Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Breaking the wax into pieces
• Part 2 of 4: Heat the wax in a hot water bath
• Part 3 of 4: Heat the wax in the microwave
• Part 4 of 4: Pouring the melted wax
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

If you can't find the perfect candle or if you're up for a fun craft project, consider melting wax to make your own candles. If you are using soy wax, beeswax, or paraffin wax, you can melt the wax in a hot water bath or the microwave, add the color and fragrance of your choice, and pour everything into a jar to cool.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Breaking the wax into pieces

1. Buy soy wax or beeswax to make candles. Soy wax can be mixed well with fragrances and dyes and is often completely natural and made from soybean oil. However, some soy wax can contain toxic paraffin wax, so always check the ingredients. Beeswax is completely natural, although you cannot mix it well with other fragrances.
   • If you have leftover wax from old candles, use a spoon to remove the wax from the jars and separate it according to the scent.
   • Paraffin wax is the wax traditionally used to make candles. It is easy to mix with other fragrances and dyes. However, paraffin wax is a byproduct of petroleum and so can be toxic. Use this wax as little as possible.
2. Break the wax into pieces if it is not in the form of granules. If you have larger pieces of wax, get a small, sharp knife and cut the wax into pieces. Make the pieces about two to three inches wide.
   • You can skip this step if you have granular wax.
3. Determine the flame and melting point of the wax you are using. If you know the melting point of the wax before heating it, you will be able to get the best result. Never get close to the flash point, as at this temperature the wax can burn if exposed to fire.
   • Beeswax melts between 62 and 64 ° C. The flash point is approximately 200 ° C.
   • Soy wax melts between 50 and 82 ° C, depending on the variety. The flash point differs. Check the packaging or contact the manufacturer.
   • Paraffin wax melts above 37 ° C and has a flash point of 200 ° C without additives and a flash point of 250 ° C with additives.

Part 2 of 4: Heat the wax in a hot water bath

1. make a hot water bath or use a double boiler to melt your candle wax. Place a large pan on the stove. Fill it with two inches of water. Then put a smaller pan in the larger pan with water.
   • For safety, always use an electric stove instead of a gas stove.
2. Put 250 grams of wax in the hot water bath. This is the perfect amount to fill a weck jar with a capacity of 250 grams. If you are using colors, add the shavings from the crayon now.
3. Heat the wax at a temperature of 160-170 ° C for 10-15 minutes. This is a medium heat, or setting 3-5 if your cooker has numbered knobs. Monitor the temperature with a cooking thermometer and turn the heat up or down accordingly. Stir the wax every minute with a wooden spoon. Break up large pieces of wax with your spoon.
   • If the water in the large pot starts to evaporate, add more water as needed.
   • If the wax is warmer than 170 ° C, remove it from the heat until it has cooled down to the correct temperature.
4. Add fragrances when the wax has melted. Gently pour the fragrance into the wash while continuing to heat it. Stir the wax with your wooden spoon for about half a minute to spread the fragrance evenly.
   • If you bought wax specifically for candle making, you should have been given instructions for how much fragrance to use per 500 grams of wax.
   • If the fragrance does not mix well with the wax, try increasing the temperature to 85 ° C.
   • A good rule of thumb is to use about 30 grams of fragrance per 500 grams of laundry.

Part 3 of 4: Heat the wax in the microwave

1. Place 250 grams of laundry in a microwave-safe bowl. With this you can fill a weck jar with a capacity of 250 grams. If you want to color your candle, add the shredded crayon now.
   • If you are using plastic, make sure the bowl is specially designed for the microwave. You can usually use an earthenware or glass bowl, but check the bottom to see if you see a symbol that indicates that the bowl can be used safely in the microwave.
2. Heat the laundry three to four minutes in the microwave. Then take out the wax and stir it with a spoon. Measure the temperature and see if the wax has not become warmer than the melting or flash point. Continue to heat the wax for two minutes at a time until it is completely melted.
   • Continue to check the laundry every 30 seconds during the process.
3. Add fragrances when the wax has completely melted. Remove the bowl of wax from the microwave and carefully pour the fragrance into the melted wax. Stir the wax with a small spoon to ensure a smooth mixture and to combine the ingredients.
   • Check out the instructions for adding fragrances on the wax packaging in advance. Usually you can find there exactly how much fragrance you should use (usually this is about 30 grams of fragrance per 500 grams of laundry).
4. Heat the wax for another two minutes. After you have added the desired fragrances and stirred everything well, put the bowl of wax back in the microwave. Heat the wax for another two minutes so that all the ingredients melt together. Then carefully remove the melted wax bowl from the microwave and stir again.

Part 4 of 4: Pouring the melted wax

1. Place paper towels or newspaper on a flat surface. Melt drops of wax can be messy, so you'll need a suitable place for pouring. Have all the containers, pots and wicks ready and ready to hand, as the wax can dry in one to two minutes.
2. Put the wick in the pot. If there is a sticker at the bottom of the wick, use it to stick the wick at the bottom of the jar.If not, apply a drop of superglue to the bottom of the jar and stick the metal tab of the wick on it. Hold the wick up for two to three minutes to allow the glue to dry and the wick to dry in the correct position.
   • You can use melted wax to stick the wick into the pot if you prefer.
3. Remove the wax mixture from the stove or microwave and let it cool to 130-140 ° C. This is the optimal temperature for pouring the wax into a jar. Place the small pan on a flat surface and keep an eye on the thermometer. The wax should be cool enough after three to five minutes.
4. Gently pour the wax into the jar while holding the wick. While pouring the wax, hold the wick firmly so that it stays in the center of the pot and sticks up. Leave some wax in the pan to use later.
   • Don't pull too hard on the wick or it may come out of the jar.
5. Hold the wick in place with pencils if it doesn't stay up. If the wick winds through the wax and doesn't stay straight up, lay two pencils horizontally on the jar and tie the wick in between. You don't have to completely tighten the wick as long as it stays in place while the wax hardens.
   • Make sure to fasten the wick if it is not exactly in the center. If you don't, the candle will not burn properly.
6. Wait two to three hours for the wax to set. As the wax starts to harden, you will notice a dimple in the center. When the wax is fully cured, heat the leftover wax in the pan and pour wax onto the top of the candle. Use just enough to fill the hole. When the hole is full, stop pouring. If you used too much, it will cause a dimple again.
   • To harden the wax as well as possible, leave the candle overnight at room temperature.
7. Cut the wick so that it is half an inch long. Make sure the wick is not too long, so that the flame does not get too big. Hold the wick upright between your fingers and cut it to the correct length with scissors.
   • If you light the wick and the flame is larger than three centimeters, the wick is too long.

Tips

• Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until the wax has completely melted.
• You can also add pieces of peppermint plant and lavender to scent the candle.
• You can also melt old candles and use the wax to make new ones.

Warnings

• Do not add too much fragrance. The candle smells much too strong and it will not burn.
• Always have a fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it.

Necessities

• Wax (soy wax, beeswax, paraffin wax)
• Wick
• Cooking thermometer
• Large pan
• Small pan
• Hot water bath or double boiler
• Weck jar with a capacity of 250 grams