Natural candles with your own hands: what is needed to make a natural candle
Every year, winter becomes the time of candles. Their warm flame adds coziness and creates a special mood. A candle becomes such a magical component of the holiday. In 2022-2023, candle making in Ukraine is becoming especially relevant and is becoming more than just a tribute to the holiday or a decorative element. Due to constant power outages, candles have also returned to their original functions. Surprisingly, in Ukraine in the 21st century, candles have become a source of light.
Making candles does not require in-depth knowledge, moreover, they can be made even if there is no electricity, as long as there is gas.
Ingredients for making candles
To make a candle at home, you do not need many components. The necessary minimum: wax (soy, beeswax, coconut, palm and others) or paraffin, wick, silicone mold or jar where the candle will be poured. And then - be guided by your taste and imagination. YOU CAN BUY EVERYTHING FOR CANDLE MAKING AT THE BEURRE STORE - we have a whole section dedicated to candle making.
Wax or paraffin for candles, what to choose
If you need a purely utilitarian product, a candle to simply shine, you can make it from paraffin. This petroleum product is easy to work with and is much cheaper than wax. But this is its only advantage. When paraffin burns, benzene and toluene are released into the air, these are carcinogenic substances that can harm the respiratory system.
An alternative to paraffin is natural waxes of plant and animal origin. And there is plenty to choose from.
The most versatile and common vegetable candle wax is soy. It is neutral, accepts fragrances and dyes well, has an average melting point and is easy to clean the inventory after.
Beeswax is also ideal for making candles. Natural wax has a typical yellow color, in addition, it has a natural light honey aroma, and when burning, it releases antimicrobial substances. Just what you need in winter! But bleached beeswax does not have a pronounced color and smell. Beeswax is more refractory compared to soy. There is also a synthetic alternative to beeswax, which is used in cosmetics and candles labeled Vegan.
Coconut wax has a lower melting point compared to other waxes, in the summer such a candle will melt on its own. It is better to use it in combination with stearic acid.
Be sure to try palm wax in your work, especially for winter candles. When hardening, it creates intricate frost patterns on the surface of the candle. It looks very elegant and impressive.
All waxes can be used alone or combined with each other, and stearic acid can be added to give the candles hardness and extend their burning time.
Candle fragrances
When making candles, use only special fragrances that can withstand high temperatures and do not emit toxic substances. An excellent choice would be fragrances from the hypoallergenic series. Choose the fragrances and their intensity to your taste, someone adds literally 0.2-0.3% of fragrance for a barely noticeable candle aroma, and someone loves the fragrance and adds up to 3-4% of fragrances. Therefore, we recommend melting the wax, cooling it a little and adding fragrances drop by drop until the desired aroma is obtained.
Candle wicks: wooden or cotton
Which wick to choose: cotton or wooden? The choice is entirely yours. Let's just say that pay attention to the thickness of the wick, because the thicker the candle, the thicker the wick should be. Or for large containers, you can also use several wicks. Only in this case, the candle will burn evenly and for a long time.
Although a wooden wick is more expensive, it creates a special appearance and atmosphere of a mini-fire: it crackles slightly, like real firewood, a very cozy sound. Such a wick immediately makes the candle unusual and exclusive.
Jar, container or mold for a candle
You can pour the candle into a special silicone mold and then take it out. Such a candle needs a candlestick or at least a stand into which the wax will flow, and it is also necessary to correctly compose the recipe so that the candle is hard and holds its shape.
But a universal two-in-one product will be a candle in a special container: pour the candle into it, let it cool and you can use it without worrying about the hardness of the wax. A beautiful glass or aluminum jar, a shot glass, a goblet, a concrete or plaster flowerpot can be a container for a candle. Here you are limited only by your imagination, but believe me, even in the kitchen you can find several options for containers for your candle. If you are a candle manufacturer and do not know where to buy stylish jars and containers for your products - go to the BEURRE store, where you will find special jars and containers for candles at retail and wholesale.
How to make a candle at home: instructions
Want to see the candle making process step by step? There is nothing easier! Go to our Youtube channel “Beurre Cosmetic Kitchen”. We tell and show in detail how to make a candle with your own hands. It's easier than you think!
