DIY Soy Candles

Nothing conjures up summer more than the smell of freshly cut grass, frangipani’s and lavender.

Fill your house with summer scents by making your very own scented soy candle.

Soy candles can be expensive so why not make them yourself!

Some might be daunted by the prospect of making a candle from scratch but this article will prove just how easy it is.

Using just a few candle making supplies and equipment found around the home you will have a scented soy candle to grace your living room in just 5 simple steps.

Soy wax and other candle supplies are not easily found in your local shopping centre or craft store but the good news is all of it can be found online usually delivered to your door in just a few days.

Go online and purchase the following equipment:

•         A container that can withstand heat (e.g. glass, metal)
•         Soy Wax
•         Wicks (cotton or wood)
•         Wick stickums
•         Fragrance oil

Here’s what you will need from around the home:

Most of the supplies to make candle can be found in the kitchen or garage.

•         Stove top
•         Pot
•         Pyrex jug
•         Pouring jug
•         Thermometer
•         Newspaper or table cloth

Step 1: Prepare the Work Station

Clear a work space and laydown an old table cloth or newspaper as you will be pouring melted wax.

This should protect you from any accidental spills, however if this happens hot water and soap can clean this up.

Step 2: Melt the wax

Once you have set up your workspace it’s now time to measure out and melt the wax.

Wax is less dense than water so you won’t need as much as you think, use the formula below to calculate the amount of wax required.

Number of containers x ml of each container x 0.77

For example, if I have two containers that hold 300ml than 2 x 300 x 0.77 = 462g of wax.

Using this formula will ensure that you use the right amount of wax for the soy candle with a little bit of space left from the rim of the container.

If you don’t have scales handy then a quick way to measure the wax is to use two full scoops of wax from the container you are pouring in.

Melting soy wax is just like melting chocolate, the double boiler method is the safest way to melt the wax and keep the melted temperature from reaching above 100 degrees Celsius.

Simply heat a pot of water on the stove and place another pot or heat resistant container over the boiling water with the wax placed inside.

Step 3: Prepare the candles

As the wax is melting you can now prepare your candles ready for pouring.

Place a wick stickum on the bottom of the wick and use it to adhere the wick to the middle of the container.

Place a wick holder over the top of the wick to keep the wick centred as the candle sets.

Step 4: Add the fragrance

Once the wax has reached 85 degrees Celsius it is ready to be poured, transfer the soy wax to a pouring jug.

Before pouring the wax into the candle add the fragrance oil to the melted soy wax and stir it thoroughly.

Soy candles can hold approximately 6-10% fragrance oil before running into issues, be sure to add no more than 10%.

You can use the formula below to calculate this.

Melted Soy Wax (mls) x 0.10 = fragrance oil

Using the example above we are using 462g of wax which is approximately 513mls when melted.

513ml x 0.10 = 51mls of Fragrance Oil

Step 5: Pour the candles and let the candles set

Once you have combined the fragrance oil with the melted soy wax, wait until the wax has cooled to 60 degrees Celsius and then transfer it into each container.

Leave the candles to set in a cool dry environment, if they are left in a humid or hot environment they could sweat (the fragrance leaches out of the wax).

Check each wick is centred and then wait 24 hours for the candles to harden.

In 24 hours you will have a beautiful summer scented soy candle ready to enjoy.