Homemade Gift Idea: Make Your Own Candles
admin | October 27, 2009
Many people enjoy highly scented candles as a gift simply because it is something they can use all of the time. Making a gift yourself always makes it feel personalized and special to the person you are giving it to. Making your own candles is not only a lot of fun, but it is relatively inexpensive and easy to do.
When you get started, the first thing you’ll want to do is to make sure you have all of your supplies together and easy to reach. The most basic things you will need include a double boiler for melting the wax, a block of wax or wax chips, fragrance oil, wick, dye, metal spoon, and a jar. If you want to make your candles into shapes, you may also want to consider using a candle mold for making your candles. Now that you have all of your supplies in an easy to reach spot, you can start getting ready to melt the wax.
The first thing to do is to melt the wax. You can choose to use paraffin wax for traditional candles or many also like to make soy wax candles, both which are commonly used for making candles. You may want to consider melting the wax with a double boiler. A double boiler works by filling the bottom pot with water and the top pot with your wax, which helps it to melt evenly without overcooking.
When the wax is melted thouroughly, the next step is to add in the dyes and scents you wish to use. For many people who make candles, choosing the colors and scents they will use is their favorite part in making them. Since dyes and fragrance oils will vary depending on the type, be sure you follow any included special directions.
Now you are ready to place your melted wax into your container. The wax will be very hot, so you may want to wear pot holders and pour very carefully so you will not get burnt. If pouring the wax all goes smooothly, the next step will be to insert the wax into it. To keep the wick in place, you will want to wrap one end of the wick around a pencil and then set the pencil across the top of the container you are using.
Once you have let the wax cooled, your scented candles are finished and ready to be given as a gift. Other ways to further personalize your gift include decorating the jar, attaching bows, or including a special message. Everyone you give a homemade candle to will surely love it. The best part? They won’t even realize how simple it is to create!
