Behind last years the attitude towards candles as a means of illuminating the house in the absence of electricity has completely changed. How to make a candle at home so that this item becomes an exquisite decoration and emphasizes the individuality of the home design? For many, candle making has become the basis of a small business.

In recent years, the attitude towards candles as a means of lighting a home in the absence of electricity has completely changed

A candle made with your own hands is a wonderful gift for friends and relatives. It’s very useful to make such a gift for Valentine’s Day for your loved one.

Having seen a beautiful candle in a souvenir shop, many people are eager to make a similar one themselves. Most people who want to never try it, because they think that it’s difficult task, and without special training they will not be able to make decorative candles with their own hands.

It turns out that this is not true, and anyone who wants to learn can do it. The main thing is to start, and over time an understanding of the process and mastery will come.

Making candles at home does not require large quantity materials and tools. This allows you to quickly learn candle making, and this lesson- not too expensive for the family budget.

For beginner candle makers, you need to purchase the following materials and tools:

• wax, paraffin, candle gel;
• container for melting wax and paraffin;
• natural cotton threads or ready-made candle wicks;
• sticks, at least 2, for stirring the candle base and attaching the wick;
• several molds for candles;
• materials for decoration;
• water bath pan;
• wax crayons;
• water thermometer.

Beeswax can be purchased from beekeepers. Paraffin is sold in craft stores or in the hardware departments of supermarkets. Materials can also be ordered online.

To start making your first candles at home, you can collect paraffin from cinders. Candle gel can be purchased at craft supply stores or it is not difficult to make yourself.

As a mold for candles, use any cups, glasses, various containers made of plastic or metal, any available means that are not deformed by a paraffin or gel base heated to a high temperature.

It is better to start making candles yourself using paraffin. Beeswax is a natural material, but it is not suitable for making decorative candles. It cannot be dyed or aromatized.

To tint paraffin, use oil-based paints. Good quality color can be achieved using children's wax crayons. Craft stores sell special pigments in tablets for coloring paraffin. Some craftswomen use lipstick and eye shadow for this purpose.

How to make candles with your own hands (video)

Wax and paraffin candles

To make a neat wax candle with your own hands, you need to correctly carry out the process of melting the base. The same remark can be applied to paraffin candles. The base material melts at high temperatures. You need to adapt well and act quickly, since melted wax and paraffin cool quickly and do not flow well. Due to the high melting temperatures, safety precautions must be followed when working with these bases.

Step-by-step instructions for making candles.

Conventional beeswax is little used for making decorative candles. As noted above, scented and beautifully colored products cannot be made from such wax.

Instead of beeswax, DIY decorative candles are made at home from soy gel. This is the most popular base material. It is environmentally friendly and slow burning.

The first stage in the production of candles is preparatory. All necessary ingredients, tools and equipment are purchased and prepared. A professional master class on the topic, with photographs and descriptions, or a video is selected on the Internet.

Before melting begins, pour warm water into the prepared container. soap solution. It may be needed to collect wax in case of splashing or spilling of the molten mass. Place cardboard and a towel or cloth napkin nearby.

It is strictly forbidden to melt wax directly. This process must be done slowly so that the wax does not burn or evaporate. Therefore, the base is melted in a water bath.

A water bath is constructed from 2 pans. Fill a larger container with water up to halfway. Another pan is inserted into it, preferably with handles. It is needed to melt the wax.

The second stage is making the wick. To do this, take a cotton thread. The wick made from colored floss threads looks original.

The type of wick depends on the base material. For wax candles it is made from thick, slightly intertwined threads. For paraffin and gel products, the threads are woven tightly so that the candle does not smoke when burning. A thick wick will cause a candle to burn and smoke very quickly, while a thin wick will burn poorly and go out.

In addition to simple twisting, the threads can be braided or crocheted into a lace. Before pouring the candle, the wick is impregnated with wax or paraffin.

The third stage is choosing a form. How to make a candle at home without special molds? It all depends on the imagination of the craftswoman. The candle mold can be any container and packaging that can withstand the high temperatures of molten wax. Since wax deposits are difficult to remove from dishes, it is better to choose unnecessary consumable containers as molds.

The fourth stage is melting the base material. The melting point of wax candles depends on its type:

• paraffin wax has a melting temperature of +50…+60°C;
• bee – +62…+79°С;
• soy gel can be melted at temperatures not exceeding +80°C.

There are many master classes on the Internet on how to melt wax correctly. You can monitor the melting point using a pastry thermometer or a meat thermometer.

Wax or paraffin is crushed into small pieces, since large pieces take a long time to melt. The grated mass is placed in the upper saucepan of the water bath. When the water in the bottom saucepan boils, reduce the heat slightly to maintain an even melting temperature.

Fragrance is added to the melted wax when making scented candles. The mixture is mixed well. Then add dye and mix again.

The fifth stage is wax casting or the actual creation of the candle. The wick is fixed in the center of the mold. Its tip must be secured to a wooden stick. It is placed on top of the mold so that the thread is exactly in the middle of the mold. A knot is tied at the free end of the wick. The length of the thread should be such that it rests on the bottom of the container.

Next, pour the wax into the mold and let it cool. If the candle mold has a hole in the bottom, then the wax is poured in several passes. You need to pour the molten base carefully so as not to get burned and not to move the wick to the side.

The poured form is left to cool. The product should be refrigerated for at least 24 hours. Some people try to speed up the cooling process by placing the mold in the freezer. It is better not to do this, as such candles do not burn well. When the material cools naturally, it compacts evenly and maintains high-quality and long-lasting combustion.

Gel candles

To make a gel candle with your own hands, you need to have the following materials:

• gel wax;
• reinforced wick;
• essential oils;
• liquid dyes;
• decorative elements.

Soy gel is a natural, absolutely non-toxic substance. It is used to make decorative and aromatherapy candles. The substance retains essential oils well and releases them better when burned. The smell will be richer and brighter.

Adding essential oils to wax allows you to lower its melting point. Impregnation of the wick with soy gel allows for smooth and clean combustion. When burning, soot and carcinogens are not released, which cannot be said about paraffins, and even more so about stearins.

DIY scented candles (video)

Making gel wax at home

Setting up the production of soy gel candles is not difficult, since the base can be made at home. You can read about how to make soy gel yourself on the forums of hand made craftswomen. Standard recipe:

• gelatin – 5 g or 1 tsp;
• tannin – 2 g or on the tip of a knife;
• water – 20 ml or 4 tsp;
• glycerin – 35 ml or 1 tbsp. l. and 2 tsp.

Tannin is dissolved in glycerin when heated. Continuing to heat the mixture, gelatin is added to it. The resulting solution should be transparent. The prescribed amount of water is added to it. Stirring, bring the mixture to a boil. When adding water, the solution may become cloudy, but with further boiling it will clear. The mixture is boiled until the water completely evaporates.

The finished gel is poured into a pre-prepared fireproof mold with a wick fixed in it. A gel made by yourself is not inferior in quality to one bought in a store.

Making aroma candles

If you have the skills to make wax candles at home, then it will not be difficult to solve the problem of how to make a scented candle. Homemade aroma candles have many advantages over store-bought products. The main advantage is that they are environmentally friendly, the components used for their production are harmless.

Any natural essential oils can be used to flavor wax products. But it should be borne in mind that when burned, some of them may change their smell. Before adding aromatic substances, they should be heated to understand what the smell of a burning candle will be. Waxes can be flavored with exotic spices, tea mix, or coffee beans.

Candle decoration

You can decorate homemade candles different ways. The very first is the shape of the products; it can be unusual and unexpected. Various stickers are used. Interesting way finishing – decoupage with napkins.

A decorating pattern can be made using dried flowers, grass, fruits, citrus fruits, coffee beans, pebbles, shells, petals and other elements. In the finishing of decorative products, they use everything that the craftswomen’s imagination suggests.

Decorations should be secured in the mold before pouring the molten base. You need to pour the hot mixture carefully so as not to displace the pattern.

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Individuality in your interior design will always be its winning side. Nothing adds a homely feel to an apartment like things made by the owners’ hands. And if until now you could not boast of such fruits of handicraft, you have a great opportunity to fix it. We invite you to try making candles with your own hands.

Candles are a wonderful souvenir that can decorate the atmosphere of any family holiday. Candles have long been an attribute of celebration, significant dates, and romantic evenings. Yes, just sitting in silence, listening to your favorite music to the trembling of a gentle light - this is sometimes so missing.

For some, a candle is nothing more than a cute decorative item. And there is nothing wrong with this either; such products serve as wonderful decorations in the home. But scented candles can become a real psychotherapeutic tool: they will help create the necessary atmosphere for relaxation, taking a person into the world of dreams and pleasant memories.

In addition, a candle is a wonderful gift. The warmth of your hands and the light of a beautiful candle will best wishes to a loved one. Candles will decorate even the most modest setting, highlight color scheme of your apartment will be evidence of the excellent taste of the owner.

Needless to say, mothers on maternity leave can even earn extra money from such a pleasant activity. And not only mothers - everyone who is fascinated by the process of creating a candle. And you can be sure that there will be people who want to purchase such hand-made beauty.

So, we have many reasons to finally start our creative process. But to make a candle, we need to stock up on certain materials and tools.

Materials for making candles

Indeed, how to make candles with your own hands without special materials? In our work we will need:

• Wax melting vessel
• Candle molds
• Pan (for water bath)
• Sticks (the first one is to attach the wick, the second one is to stir the wax)
• Decorative elements for decorating the product
• Wax crayons
• Household candles or stubs of old candles
• Paper threads (100% cotton)

All this will help us create, if not a wax masterpiece, then a beautiful original candle. So let's begin!

Candle wick

Now we have to learn how to make a candle wick with our own hands. Whether we make a gel, paraffin or wax candle, in any case we will need a wick. In order to make it, we need natural cotton thread without any impurities. Alternatively, use colored floss threads as a wick. It looks very cute and unusual.

The thickness and texture of the wick depend, first of all, on the thickness of the part of the candle that should burn out. For example, there are candles that are partially composed of flammable materials. Only the core burns out in them.

For those who are going to cast a candle from wax, you need to take thick threads and weave them not very tightly. Paraffin and gel candles, on the contrary, require a tight weave of threads (otherwise the wick will smoke when burning).

Wick for wax candles

Wick for gel candles

You also need to be attentive to the following detail: if the candle is colored with wax crayons, small shavings can clog the wick without dissolving in the paraffin or wax. In general, there are a lot of nuances in this issue; be prepared for the fact that choosing a wick for a certain type of candle will have to be done by trial and error.

If you use a very thick wick, it is possible that the candle will melt too much, which can lead to soot. If you make a very thin wick, it will constantly go out.

There are several options for designing a wick: it can be crocheted, braided, or twisted with a rope. Before pouring the candle, you can soak the thread with wax, or you can do both pouring and impregnation at the same time.

If you don’t want to waste time making a wick, then use a wick from ready-made household candles.

Candle mold

In this matter, your imagination plays a decisive role. You can use any plastic or metal molds that you think are cute and appropriate for making candles. Don't limit yourself to ready-made molds: yogurt packaging, cream jars, baking tins, tin cans, glasses or mugs that can withstand high temperature heating Some even use milk tetrapack as a mold for a future candle.

Candles poured into tea cups

Candles made in eggshells

But for your first experience, it’s better not to split hairs: take something simple. For example, a yogurt cup. Be sure to remove the paper label first, as it may catch fire.

We take our glass and pierce a hole in the middle of its bottom with a thick needle - insert the ready-made wick there. The wick must be tied in a knot on the back of the glass. In this very place of the knot there will be the top of our candle, because it will be poured “upside down”: the knot minimizes the flow of paraffin, stearin or wax through the hole we made at the bottom of the glass.

Go ahead. We need to place any stick across the glass - a toothpick, brush or pencil. We need to tie the other end of the wick on it. It should be positioned strictly in the center in a vertical, level position. This way, you guarantee yourself that the candle will burn and melt evenly.

Candle coloring

You will get really beautiful candles if you don’t forget to color them. The simplest and most acceptable way is to color candles using simple children's wax crayons.

Do you think it would be smarter to use watercolor or gouache? Indeed, the palette of these paints is richer than the color variety of crayons. But the problem is that both gouache and watercolor are made on a water-soluble basis: these dyes are not suitable for working with a candle. They do not mix well with wax or paraffin, they can float in them in strange-colored flakes, and then completely settle to the bottom.

Decorating candles can and should be done only with fat-soluble dyes, and these are our wax crayons.

Often, many craftsmen use lipsticks or shadows to decorate candles. If you don't mind your cosmetics, please feel free to follow their example. But rest assured that the aroma of lipstick will linger throughout the house, which is not always pleasant. Many people may find this smell intrusive.

If you decide to make decorative candles with your own hands, it is better to use less aggressive materials. When choosing wax crayons, we focus on soft types of this dye. Candles made using mother-of-pearl wax crayons are especially good.

If you come across hard crayons, melting them will be difficult. Yes, and planing them is quite problematic. So, we chose a piece of chalk, sharpened it using a grater, and added these shavings to the wax cinders. Mix the shavings and cinders thoroughly with a stick.

However, there is another coloring option. IN special stores It’s easy to find tableted pigments different colors. They can be mixed with each other and dosed. Using such pigments, you will be able to make a truly unusual, bright or delicate candle. Pigments in tablets significantly expand the possibility of obtaining interesting shades.

You should not refuse to use dyes: they give the candle a unique look and create a unique pattern.

Pouring a candle

Now that the wick is ready, it’s time to fill it. We will need a regular tin can. It has to be flattened a little to form a kind of nose. This is necessary to make the process of pouring out the molten material easier.

It is better to lubricate the pre-prepared form with a thin layer of dishwashing liquid or simple vegetable oil. Both remedies are equally good.

We need to put the fragments of candles in a jar (candles must be of the same quality). If we are going to make a paraffin or wax candle, we can take a saucepan or ladle for melting, which is not too much of a waste. In any case, this container should be placed in the pan that will be used as a water bath. In principle, you can use whatever you want, except glassware.

So, we fill the pan with water, boil the water, and then immerse the container with wax or paraffin. This is how our material will melt.

When the material and shavings are completely melted, you can begin pouring the candle.

Fill the bottom of our mold with wax and let it cool. Do not rush to fill the entire mold at once, otherwise a lot of wax or paraffin may leak out through the hole in the bottom. We pour the wax in layers, and what has flowed out is re-sent for re-melting. When the candle is completely filled, it needs to be cooled. The temperature should be room temperature.

Many people make a mistake at this point: they try to speed up the cooling process by placing the candle in the freezer. In this case, it may spread unevenly.

This is not critical if we fill the candle upside down. If you use another method, then you should leave a little wax in order to fill the depressions next to the wick. And after drying they will definitely appear.

When the temperature of the candle becomes equal to the temperature of the room, you need to untie the knot at the bottom of the mold. At this moment, we remove the product itself by carefully pulling the wick.

If you can’t do this, you can cut the mold. Or put it in the refrigerator for a minute, and then put it under hot water.

After this, we cut off the excess part of the wick, leaving a tip of 1 cm. If there are unsightly seams left from the mold, they can be removed hot water. But with these manipulations, the candle may become cloudy, its shine may fade. Therefore, the optimal solution would be to choose a candle mold that does not contain seams.

DIY aroma candles

Making scented candles with your own hands is quite possible. In particular, this is worth doing for those who are true fans of aromatherapy. In order for you to get exactly the aroma candles, you need to add some essential oils before pouring them into wax. The choice of oil depends on your taste: you can add any oils, except perhaps rose oil. After all, its smell when burning will be suffocating and heavy.

It would be great if the decor of the aroma candle matches the plant whose oil we use. For example, using lavender oil as the basis for the aroma, pink or lilac dyes should predominate in the decor of the candle.

Using laurel or mint oil, it is better to decorate a candle with green shades.

Vanilla or cinnamon will be organic in warm, beige-brown tones of a candle.

It's not just oils that can make your candle scented; regular coffee is a strong and pleasant scent.

In principle, achieving the scent of a candle is not so difficult. Aromatic oils are added to paraffin, wax or gel. And then the process of making a scented candle is no different from creating a regular candle.

We advise experimenters to mix oils: you are guaranteed an unusual bouquet of aromas. If you are afraid of “strange” and synthesizing incompatible smells, look at perfume recipes. Follow their instructions, just don't add rose oil.

Gel candles

Now let's talk about how to make gel candles with your own hands. In order to make gel candles, it is better to use ready-made gel wax. The recipes for making candles are often written on the packaging with it, and you can use it.

For those who are used to doing everything themselves, the following recipe can help:

• 5 g gelatin
• 2 g tannin
• 20 ml water
• 35 ml glycerin

First we need to dissolve the tannin in the glycerin through the heating process. We continue to heat, adding the remaining glycerin and gelatin to the composition. Add water to the resulting clear solution. Bring the mixture to a boil. Some cloudiness of the solution should not scare you: it will soon disappear. Until the water completely evaporates, you need to boil the solution.

You can also add essential oil to gel candles; this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process is decorating gel candles. At the bottom of any transparent container we freely place decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry plant stems or flowers. Then fill everything with gel transparent wax. This candle looks simply incredible: transparent, delicate, with a magical pattern inside.

Coffee candles

Making decorative candles is also not difficult. For example, you can make an original coffee candle. The decor is, naturally, coffee beans. The principle of operation is this: a small one is inserted into a large mold. Between the walls of the two molds you need to pour coffee beans, and then fill them with candle mass.

As soon as the mass with coffee beans has frozen, the walls need to be blown with a hot hairdryer. Thanks to this, excess paraffin will drain and the coffee beans will be clearly visible.

Now the outer layer with coffee beans is ready. We put it back into the mold, fill the inside with paraffin/wax of a different color.

Coffee candles can be like this:

You can make sea candles in the same way: instead of grains, they will contain pebbles or sea shells. As an option - transparent gel candles with small pebbles or coffee beans.

Candle decoration options

How else can you decorate a candle you created with your own hands? The first way to add originality to your candle is to use unusual, unexpected shapes. Sometimes an interesting shape can be more advantageous than even the most skillful decor. A wonderful decorative element for candles is various types of glass stands.

In a specialized store you can find special stickers for decoration. Or decoupage is a wonderful way to decorate candles. By the way, it is very fashionable among professional candle makers. Most often, napkins are used as the basis for decoupage. Don't forget about safety precautions: use special varnish for candles.

For lovers of original decor, the following option is suitable:

Before pouring, place shells, pieces of dried fruit, cinnamon, seeds, and dried flowers around the edges of the mold. Or let it be coffee beans in an ensemble with rhinestones and beads. But in the latter case, it would be more appropriate to talk about the decor of the finished product: we insert decorative elements into melted paraffin/wax.

An already frozen candle can be covered with bamboo or cinnamon sticks. You can add star anise or the same coffee beans to them. This will be a beautiful decoration for aromatherapy candles.

If you are using dried plants (or any other decorative items that can become flammable), the candle wick should be thin so that the candle only melts in the middle.

In principle, if you have the opportunity to go to specialized stores for materials, you will get a lot of useful tools there. For example, markers and outlines are sold there; they do not burn, but during the smoldering of the wick they melt along with wax/paraffin.

If you don't want to collect old candle cinders, use paraffin balls or candle gel. In specialized stores you can even find ready-made wicks (with a metal holder). For floating candles, you can purchase specially formulated wax.

Today, the imagination of a creative person is practically unfettered by anything: prices for materials for making candles are not high, the process is exciting and not as long as it might seem. Having once created a beautiful candle with your own hands, you are unlikely to deny yourself the pleasure of experimenting again.

And for inspiration, we invite you to watch a wonderful video master class on creating carved candles

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Candles are a wonderful souvenir that can decorate a family holiday and create a romantic atmosphere. The ease of making candles with a wide selection of materials allows you to fill the decor at home. This article will help you understand all the intricacies of making candles.

How to make a candle - preparing materials and tools

To make candle decor, you need to prepare tools and materials. At the first stage, it is important to strictly follow all the recommendations in order to fill the candles correctly later.

• The basis. One of the cheapest materials for candle mass is soy wax. It has a natural base, which is made from soybean oil. This wax is easy to work with and clean from molds.
• In addition to soy-based wax, beeswax is used, which is known for its medicinal properties. But such wax has a high cost. An analogue of natural components is paraffin - cheap, but made from petroleum products. Transparent candles have a gel base.
• Form. It is convenient to use as a case for candles if it has a glass surface. The structure of the candle is visible through it. Metal, silicone and plastic molds are also used for candle making.
• Wick. A thin cord or floss threads are often used for it. Pre-soak it with melted wax, then install it in a metal holder.
• Flavors and dyes. The dye gives the wax its color. You can add oil paints instead. Essential oils will add scent to the candle. Use your favorite oil or a mixture of both.
• Tools. In addition to materials for making candles, prepare the following tools. Scales for determining the mass of a solid base, a knife and grater, measuring cups and a container, a wooden spatula, a thermometer. Additionally, take paper towels and oven mitts, as the wax will be hot.

How to make a candle - progress of work

• If you don’t have special molds for casting candles, then cups from an old tea set or even empty jars will do. Rinse the workpieces in warm water before use. Or put it in boiling water.

• Wipe the pan well with paper towels. The wax must be poured into a completely dry container, otherwise it may bounce off.

• To determine the volume of wax required, use a little trick. Pour water into the mold to the desired level.

• Then pour the liquid into a measuring cup. This way you will know the exact mass for preparing the candle.

• Weigh the water without taking into account the container. Grind the wax using a grater or a knife. Try to make equal pieces so that they melt evenly. Place wax equal to twice the weight of liquid into a separate bowl.

• The wax must be melted in a water bath. IN large saucepan Pour water up to half of it. Put it on fire. Place the wax mixture into a jug or other container with a handle. When the water boils, lower the dishes into the pan.

• Stir the wax frequently until it completely melts. This way the mass will have a uniform consistency.

• If the wax begins to look like olive oil, it has completely melted. Remove container from heat.

• The hot mixture should not be poured into the mold immediately. Before adding other components, it is necessary to reduce its temperature to 60 degrees.

• While the wax mixture is cooling, install the wick. Fix its base with hot glue at the bottom of the mold. This way, while the wax hardens, it will not move.

• It is also important to secure the wick in the central part of the workpiece. This can be done using a segment satin ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half and cut it along the fold line.

• Thread the wick through the hole in the ribbon. Additionally, secure its edges with tape.

• Add essential oils to the cooled wax. The optimal ratio of aroma to candle mass: 1 drop of extract per 400 grams of wax.

• Mix the warm wax well. This will ensure the aroma is evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Instead of aromatic oils, use spices or coffee beans. If desired, you can add dyes.

• Pour liquid wax into the mold in a thin stream. Try to do this slowly and avoid getting the mixture on the wick and ribbon. This filling will help avoid the formation of bubbles while the wax hardens.

• Once the wax has completely hardened, trim the wick to the desired size and remove the tape.

• Now you can light candles and enjoy the cozy atmosphere in the room.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated when making candles. But there are several recommendations for pouring fragrant decor that will make the process easier and help avoid mistakes.

• To achieve an even coloring of the wax, do not use food coloring. They are water based.
• If you are unable to purchase special dyes for candles, then use wax-based colored pencils. Grind them and add to the warm candle mixture.

The process of making candles at home becomes a fascinating activity. In addition, handmade candle decor gives comfort and warmth.

How to make a candle with multi-colored wax, watch the video:

There is nothing now that cannot be created with one’s own hands. Almost every second person already makes soap, people prepare croissants and mascarpone themselves, many know how to sew and knit, there are a lot of home-grown photographers and hairdressers. Actually, considering all this, why not become a manufacturer of scented candles with your own hands?

At first, of course, as always happens, the result will not be very magnificent, as in the fairy tale about “The Frog Princess”: only put it in the most inconspicuous place and not show it to anyone. But, once you get the hang of it, you can learn to create wax masterpieces. And it would be a shame to burn such beauties! But giving is just right.

And the materials are easy to get; online stores have everything: wax, dyes, flavors, and thread for wicks. By the way, there are kits for children, they contain all the necessary ingredients. And when the wax runs out, everything else is usually left, because it is always in stock in the set.

And since you decide to make candles yourself, then do it wisely. After all, scented candles can be beneficial! Different scents affect a person in their own way. With the help of one, they relieve headaches, another improves mood (or libido!), and the third simply removes tension. And, of course, the scent that you like best will be an excellent solution for refreshing the smell of your home.

If you are afraid of messing up with scents, then try first on ready-made, simplest candles. This is done like this: take a scent or several scents. Fragrances are ordinary natural aroma oils. Pour a little of this same oil into the finished candle and light it immediately - because after some time the oil will simply dry out and evaporate. To prevent the oil from burning so quickly, use the longest needle you can find at home to pierce the candle right next to the wick, the oil will penetrate there itself.

You can also make candles at home. You will need:

• Wax or paraffin (the latter, by the way, is available in pharmacies and costs a penny).
• Wick (If you don’t find a ready-made one, then you can make the wick yourself - take a cotton floss thread or twist several cotton threads into one. Then pour vegetable oil into a plate, preferably a flat one, and immediately add aroma oil there. Roll our thread in oil so that so that it is soaked through. Dry it. Or make a solution of salt, borax and water - 1 to 2, water - 30 times more).
• Forms. Take care of this right away - where you will pour the melted wax, and how to then get it out of there. Keep in mind that thin glass glasses may crack if they are hot! Silicone molds for cakes are good, however, they will only make short candles. Thick plastic reusable glasses, like those from Ikea, are a cheap and bright option not only as a form, but also as a candlestick! Only then do not insert the wick all the way to the bottom so that the bottom does not melt when the candle runs out.
• Mold lubricant if you want to remove the candle later. This could be, for example, Vaseline. Or oil.
• A stainless steel pan for melting wax that you don’t mind.
• Flavors. It could be aroma oil or your favorite perfume. Or special aromatic compositions. By the way, you can buy food flavorings in a confectionery store.
• Dyes. This is, of course, optional. The dyes must be food grade, and they are sold in the same place as the flavorings. With their help you can even make a multi-colored candle in layers.
• If your wax/paraffin is clear, you can make a clear candle. In this case, it would be a shame not to fuse some interesting elements into it. For example, a dried flower or decorative colored pebbles, as for decorating aquariums. Seashells. A small toy, like from Kinder. Glitter with sequins. What will your gaze fall on, in short! And if the candle is not transparent, then you can carefully insert all these things later, slightly melting the side of the candle to glue the element onto it. You can put entire pictures on the candle!

So let's get started. Over low heat, melt the starting material - wax, paraffin or a purchased candle. We melt at a low temperature - 60 degrees - this is the maximum! Under no circumstances should it be brought to a boil. If you did not make the wick impregnated with aromas, then now is the time to add the aromatics - to the wax. And now we add the dye. Mix everything well.

If you decide to make a multi-colored candle, then melt as much wax as there should be for one colored layer, then pour it into the mold, clean off the remaining wax from the walls and melt it again, then adding another color.

If you have nothing to secure the wick in advance in the mold, then after pouring the wax, immediately insert the wick so that it almost reaches the bottom. You will have to hold him in this position for some time so that he does not slide onto his side. The wax hardens quickly, so you won’t have to stand there for long.

Video on the topic of the article

Even after the discovery of electricity, the invention of the Ilyich light bulb, fluorescent lamps, LEDs and neon lights, people did not lose their craving for the light of a living flame. We remember candles in sorrow and joy, we decorate birthday cakes with candles and light funeral candles. We meet with burning candles New Year and we will definitely use them for the ambiance of a romantic dinner.

Of course, today you can simply buy any candles for any occasion. But it’s much more interesting to make a candle yourself. Have you tried it? But this is not as difficult as it might seem. You will need very little time and materials for this. And making candles doesn’t require any special skills either. And if it’s so simple, then let’s find out how to make a candle at home and try to put this knowledge into practice.

Materials

The materials for a handmade candle can be wax, paraffin and gel. The easiest way to make paraffin candles is that even simple white household candles are suitable for making them. If you want to make a gel candle, you will have to stock up on special materials, which you can buy at a craft store. But paraffin candles... Even the stubs of any decorative candles can become a new candle.

If just white candles don’t suit you, then paraffin can be easily colored with regular wax crayons or food coloring. Alternatively, modest white candles can then be decorated with decoupage napkins, ribbons, lace or beads. You can use the peel of halves of an orange or grapefruit as decoration and a unique case.

Scented candles are also quite easy to make yourself. All you need for this is any essential oils with your favorite aroma:

The aroma of sandalwood, coconut, cinnamon and coriander relieves fatigue;
orange, tangerine, lemon, rosemary and mint improve tone;
bergamot, lavender, jasmine, mimosa, geranium and sandalwood act as antidepressants;
the scent of vanilla, bergamot and rose is suitable for a romantic dinner;
chamomile, patchouli, lemon balm, ylang-ylang will help you relax.

In addition to paraffin, dyes, decorative materials and aromatic oils, you will definitely need a wick. If you use ready-made household candles as a base for candles, then use the wick that they contain. If you are casting candles from cinders, then make a wick from ordinary cotton thread or floss threads. To do this, thin threads just need to be woven very tightly, for example, with a regular braid, or even crocheted. Then the wick is impregnated with liquid wax (paraffin) and allowed to harden.

And, of course, candle molds. The case form is, for example, an ordinary orange peel in the shape of a bowl. For floating candles, you can use metal bottle caps as a case. However, any candle whose width (diameter) is greater than its height will float. Well, any metal, silicone or plastic molds (baking molds, yogurt cups, glasses, juice or milk cartons, soap making molds) are suitable for casting candles. In short, everything where you can pour hot paraffin and then remove the frozen candle. That is, the bottom of the mold should be either the same size as the top hole of the container, or smaller.

In addition to all these materials and tools, prepare a grater, a knife and a saucepan for a water bath for making candles. And after that, you can safely begin the process itself.

Manufacturing process

Making a candle at home is really very simple. First you need to grind the paraffin. To do this, carefully break the candles or cinders into pieces and remove these parts from the wick. Then grate these pieces of paraffin using a regular grater. For colored candles, sharpen wax crayons and mix these shavings with crushed paraffin. If you use food coloring, dilute the dry ones in advance in a very small amount of water. This solution or liquid dyes then simply need to be dripped into the molten paraffin.

Also prepare the wick and mold for pouring the candle in advance. If you have disposable molds and you can make a small puncture in their bottom, then pierce the bottom in the middle and insert the wick into it, securing it with a knot on the back side. Grease the mold with liquid dishwashing detergent, and secure the wick to a toothpick (barbecue stick, knitting needle) by pulling it through the mold and placing the toothpick on its edges. That is, the wick should be exactly in the middle of the mold, stretching from the bottom up. And don’t forget that there should be at least a couple of centimeters of free wick (still wound on a toothpick) above the edge of the mold.

Now put the paraffin in a ladle, jar or small saucepan and place this container in a water bath. Melt the paraffin over medium heat and let the dyes dissolve in it. For a scented candle, add a few drops to paraffin essential oil. Then carefully pour the liquid and still hot paraffin into the prepared mold and leave the candle to harden.

If you are using a mold in which you cannot make a hole for the wick, proceed as follows. Melt the paraffin, dip the wick in it and hang it vertically so that the thread becomes rigid and straight. Pour paraffin into the mold and let the candle harden. During this time, the wick will also harden. Now heat a metal knitting needle and make a hole in the center of the candle. Then insert the wick into it and carefully fill the hole with liquid paraffin.

Remove the frozen candle from the mold. To do this, simply place the mold with the candle in hot water for a few seconds and pull the wick - the candle will easily slide out of the mold. And don’t forget to cut off the knot on the back of the bottom of the mold, if that’s how you attached the wick to the candle.

All that remains is to decorate your candle. You can simply decorate it with beads or seed beads by slightly heating the candle with a hairdryer so that the beads are easily pressed into the paraffin. Simply wrap ribbons, braid and lace around the candle, placing it on glue. And if you are using napkins for decoupage, then cut out the motif of the desired size, attach it to the candle and smooth out the napkin with a hot spoon. Under the influence of heat, the wax will melt, saturate the napkin, and the design will be imprinted into the surface of the candle.

Gel candle

If everything is clear and very simple with a paraffin candle, then what about gel candles? Can you make a candle like this at home? Yes, you can! To do this you will need:

Gelatin;
glycerol;
tannin;
reinforced wick;
transparent form.

Glycerin and tannin can be bought at any pharmacy, and use regular food grade gelatin. Reinforced wicks can be purchased at craft stores, or you can reinforce (make rigid) a regular wick with paraffin. Fat-soluble dyes are suitable for gel candles. The main thing in the process of making a gel candle is not to let the candle mass boil, otherwise the gel will become cloudy. And further. If you use flammable materials to decorate such a candle (dry rose petals, for example), then the wick should not be inserted into the candle all the way to the bottom, that is, end above the level at which the flammable decor is located.

So, let's prepare the candle mass. To twenty-four parts of water we take five parts of gelatin, thirty-five parts of glycerin and two parts of tannin. Pour gelatin with warm water and add twenty-five parts of glycerin. Heat this mixture (do not boil!) in a water bath until smooth. In another bowl, mix ten parts of glycerin with tannin, mix both mixtures and heat. Pour the resulting candle mass into a mold, where we attach the wick in advance (as is the case with paraffin candles).

To decorate a gel candle, we use any suitable materials: beads, pebbles, shells, twigs. Just first moisten these items with wax or paraffin, then place them on the bottom of the mold, pour in the candle mass, and then gently shake the mold. Beads and stones will be randomly located throughout the candle.

This is how you can make a decorative candle with your own hands and even without special skills. Do it! Imagine, try, experiment - and you will succeed!
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