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by Alicia Hutchinson

HOW TO MAKE SOY CANDLES

Winter feels like the perfect time to check off some of those projects you’ve been wanting to get done forever. Like, cleaning out the storage room or organizing the pantry…or making candles. Although the storage room thing sounds fun and all, making my own soy candles has been on my list for about two years now, and of course, the messy storage can wait a little longer. I ordered all the supplies, printed out some labels, and set aside a little time on Tuesday afternoon to make these pretty things. I am no expert whatsoever, but I thought I’d share my experience with you if you’re interested in avoiding organizing closets and making candles instead.
Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.

How to make soy candles

Supplies// I got everything from Candle Science, except the labels, which I create in Word and printed on shipping labels. Here’s what you’ll need
  • soy wax–I bought a 10 pound bag of Golden brand soy wax #464 and that made just about 24 8oz. candles. I was left with one unfilled jar and one half-filled jar.
  • wicks–mine were 6″ pretabbed wicks, and I chose these because they were recommended for the jars I had picked.
  • hot glue gun
  • clothes pins to hold your wicks in place while you pour
  • containers–you can use anything really…thrifted Mason jars, old candle containers…but I wanted mine all to be uniform and smallish and I really wanted something with straight sides for easier cleaning later, so I chose the medium straight sided jars with gold lids
  • scents–this is such a personal thing and I prefer really earthy scents, and keeping with a winter theme, I chose grapefruit and mangosteen, blue spruce, pine cones, bayberry and rosemary, but Candle Science has oodles of scents to choose from. I only wish my computer screen had a scratch-and-sniff option to help me choose.
  • pouring pitcher–these are absolutely necessary, but having this was so helpful! Also, I didn’t want to use my own cooking pans to melt the wax, so I’m glad I have my own special melting tool now.
  • labels

 

To melt my wax, I just loaded up the pouring pitcher and set it inside a heavy pan with a little water in the bottom and heated it up. Melting the wax took the longest time, but overall it was a super calming project. I was surprised by that part.
Supposedly there’s a temperature you’re supposed to get your wax to before you pour…I didn’t read about this until I was finished making two dozen candles. They seem to be burning just fine. But if you’re more precise than me (which I’m sure you are), get a candy thermometer and heat the wax to 175 degrees before pouring.
When the wax is all melted, that’s when you add the scents. I read that it’s about 1 ounce of scent to one pound of wax. Not that I really measured, but I was guessing that the pitcher held about two pounds of wax, so I added two ounces of scent to each batch.

While your wax is melting, get your jars ready. Hot glue the wick to the bottom of the jars and slip the wick through the spring of a clothes pin to hold it in place while you pour.

When the wax is ready, pour away! You don’t have to be stressed about the wax melting or anything like that–this should be a relaxing project! Just pour slowly to keep your jars neat and tidy.

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Let them sit–untouched–for about an hour and stick your labels on.

Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.
Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.

I am so happy with how these turned out and I know I’ll be making more. I’m getting ready to order more stuff actually! Why so many candles?? Because they make great gifts for everything–piano teachers, housewarming gifts, birthdays, just-because–you name it! Also because candles make everything cozier and I have them burning pretty much every day–especially in the cold months.

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I should note that I did not have my kids help with this project. My older kids could have, but honestly…I just wanted to have some time alone to create. I wasn’t really alone, but I turned my “chill-out” music on and sent the big kids outside, turned on The Little Mermaid for the toddler, and spent a good chunk of time just creating–alone. It was so good for the soul. Sounds weird, but sometimes we just need something that’s just ours.

Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.

 

Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.

I did a really quick Periscope of the process, so click here if you want a more visual tutorial.

When I get that storage room cleaned out, I’ll have a whole empty shelf for my candle trove. Now maybe I should light one of these babies and get to work on that blasted room!

Candle making is so much easier than I thought it was. Here's my newbie-guide on how to make soy candles.

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheri Mello says

    Thanks FOR Sharing👍🏼♥️ They look GREAT! I Think this Would Be AWESOME Even Though I Use MORE of Essential oils BC candles BOTHER my husband. Maybe It’s the WAX? I know We’ve been at Others houses AND we Both got headaches And I m Sure Mine WAS the smell WAS overwhelming to my senses. My Husband Is Also Asthmatic But The essential oils Don’t bother him! Either Way THEY can STILL MAKE GREAT Gifts!! G-d♥️Bless😊

  2. Alicia Hutchinson says

    Hi! I just used some shipping labels and designed my own and ran through the printer 🙂 Super simple!

  3. Lil says

    Hello! I was wondering about the label you used. Which brand and which size did you use? Thanks! Super cute!

  4. Kathy says

    They look lovely. Maybe it’s my computer monitor but the candles look like a soft gray not white.

  5. aliciaahutchinson@yahoo.com says

    Hi! I canNOT remember the exact names for the life of me and they’re on my old computer! Grrrrr! BUT I do know that I got one of them (if not both) from angiemakes.com….she also designed my blog template! Super fun fonts!

  11. Etheline says

    Oh my gosh Im so excited to try my hand at these candles. I loved your periscope and even spied a PW cookbook (one of my daughter and I's favorites..hehe) Thanks for sharing

  12. Anonymous says

    Thank you so much for this post and the Periscope! I ordered supplies and I can't wait to make some candles!

  14. Beth says

    This looks so fun! And not too complicated to spoil that fun! LOL!
    May I ask what the cost per candle ends up being?
    Thanks!
    Beth

  15. Julie says

    What a great idea and I love your labels! I light candles every single day so I can't wait to try this. Thanks for all of the info.:)

  16. Michelle says

    I LOVE candles, and need some more. This sounds like such a fun project. I think I will order some supplies and make my own. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the links.

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