 at 3:29 pmWould they ratios you recommended for your fragrance oils be different if I used Essential oils instead? Like, would they have the same potency, or is one stronger than the other?
Joy Kincaid says
December 28, 2018 at 6:58 pmThe fragrance oils are a lot more potent than essential oils. You’ll need a lot more essential oil than fragrance oil. Hope that helps!
Natasha says
November 24, 2018 at 11:48 pmHello! Wonderful recipe — however, my wax was very white and solid by the time the temperature reached 140 degrees. By the time I put it into my jars, it was slightly thick and chunky, and there was a sinkhole around the wick.Could this be the thermometer maybe? I got a different reading from another thermometer, saying it was closer to 120. At what temperature do you notice it turns white? Thank you very much!
Joy Kincaid says
November 26, 2018 at 4:27 pmI’ve never had that happen before, so I’m not sure. There are so many variables that come into play. You might try pouring the wax at a lower temperature and see if that works better. It does sound like the thermometer could be faulty if you’re getting a different reading with different thermometers.
Brittany says
November 11, 2018 at 9:37 pmHow long did your candles burn for? I’m thinking about making my own for my wedding. Thank you!
Joy Kincaid says
November 14, 2018 at 10:25 pmThey last for a long time! You can safely leave them lit for several hours. It’s not recommended to burn them for more than four hours at a time.
Net says
September 28, 2018 at 9:53 amso glad I came across this post as I have bought most of the stuff needed to make soy candles but have seen so many different ways I haven’t got round to doing it yet.
This post is clear and easy to understand so thank you
Joy Kincaid says
September 28, 2018 at 2:14 pmSo glad it was helpful!
Marschelle says
June 16, 2018 at 9:28 pmVery detailed. Well written. Thank you!
Joy Kincaid says
June 19, 2018 at 1:58 pmThank you, Marschelle!
Sabrina says
June 2, 2018 at 1:41 pmHave you tried using wooden wicks? Would the process be any different for wooden wicks in 8oz jar soy candles?
Also wondering if you could share some of the fragrance oils you use with good throws (and where you order them from)!
Joy Kincaid says
June 4, 2018 at 4:58 pmI haven’t tried wooden wicks, so I’m not sure how those would work with these instructions. My favorite fragrance oils are from CandleScience and they work very well. This vanilla one is one of my favorites. It is especially formulated to work well in soy wax.
Grace Johnson says
May 16, 2018 at 12:25 pmJoy,
Awesome read! I love making things at home like this. I dabbled in homemade soap for awhile, and the process is super similar!
I like the thought of having bulk luxury items that usually cost a lot at the store but cost pennies when done yourself. So frugal and beautiful at the same time!
I will have to try this asap!
Thanks
Joy Kincaid says
May 19, 2018 at 7:01 pmThey’re so fun to make! Enjoy!
Mary says
February 2, 2018 at 8:15 pmThis is such a great tutorial. I have always wanted to make my own candles.
Joy Kincaid says
February 6, 2018 at 4:22 pmThanks, Mary!
liz says
February 1, 2018 at 9:40 pmSo cool! I have been wanting to try my hand at candle making, thanks for the great tutorial & for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop!
Joy Kincaid says
February 6, 2018 at 4:22 pmSo glad you stopped by, Liz!
Corinne Nygren says
November 24, 2017 at 3:13 pmExcellent information! Thanks this is very helpful. Great for a beginner. I especially like the information about the errors as a beginner wouldn’t have known that information.
Joy Kincaid says
November 24, 2017 at 6:58 pmThanks! I hope it’s helpful to you!
Michelle Leslie says
November 9, 2017 at 12:41 amOh your house must smell sooooooo amazing Joy. Thanks so much for a really great tutorial. Everything is beautifully explained
Joy Kincaid says
November 9, 2017 at 6:50 pmThank you, Michelle!
Florence @ VintageSouthernPicks says
November 5, 2017 at 6:26 pmJoy, you gave the clearest tutorial I’ve ever heard for making candles. I think I might give it a try. Yours look great & I can see how they would make great gifts. Pinned
Joy Kincaid says
November 7, 2017 at 2:32 pmThank you, Florence! Have fun making candles!
Jodie says
November 1, 2017 at 3:53 pmSorry I left you the wrong link before – ugh!!
Here is the right one… http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/10/31/reader-tip-tuesday-weeks-craft-recipe-party-10/
Jodie says
November 1, 2017 at 3:51 pmWhat a GREAT gift idea.
I hope you’d consider sharing at my weekly party: http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/11/01/vegetable-beef-soup-hot-ready-serve/
It’s open and growing all week long. xo
Joy Kincaid says
November 3, 2017 at 12:26 pmThank you, Jodie!
Christina says
April 23, 2017 at 1:52 amHi! I’m interested in making and giving these as Christmas gifts. Could you tell me about how much per candle it cost to make (jar, wax, fragrance oil, etc)? Trying to find a nice, cost-effective gift to make in bulk to give. Thank you! (I made 40 Beer Bread mixes in mason jars this year!)
Joy Kincaid says
April 24, 2017 at 1:54 pmHi Christina! I wrote this post about 4 years ago, so I’m not really sure how much the cost would be per candle now. A lot also depends on the supplies you’re using and the source. Also, I bought my supplies in bulk, so I had enough to make quite a few batches of candles with what I purchased originally. The startup costs may seem like a lot until you realize that you can get way more than one batch of candles out of it!
Megan says
January 19, 2017 at 3:13 pmHi Joy!
I was wondering what size wicks you used for these? I usually use wide mouth mason jars, but recently bought small mouth. I found that the same wicks don’t work.
Joy Kincaid says
January 19, 2017 at 8:23 pmHi Megan! These are the wicks I used. They are a bit long, so they have to be trimmed afterward, but they have worked well in the smaller jelly jars I use.
Logan says
December 31, 2016 at 3:34 pmHi! I love this tutorial – I’m so excited to make my own! I have a question: approximately what volume of fragrance would you say corresponds to 1 ounce in weight? I don’t have a kitchen scale so I’m not sure how much to measure out. Thanks!
Joy Kincaid says
January 2, 2017 at 8:25 amHi Logan! I’m not sure how it would correspond, because it depends on what you’re weighing. If you’re interested in making candles, you really need a scale in order to weigh out the ingredients. You can get an inexpensive one from Walmart or similar stores for around $6 or $7. Thanks for stopping by, and hope you’re candle-making adventure is a success!
Donna Atkins says
October 11, 2016 at 9:48 amI am curious as to the difference between Vanilla bean and french vanilla and vanilla, I love the smell of vanilla bean but I’m seeing that one to order. Please advise. Thanks
Joy Kincaid says
October 11, 2016 at 3:27 pmHi Donna,
The only vanilla scent I’ve tried personally is the Vanilla Hazelnut, which is my absolute favorite! I noticed that the description on the French Vanilla is that it’s “a true vanilla scent,” which makes me think it might be at least close to Vanilla Bean (but I’m not totally sure since I haven’t tried it). Hope you find the one you’re hoping for!
Amanda says
May 30, 2016 at 11:57 pmI found this post AFTER I made my batch and I wish I had found it prior. Mine turned out with sinkholes. Can’t wait to try again using cooled down wax.
Joy Kincaid says
May 31, 2016 at 2:49 pmI hope your next batch turns out perfectly! 🙂
Karissa Zamorsky says
April 9, 2016 at 11:53 amHi Joy! I would like to try and make these as favors for my wedding. I will be using jars that are around 4oz. Do you have an idea of how much wax I will need to fill around 200? I see you used bigger jars, so I am not sure if you will have an idea or not.
Joy Kincaid says
April 9, 2016 at 3:43 pmHi Karissa!
I'm sorry, I'm not sure how much wax would be needed to fill 200 of the smaller jars.
There is a formula for figuring out the amount of wax needed, but I haven't used this formula myself. Here's the formula:
(ounces of wax per container) X (number of containers) = (ounces needed)
(ounces needed) ÷ 16 (ounces in 1 pound) = (pounds of wax needed)
Hope that's helpful, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding! ♥
Karissa Zamorsky says
April 9, 2016 at 11:51 amHi Joy! I would love to try and make these as favors for my wedding. I will be using jars that are about 4-4 1/2oz. Do you have an idea of how much wax I would need? Thanks!
PYEONG 89 says
January 11, 2016 at 10:21 amHI! Thank you for posting this! I've been wanting to try making one of my own since I'm allergic to the paraffin ones. Something came up when I was trying it though. When I poured the wax, the glue from the glue gun melted and the wick ended up floating around. Did yours stay on the whole time? Did I pour it too hot you think? I'm curious how everyone's seemed to stick properly hahahaha.
Thank youuuuuuuu!
Joy Kincaid says
January 12, 2016 at 5:16 amI'm sorry to hear that about your wicks…never had that happen before! 🙂 I really have no idea why that would happen.
Holly says
October 28, 2016 at 5:06 pmTry getting some wick stickers. That helped me a lot.
Joy Kincaid says
October 28, 2016 at 8:26 pmThanks for sharing that suggestion, Holly!
Anonymous says
December 11, 2015 at 12:29 amThanks so much for your informative post.
I have just finished my first soy candles.
They are perfect! I used the small jelly jars
and and am going to use them as party favors.
I did sprinkle some green glitter on them when
they were almost set because the scent was called
"Christmas Tree". Fantastic project.
Joy Kincaid says
December 11, 2015 at 10:09 pmWonderful! I'm so happy to hear they turned out perfectly! I'm sure they will be much-appreciated party favors! 🙂
Anonymous says
November 29, 2015 at 10:38 pmThank you so much for a wonderfully detailed post! Your explanations were very clear, and the pictures & links were a joy to work with. I made my own candles many, many years ago, and your post has given me the courage to try it once again! The price of candles is getting outrageous & I can never find the exact scent I like. Pls. keep your hints & tips coming…they are very much appreciated!!
Joy Kincaid says
November 29, 2015 at 11:40 pmSo glad you liked the tutorial! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this encouragement! 🙂
Ashley Haldeman says
November 25, 2015 at 2:43 pmAlso- I don't have a kitchen scale. I just eyeballed everything and they turned out okay. I'm a decent estimator. 😉
Anonymous says
November 25, 2015 at 6:12 pmAshley Haldeman has left a new comment on your post:
Just wanted to hop on here and say thanks for your tutorial. I used it last year and gave them as gifts for Christmas (mostly 12oz jars), and I'm planning to try my luck again this year with 8oz jars. I'm excited! This page has been very valuable to me and I'm sure I will always refer back to it. So organized and helpful. Thanks!
For those asking about start-up costs, I calculated mine last year to be about $80.
Pitcher- $14.99
Wicks, 8 dozen (still have a lot left over)- $7.30
10 lb wax for $18.99
Fragrance- $15 (optional- I liked and made some of my candles without)
Thermometer- $8.10
Jars- I buy at my local grocery store for $8.00 per dozen of 8oz jars.
Lids- the fancy lids were $12.30 last year and are even cheaper this year at $8.61
So everything that I bought actually went DOWN in price from last year except the fragrance. All Sample Sets of 4 (1oz each) are around $15 this year– and the single 4oz bottles are around $10.
Sorry, just had some time on my hands this morning and wanted to encourage people that it's not really expensive to start up – and this year, I already have everything I needed except the wax chips and jars, and I bought another fragrance sampler. So last year I paid around $90 altogether since I bought the fancy lids, but this year I'm using the lids the jars already come with, and spent less than $50 (gonna make 24 candles). You'll always have the pitcher and thermometer, and the wicks will last a long time. Plus, homemade gifts are more valuable than most other gifts, in my humble opinion! I should probably mention that I have Amazon Prime, and that came in very handy. If you don't have it, ask around- I'm sure a friend will help you out so you can get the free shipping… otherwise shipping may cost a lot. Or you can find comparable pricing at craft stores, I'm sure.
Thanks again, Joy! Happy Thanksgiving.
Christina says
April 23, 2017 at 1:58 amHi!
I’m wanting to give soy candles as Christmas gifts, which I have to make in bulk (I made 40 beer bread mason jar mixes this year, and they ended up only costing about $3 each gift). Could you comment regarding the approximate total price per candle (either 8 or 12oz) with all the supplies needed? (wax, fragrance, jars, lids, wicks, etc).
Trying to figure out if this would also be a cost-effective project and gift or if it would be more like $8-10 per candle.
Thank you!!
Joy Kincaid says
November 25, 2015 at 6:17 pmAshley, thank you so much for taking the time to write! And thank you so much for sharing the price estimate!
I'm so glad my tutorial has worked out well for you and that you're enjoying making candles. I really need to make some for Christmas this year, as I already have the supplies, and it's so much fun!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Victoria Lindholm says
November 10, 2015 at 4:09 amHelp! I have repoured my candles 3 times. Tried hearing the jars to 125, and heating the wax to 175, then heating the candles to reset them… the tops keep turning out looking like popcorn or snowballs. Mounding out, and they don't burn well at all. What am I doing wrong?
Joy Kincaid says
November 10, 2015 at 5:27 amSo sorry they're not working out for you, Victoria! I haven't ever had that happen to mine, so I'm afraid I don't know the answer to fix them! I've also never repoured any of my candles, so I'm not familiar with that process. One thought is: I wonder if you're pouring your candles at too high of a temperature? My most successful candles were poured at around 140 degrees.
Unknown says
November 8, 2015 at 10:55 pmI was wondering where you buy your essential oils and if you ever make combination ones such as apple pie or pumpkin spice ect.My email address is [email protected]!
Joy Kincaid says
November 9, 2015 at 12:14 amI haven't tried making candles scented with essential oils. I have only used the fragrance oil sold by candle supply companies like the ones found here . They have lots of scents available, including pumpkin and apple ones. Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
January 8, 2015 at 8:12 amHave you made colored candles? I noticed the candles shown above are white, do you buy colored wax or have to add some sort of dye to color the wax?
Joy Kincaid says
January 8, 2015 at 9:12 pmSo far I've only made white ones. I did notice that the beginner candle-making kit I linked to in the post includes scented color blocks, so it looks like you could add the scent and color all at the same time. If you're interested in trying it, you can find the kit here.
Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
January 8, 2015 at 8:08 amHave you made colored candles? I noticed the candles shown above are white, do you buy colored wax or have to add some sort of dye to color the wax?
Suzanne Holt says
November 20, 2014 at 10:03 pmYou have managed to make candle making seem possible. Thanks for your in-depth instructions. Of course I need to actually try the process to confirm this, but maybe now I will be inspired to do so. Thanks!
Donna Dowdall says
November 1, 2014 at 7:33 pmok thank you
Donna Dowdall says
October 30, 2014 at 6:19 pmHi I am making homemade candles out of old candles that I have left over and I am having a problem with the homemade wick. while I am burning my candle the wick falls over too the one side and I was just wondering is there anything that I can do to stop this
Joy Kincaid says
October 30, 2014 at 8:50 pmI'm sorry, I don't have any experience with that.
Anonymous says
October 20, 2014 at 12:40 amI want to make these for a fundraiser to sell what would be a decent price for them yuh think?
Joy Kincaid says
October 20, 2014 at 3:27 amI really don't know. I've never sold any of mine, only given them as gifts. Maybe look for similar candles on Etsy.com and see what they're going for?
Regina Hoskins says
September 30, 2014 at 1:16 amLove this! You made this look so easy~i am going to try this for sure! Thank you so much for sharing. I am addicted to candles and tarts….
Joy Kincaid says
September 30, 2014 at 2:35 amIf you try making them, I hope they work out well for you!
Regina Hoskins says
October 31, 2014 at 10:25 amI have been making the candles and what fun it is 🙂
Also, I played around with the amount of oil to add to the wax…I used 2oz per pound of wax..unless the scent is strong. I love strong smelling candles and finding the customers do too!
Joy Kincaid says
October 31, 2014 at 3:43 pmSo glad they're working out for you, Regina, and thanks for sharing your experience with the amount of oil and wax!
Anonymous says
September 21, 2014 at 1:21 pmHello,
I was reading your tutorial and if you don't mind I would like to add a few comments as I make candles for a side job as a living.
2 oz of fragrance oil per 1 pound of wax is extremely way too much. Back the oil down to 1 oz per pound. This is pretty much the general rule of most chandlers when making candles. A good temperature to add the fragrance is generally about 185 degrees and you need to stir stir very well to mix the oil and wax. I would stir for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. And when you are ready to pour, stir again and pour very slowly into your jar so as to avoid air pockets/bubbles. Wax can only hold so much oil per pound and it can also clog the wick thus making a pooly scented candle and not make a properly burning candle. Using this much oil could cause the candle to seep oil on top and even cause combustion/fire….And this undoubtedly is why there is not much scent. Also did you cure your candles? Meaning, they need to sit a week or 2 for the oil and wax to bind together.
Making candles and selling right away is very serious business. It takes a very very long time, even years to perfect and to sell to the public or a fund raiser by just making a few candles is not something I would recommend for any novice. Different fragrances used take different size wicks and they need to be tested each candle and burned for testing purposes right down to the very end of your burn cycle. If you use an lx 16 wick for example on 1 fragrance in the particular jar you use, if might not work in a lighter weight fragrance. This would need a smaller wick. Candle making is all about testing, testing and testing. It is not an instant over night process but months and months or years. Also deep melt pools with high flames can be a fire hazard. There is so very much to learn about candle making. Joining a candle forum is a recommendation to learn about the process I highly recommend. To try and sell to the public after making a few candles I would definitely not recommend and especially a a fund raiser makes me shudder for someone just learning and thinking they are good enough to sell as believe me, they are not. You need insurance, caution labels, proper labels on jars with company name to keep your butt covered.
Candle making is fun and I love it. Enjoy it. I didn't put this post up to offend anyone. I just tried to make suggestions to help and explain the proper ways to go about. Thankyou and everyone enjoy!
Joy Kincaid says
September 21, 2014 at 7:17 pmThanks for offering your suggestions–there's always room for learning and improvement in any venture!
Anonymous says
September 15, 2014 at 8:00 pmThis easy guide to making soy wax candles is fabulous. I have made quite a few in the past 6 months and have also managed to sell some of them ! As you say they make the perfect gift and they are wonderful to have in the home. You can make them for every room and when they burn the smell is just divine. Thank you
Joy Kincaid says
September 15, 2014 at 9:39 pmThank you so much for the positive feedback! I'm so glad you've had such great success, and I'm so glad I could help!
Naomi Hagen says
April 4, 2014 at 5:37 pmJoy, Thank you so much for your helpful and clear instructions! My son and I are trying our hand at candle-making to fund a service trip for ourselves. It's been really fun for both of us! I also used supplies from candlescience, specifically the Golden Brands 464 wax, and have really liked them. I'm getting ready to order more now to keep experimenting.
I am getting pock marks and craters on my candles, so continue to experiment with temperatures and cooling. It gets confusing, because it seems everyone has a different opinion. Fortunately, I have a heat gun from another project and am going to try and smooth the tops with that today.
Your tip about using the clothes pins was creative and brilliant! That's worked really well for me, and I've even been clipping the "loose" end of the wick into the clip itself to hold it taut and straight while the candles cool.
Thanks again for taking the time to post your detailed, helpful directions! You've made the beginning steps much easier for me!
Naomi
Joy Kincaid says
April 5, 2014 at 3:01 amThank you so much, Naomi! I'm so glad the instructions were helpful to you!
I know what you mean about how confusing it can be to get the glitches worked out–it does seem like everyone has a different opinion and even different instructions when it comes to candle-making. There are so many variables to consider.
That's sweet that you and your son are enjoying the experience together!
Blanca says
March 27, 2014 at 8:36 pmI love this instructions! The candles burned so amazing when I followed these instructions. Question: I followed candlescience (same oils I used) instructions from their website, the third time I made candles, and they tell you to add the fragrance in at 185. I do not feel that the fragrance was as strong as the ones I made following your directions. Any input as to why?
Joy Kincaid says
March 28, 2014 at 5:23 pmThank you, Blanca! I'm so glad they worked out well for you! I really don't know why the fragrance wouldn't be as strong when you followed the other instructions. Sorry I can't be of more help–I just found this method works for me, so I keep doing it this way! 🙂
Anonymous says
March 24, 2014 at 3:55 amWhere did you find those tags? I love them
Joy Kincaid says
March 24, 2014 at 11:35 pmOne of them came with a gift basket, and I just repurposed it for my candles. The other one came in a package, maybe from Hobby Lobby? I'm not really sure. They were just some odds and ends I found in my crafting stash. 🙂
Anonymous says
March 5, 2014 at 1:02 pmI am a smoker ( bad habit) and I have bought smoke eater candles but they are very expensive. Is there something that could be put in these soy candles that would have the same effect??? Thank you and I am going to be trying to make these candles as your instructions are so easy to follow….
Joy Kincaid says
March 5, 2014 at 5:52 pmI don't have any experience with that, sorry!
Anonymous says
April 8, 2014 at 4:09 pmHi,
I have a mother-in-law that smokes and I saw Candle Science has an Smoke and Odor eliminator oil in various sizes. I purchased it and have not tried it in any of my candles yet. Try it out and see if it helps
Tonya Moore says
January 13, 2014 at 8:19 amI'm obsessed with creme Brulee scent and i see it on your label in the picture. Can you please tell me how you made that fragrance or where you bought it? Thank you!
Joy Kincaid says
January 13, 2014 at 8:26 pmHi Tonya! That's one of my favorite scents, too. I got that one from CandleScience. Hope that helps!
Jennifer Milner says
November 14, 2013 at 1:54 amHi! I'm wondering – can you use pure essential oils in this instead of a fragrance oil? We've got allergies with synthetic fragrances here. How much essential oil would you use? Thanks!
Joy Kincaid says
November 14, 2013 at 6:31 pmHi Jennifer! I don't know about the essential oils, as I've never tried that or researched it before. The fragrance oil is specifically created for candles and similar applications.
It seems like I remember hearing of someone who made the candles without any fragrance, and then when she was ready to burn the candles, she added some drops of essential oil on top so the fragrance would be diffused. But I can't vouch for the safety of that, since I haven't researched it.
Sorry I can't be of more help with that!
Cindy Stroupe says
November 14, 2013 at 1:04 amWhat type and size wick did you use with this size jar? I make candles and have a lot of these jelly jars. yours look very lovely!
Joy Kincaid says
November 14, 2013 at 1:15 amHi Cindy!
Thanks so much for your comment! I used LX 16 6" Pretabbed wicks from CandleScience. Hope that helps.
Anonymous says
November 13, 2013 at 9:40 pmWhere did you get the cutout lids?
Joy Kincaid says
November 13, 2013 at 10:55 pmCandleScience
James Lee says
October 21, 2013 at 4:27 pmCould you tell me what type of soy wax you used??
Joy Kincaid says
October 21, 2013 at 8:03 pmEcosoya CB 135 10 lb. Bag from CandleScience.
Anonymous says
October 13, 2013 at 9:42 amWonderful directions. Also great pictures!.
Joy Kincaid says
October 21, 2013 at 8:03 pmThank you!
Amanda says
October 5, 2013 at 3:42 amCheck out Pick Your Plum if you like the daisy cut lids. They are selling them right now for $7 per dozen. Much cheaper than Amazon!
Joy Kincaid says
October 6, 2013 at 1:04 amThanks for letting me know, Amanda! I love the daisy cut lids! I bought mine from Candle Science, and I still have a supply of them, but I'll be sure to check out Pick Your Plum next time I need some. Thanks again!
Tricia says
September 14, 2013 at 11:18 pmHi Joy,
My 11 year old son wanted some sort of way to make money, so we made these candles this afternoon! Your tutorial was perfect! Your directions were very clear, and he was able to do it easily with my supervision! We made 12 total and so far it looks like they are drying without sinkholes! Thank you for this tutorial!
Tricia
Joy Kincaid says
September 15, 2013 at 4:06 amI hope they turn out perfectly for your son, Tricia! And thanks so much for letting me know that the tutorial was helpful to you! It's so nice to receive positive feedback! 🙂
The Retro Farm Wife says
September 11, 2013 at 2:54 pmWould you say that these are better than Yankee? Can you add more fragrance oil or is there a limit? I'd love to try making my own, but if they're not as fragrant as Yankee or some other brands, I'd rather not.
What a gorgeous job you've done! Thank you for sharing this post!
Mrs. W.
Joy Kincaid says
September 11, 2013 at 8:44 pmHi Mrs. W,
As far as scent strength, I would not say these are better than Yankee. I have a vanilla Yankee candle that someone gave me as a gift, and it fills the room with a delicious vanilla fragrance. These candles don't seem to be as strongly scented. I do prefer soy wax over paraffin, but that might be the only advantage. I pretty much make them for gifts, and people love to receive a handmade candle for a gift. 🙂
I haven't tried increasing the amount of fragrance oil, and from what I've read it depends on the type/brand of soy wax you use. Each wax has a different limit for the amount of fragrance. If you'd like to look into it more, you may find some answers here:
http://www.candlescience.com/faq/7/fragrance-oil/
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Jackie Omicioli says
November 14, 2013 at 4:00 amIn my personal experience as a novice candle maker, adding MORE than 2 ounces of Fragrance oil to a pound of Soy Wax will eventually result in the oil working it's way to the surface and also to a less than perfect burn. 2 ounces is the maximum that I use.
mary ann says
July 14, 2013 at 2:23 amI love candles.
I am so very tired of buying, Yankee Candles.
I am really looking forward to making my own candles.
And I want to see what it is going to cost, to start this, for myself.
For gifts. I have never done this before, and I am really looking forward to doing this .
I really do not know how many things I need, I need a list of everything I need and how much it will cost me. Please let me know everything I need, how to do it and what it will cost me ?
Thank You
In Advance
Mary Ann
Anonymous says
November 14, 2013 at 5:34 pmMary Ann,
The supply list is at the top of the post (the list of everything you need that you are asking for). The cost will vary depending on what you buy and where you purchase it from. Just do some research and you can figure it out on your own, you can do it!
The Mama Behind the Story says
May 13, 2013 at 4:04 amI love this post!! It's also among the top three most visited from last week, so will be featured tomorrow, pinned on Pinterest, and shared on FB and Twitter. Help yourself to a featured button tomorrow. 🙂
Joy Kincaid says
May 13, 2013 at 6:09 pmThank you!! And thank you so much for featuring my post!! 🙂
♥Joy
mary ann says
July 14, 2013 at 2:31 amI am writing, I am very interested, in making candles from home.
I am tired of buying Yankee Candles all the time.
I am new to this, I do not know what I need to start making candles from. And what it will cost ?
If you can let me know what I need to get to start this, and what it will cost to get this started. Please let me know. Thank You
Mary Ann
Nabila Grace says
May 9, 2013 at 4:15 amI love this! I will have to try it out. Do you know what the estimated start up cost was for you?
Joy Kincaid says
May 9, 2013 at 4:17 pmYou know, I haven't estimated the start up cost yet! I bought a 10-lb bag of soy wax, and I still have A LOT left, so I'm not sure what it will turn out to be. I already had a lot of the supplies (jars, glue gun, clothespins, etc.), so it was mostly the wax and fragrance oil that made up the bulk of the cost. If I ever have time to do the math I'll add it to the post!
Jen says
May 8, 2013 at 11:22 amOh I so want to try this. I have wanted to learn to make candles in a jar for years. Thanks for this post!
Joy Kincaid says
May 8, 2013 at 5:55 pmYou're welcome, Jen! Have fun!
Dusty (To the Moon and Back) says
May 8, 2013 at 12:57 amI want to try this! It would make great Christmas gifts! Pinning for later use. I'm a little intimidated though! lol
Joy Kincaid says
May 8, 2013 at 4:24 amYou can do it, Dusty! It's really simple! 🙂
Jennifer says
May 6, 2013 at 8:22 pmThanks for sharing all the great tips!
This would be a great project for a girls co~op my daughter
and I are in~
Mountain Home Quilts says
May 6, 2013 at 11:31 pmGreat idea!
Joy Kincaid says
May 8, 2013 at 4:23 amYou're welcome, Jennifer!
Jen says
May 6, 2013 at 5:09 pmI love these!! What a great handmade gift!
Joy Kincaid says
May 6, 2013 at 7:32 pmThey do make great gifts!
Mountain Home Quilts says
May 6, 2013 at 1:40 pmGreat tutorial, Joy! Quick question…for 3 candles, how much FO are you using (by weight)?
Joy Kincaid says
May 6, 2013 at 7:31 pmThanks! For 3 candles I used 2 oz. of fragrance oil. (For each lb. of wax, I use about 2 oz. fragrance oil).
Mountain Home Quilts says
May 6, 2013 at 11:32 pmWonderful, thanks!
Kristin says
May 6, 2013 at 1:36 pmThank-you so much for posting how to make soy candles!! I am SO EXCITED to learn how to make them as well! Yours look beautiful Joy!! This will definately be a project for Emma and I in the near future. Blessings!
Joy Kincaid says
May 6, 2013 at 7:28 pmYou're welcome, Kristin! Hope you have fun making them!
mary ann says
July 14, 2013 at 2:41 amHi, I wrote in to try to get information, I did this 2 times and 4 some reason it is not posting . I want to learn to make soy candles from home.
I do not know what I need to start this or what it will cost. If You can give me any information. I would really appreciate it.
My name is Mary Ann Premone.
And my e- mail is [email protected]
I hope to hear from someone soon.
Thank You
Joy Kincaid says
July 14, 2013 at 3:14 amHi Mary Ann,
All the supplies you'll need are listed in the post, and there are links to the supplies on Amazon. How much it costs will be determined by what you already have on hand, and from where you order the supplies. For instance, I already had the kitchen scale, jars, glue gun, mixing spoon, etc. I just needed to buy the wax, wicks, melting pot, candy thermometer, and fragrance oil. So, my costs may be lower than someone else's, since I already had those things on hand (and I actually haven't figured out how much I spent–maybe one day I'll try to do that!).
A fairly easy way to figure out the cost might be to click on the Amazon links, decide what you need to order, and then add up the amount. If you have a local place where you can get supplies (for instance, I bought my candy thermometer and jars at my local grocery store), then you can base your costs on that. You might also be able to find things like a pot to melt the wax in at a local flea market or even garage sales. Garage sales are also sometimes a great place to find jars.
Hope that's helpful to you!
Jerri Meyer says
March 26, 2015 at 11:00 pmYes!! thank you so much for posting this. My daughter and I are so excited to try your method. When I clicked the link for the wicks there were so many to choose from. I will be using the 8 oz jelly jars. Which size is best for those? Love your recipes as well 🙂
Joy Kincaid says
March 27, 2015 at 4:58 amHi Jerri! I used the LX 16 wicks that are linked in the post. When I click the link it just goes to that one option. I had to trim my wicks after the candles were made, because they were a little long. Hope that helps!