How to melt a paraffin candle. How to make scented candles with your own hands at home

You are on the verge of an amazing discovery of the world of candles.

In order not to throw a bunch of candle making materials in the bin, you first need to study their properties.

• How to save your time?
• How to protect yourself from mistakes of beginners?
• How to save on materials and not waste money spent on materials and their delivery?
• Want to learn how to make candles yourself?
• Want a new hobby where you can make money.
• Then read the article to the end!

It is not easy to choose the right one from the many materials for creating candles. There are a huge number of articles on candle making on the Internet, and, to put it mildly, not all of them are true. Often, online stores selling candle materials (or soap and candles) sell them and give the wrong advice, or they just try to sell you more (in other words, make money on you).

It is necessary to take into account the properties of each material and separate the necessary from the secondary.

Work table candlestick

Your work table, where you will make candles, should be protected from paraffin wax, dyes and everything with which you will create.

The table needs to be laid.

It can be an old newspaper and a zipped magazine, plastic, old cut bags.

It is very convenient to use silicone baking mats (blue and red are mine).

Of course, before starting work, put on an apron or clothes that you do not mind. If paraffin drops on clothes, then in initial appearance it will be almost impossible to get her back.

What is so good about a silicone mat?

Drops of paraffin that have fallen past the form easily leave it.

It is easy to clean.

Easy to fold, roll up and stow away.

It is soft and pleasant to the touch.

Water bath attachment

The very first thing you can't do without is water bath.

All candles are made from candle mass melted on water bath, otherwise it cannot be melted. No way! In no case should you melt the candle mass in a microwave, double boiler, multicooker ...

Otherwise, the paraffin will instantly overheat and ignite!

If you don't want a fire, then strictly follow these tips.

Only a water bath!

What is a water bath?

You will need an old metal saucepan (you won't use it anywhere else) and a smaller ladle, preferably with a long handle.

Water heats up and boils in a saucepan, heating the candle mass in a ladle. Gradually the mass melts. Thus, paraffin will never reach the boiling point. This means that harmful vapors will not be released into the air you breathe.

Make sure that the molten candle mass does not drip onto the stove.

Paraffin on contact with a hot object (or when boiling) evaporates, releasing harmful vapors. Don't be confused! When melted in a water bath, paraffin does not release anything!

My saucepans look like in these two photos. I bought one scoop in a specialized online store in the United States, the second I bought from my hands. It is more convenient with a plastic handle, because does not heat up.

Food paraffin (P-2)

Why is paraffin wax called food grade? It is used in the food industry, for example, in the coating of cheeses to slow down the deterioration of the product.

Paraffin is in shavings (loose, photo on the left), and sometimes lumpy (below in the photo). It is cheaper to buy paraffin in a briquette (layer).

• Paraffin is a product of the distillation of oil.
• Substance white crystalline structure, in a molten state has a low viscosity.
• Melting temperature t pl = 40-65 ° C.
• Density 0.880-0.915 g / cm³ (15 ° C).

Pay attention when buying paraffin on its marking. There is also technical paraffin (marked T), which contains a large% of technical oils, from which food paraffin is maximally purified!

It is cheaper to buy paraffin in briquettes, but in this case you will have to buy 5 briquettes in a bag, and each one is made in factories about 5 kg. I'm already used to it and buy paraffin in bulk, 25-45 kg each.

At retail, paraffin is most often sold in shavings (flakes), since it is easier for the seller to pour and weigh it.

What else do you need besides paraffin for candles?

You can only make candles from paraffin. Then you get the same effect as in the photo. After the candle hardens, the surface turns out with bubbles, streaks, or "snowy" - who as they say - that is, heterogeneous.

• This is because the wax requires a so-called "plasticizer" because the wax does not solidify evenly.

The snowy effect is great for holiday candles!

What to do if we want to avoid this effect, we will analyze further.

Until then, check out how you can use the effect!

An important property of paraffin is shrinkage

Due to the fact that paraffin molecules have a weak bond, there is no surface tension, such as that of water, or, for example, a molten soap base. It's weak. Thus, when the paraffin hardens, firstly, it settles, and secondly, a funnel is formed, as in the photo.

• How to remove this funnel?- the most frequent question. Do not be alarmed at the sight of a funnel and do not think that this is your fault. This funnel always appears. It's important to just hide it. But how?

It is necessary in the process of paraffin hardening to pierce the hardening surface with a long knitting needle or stick in order to remove excess air and open the voids.

And then add the filling.

This way the funnel can be hidden.

Stearin

Remember when we talked about the "snowy" effect? It can be removed. Stearin can serve as a plasticizer, a binder for molecules for paraffin.

That is, if you put paraffin and a little stearin in a water bath, then the effect of snowflakes will disappear, the color will be even.

Stearin is used in the production of candles as an additive to paraffin (10-20%) or in pure form.

Solid, translucent mass, greasy to the touch.

• Melting temperature t PL 53-65 ° C.
• Density 0.92 g / cm 3 (20 ° C).

Stearin candles burn evenly and do not float, they do not change their shape when exposed to heat.

But making candles from pure stearin is quite expensive. Therefore, it is better to have stearin and add it to paraffin so that the candle mass shrinks less and the candle "flows" less.

Formula for the production of candles from paraffin and stearin:

• 80% paraffin + 20% stearin. Try it!

Natural beeswax *

* For adherents of everything natural, there is an opportunity to make candles from beeswax, soy (etc.) wax.

When I bought a natural large briquette of natural beeswax, I fell in love with this material at first sight! Why are all these artificial flavors needed when there is the most fragrant honey beeswax? Ehhhh ...

Beeswax is a waste product of bees. Registered as food additive E-901.

It is secreted by special glands of honey bees, from which bees build honeycombs.

Solid substance from white (with a slight yellow tint) to yellow-brown color with a characteristic honey smell.

Possesses strong bactericidal properties.

At 35 ° C, the wax becomes plastic.

It melts at a temperature of 62-68 ° C.

I pour this wax into small silicone molds (I will show these molds later). The candles are small in weight, fragrant and beautiful.

By the way, for melting the beeswax, I use a separate dish, because it is difficult to wipe off the wax.

• Beeswax is aromatherapy
• Freezes many times faster than paraffin
• Natural product

But, of course, beeswax - expensive product... It costs 4 times more than paraffin wax.

Candle Molds

When you start making candles, life turns into a constant search for candle molds. Until you acquire professional forms.

My secret weapon was cotton swabs.

They are not only round, but also in the form of a heart, a flower.

Who Said Non-Professional Forms Are Bad Candles?

The main thing is that the candle mass, dyes and fragrances are at their best. Execution, of course, too :-)

Polycarbonate molds

I acquired these forms in the USA. Forms are convenient because they are transparent.

However, polycarbonate is not permanent and will crack over time.

I recently threw out one mold (cracked and started leaking) after 4 years of use.

Plastic Candle Molds

These molds are stronger and cheaper than polycarbonate.

However, the downside is that they are opaque.

The difference is that they have a plug (cover) at the base of the form. This is quite convenient when you need to take out a finished candle.

Soft plastic for mini candles

These are the forms (used in the manufacture of soap).

Holes for the wick are made with a hot knitting needle, and the mold is ready for making mini candles.

Plastic Molds Milkyway Molds

There are also some very interesting plastic forms.

In Russia, I have not yet seen such.

Molds manufactured by Milky Way Molds, consisting of two parts. it durable plastic that can withstand a temperature of 200 ° C.

I have such forms, but I don’t make candles out of them ... it’s too bulky to turn out ... about 2 kg!

Metal forms(aluminum, steel, etc.)

Metal forms are "forever". Strong, stable, super, in a word. Molds are made of aluminum, steel, and other metals.

You need to be careful, because the metal quickly heats up from the filled candle mass, you can get burned.

Mold thickness 1-3 mm. I really enjoyed casting candles into metal molds. The candles are smooth.

Silicone bakeware

Silicone baking or ice molds can be used: tall forms in the form of hearts, cupcakes, roses, as well as small molds in the form of fish, stars, etc. as a decoration for candles.

Silicone baking dishes are flexible, inexpensive, but when the bottom is pierced, they are not so durable (when removing the candle from the mold, the hole gradually breaks out, and this entails paraffin leakage when pouring, although this can also be solved with paper tape or other secrets, which I talk about in my master classes).

Silicone forms self made

You can buy silicone molds at the store. But there are such unique silicone molds that cannot be done so easily, which is why I will tell you about them. I order my silicone molds from the master. These are not all the forms I have.

It takes experience to make a candle.

Make a silicone mold yourself

According to the technology of preparation, silicones are two-component (the so-called "compounds"): consisting of a base and a catalyst (hardener), which must be mixed in a certain proportion before use, and one-component - ready for use.

To make the mold, we need a two-component compound. When both components are mixed, they begin to gradually solidify.

Mold your own form from plasticine or take a finished one (ball, toy, etc.), place it in a disposable bucket (jar or any other container, fix it firmly with glue or tape. Mix the components in a ratio of 100 grams of base and 3.5 - 5 gram of hardener and pour in. After 8-10 hours the form is ready.

It is better if, when pouring the silicone, you just leave the place where you will later pour the wax. Otherwise, you will have to cut the mold and, when casting wax, strengthen it with a rope or rubber bands. The trouble is that the hot wax deforms the shape.

But the next experiments have shown that the silicone mold is in any case cut along (or across, which is unimportant for us), because the plasticine master model cannot be extracted otherwise.

Get ready for a sharp and unpleasant odor both liquid silicone and cured form. Be sure to add fragrance to the future candle, otherwise the candle mass will absorb the pungent smell of silicone.

And also do not spare the catalyst (it is better to put more by 1 g than less). Otherwise, nothing will solidify, the mixture will not grab, and you will have to get the master model out of liquid, very sticky and unpleasant silicone and fill it all over again (having done a lot with soap and a brush beforehand).

Here's a candle I got from a homemade silicone mold, the result and the process did not really delight me, so I decided to order the forms from the master. Which is what I am doing to this day.

We make the mold ourselves from plaster

In this case, we will make the mold from plaster. To begin with, you need to sculpt a conceived future shape from plasticine.

Where a mold connector is supposed to be, it is necessary to stick the blades of a safety razor into the plasticine, not very deeply. The whole structure is covered with plaster. The blades will help to quickly separate the mold (the hardened gypsum is not cut and crumbles into small pieces).

These are the mini-candles I got.

Wick

You can buy wicks for your future ingenious creations at candle factories or in specialized stores.

But you need to know that there are a huge number of types and sizes of wicks on sale.

Choosing the right wick is very important. for a candle.

If the wick is too thick, then the candle flame will be large and the candle will burn out too quickly, but if the wick is too thin, then it will burn faster than paraffin, and the candle will "choke" and go out.

For the manufacture of the wick, natural cotton thread is used, which does not smoke or crack when burning.

Wicks are usually marked with numbers.

No. 1 - for candles up to 3 cm in diameter,

No. 2 - for candles 3-5 cm in diameter,

No. 3 - for candles 5-6 cm in diameter,

No. 4 - for candles from 6 cm in diameter.

When you acquire molds, just ask the manufacturer what wicks are available and buy at least 2-3 different thicknesses, so you will test your candles and understand which is better.

Where else can you get the wick?

If you have decided not to buy paraffin and stearin yet and to make candles from old candles or from purchased household ones, then the wick can be removed from the candles.

The only drawback is that the thickness of the wick cannot be matched.

Purchased wick alternatives

• Jute twine
• Cotton thread twisted several times
• Crocheted cotton "pigtail"

Dye

Prepare the candle mass and wick. Fine! Now the question is: how to paint a candle mass? This is very easy to do. When the candle mass has already melted in a water bath, add a piece of dye. I mean a dye designed specifically for candles. I have a huge number of them.

The intensity of the color depends on the amount of dye.

Keep in mind that the brightness of the color of the molten candle mass always more than cooled wax. So if the color seems to be enough, add some more.

And then it will be really enough! :)

Sometimes there is no opportunity or time to get a special dye. Read the next paragraph to understand what effect this or that staining method will have.

How not to paint candles

There are many options to make your candle unique. One of them is to color the candle.

When I first started making candles, there was not much on hand as a candle dye.

And most importantly, there was little good and "competent" at hand.

After all, mixing paraffin and dyes is all sorts of chemical reactions, and you have to be with it more accurate.

And yet I wanted color. I started with gouache.

Gouache... Bad, very bad.

Fortunately, I have not preserved a single candle painted in this way.

The fact is that it is almost impossible to paint the candle mass with gouache: small particles of gouache settle to the bottom of the kindling, and even if you shake the paint a little when filling the mold with wax, it still settles.It turns out a very pale shade, and from this it is cloudy and unkempt.

Once I was just visited by nostalgia (I still wanted to pour, albeit without normal dyes). And I on "maybe" poured into the melted wax EARTH FROM A HOUSE WITH FLOWERS !!! It looked, of course, funny, a white candle, at the bottom of which something dark shines through. It seems at first glance there are no shortcomings.

Candle as a source lighting, has been used by humans since the 3rd millennium BC. It was expensive, and only a wealthy family could buy it. Today, the candle has no former value, and in interior is used for decor or aromatherapy. And the candles made do it yourself, - is also a great hobby, a great option for a gift.

What materials and how to make a candle at home at home- read in our article.

Wax candle - step by step master class

To make a candle, you will need:

• wax or paraffin (household candles are suitable);
• cotton thread or floss;
• a pot for a water bath;
• candle molds (tin, glass or plastic);
• wooden sticks for attaching wicks (1 candle mold = 1 stick).

Advice! If this is your first time deciding to make a candle with your own hands, ask someone close to you to help you. The wax hardens within 15 minutes, so you need to act quickly.

Place a cotton thread in the center of each candle mold. Secure the top edge of the thread on a wooden stick.

Place a container with wax (paraffin) in a water bath. To speed up the melting process, it can be cut into small cubes or grated. Melt the wax over low heat, stir constantly. The finished consistency should be uniform, without lumps and pieces of paraffin.

Pour some melted wax into the bottom of the mold. This will lock the bottom edge of the wick in place. Correct its position if necessary. Wait about a minute for the wax to thicken and the wick to set, then move on to the next step.

Fill in the form with the remaining melted wax.

A day later, after the candle has completely cooled and hardened, cut off the excess edge of the wick.

Note! It is not necessary to leave the cooled candle in the jar - after making it, you can remove it from the mold. Before starting work, select a container for pouring with a straight, even edge, not tapering upwards. You can also use plastic cups, ice cube trays, or homemade tetrapack templates.

Colored and scented candles

Having understood the essence of making, you can diversify the variations and create more complex homemade candles with your own hands.

To make a colored candle, place the pieces of wax crayons in the melting pot along with the paraffin wax. The shade of the finished candle will match color added pencil. A combination of several multi-colored pencils will color the candle in a bright rainbow print.

Idea! Melt sequentially and pour wax of different colors into the mold in layers - you will get an original striped candle.

Use when making essential oils- and you will get a scented candle with your own hands. To add flavor to the candle, add a few drops of oil to the melted wax before pouring the mold.

Combination of oils lavender and bergamot has a relaxing effect, and lemon and rosemary - relieves of negative thoughts. For peace of mind and calmness, add one part of the oils to the wax geraniums and roses and two parts lavender oil. The combination of orange and clove oils, while lemon and cedar oils relieves stress improves mood.

Transparent gel candles at home

At home, you can create another type of candle - gel. Its manufacturing technology is the same as that of paraffin wax. The difference is that the mold is not filled with wax, but with a special candle gel.

Candle making gel is transparent. This makes it possible to create incredible beautiful products... Inside the candle, you can place shells, beads, stones, glass beads, beads, buttons, twigs flowers, and even candied fruits or pieces of fruit.

Advice! You can independently choose the location of the decor inside the candle. Elements dropped to the bottom before filling with gel will remain at the bottom, while those added to an already filled form will "hang" or remain on the surface.

The form for a gel candle should be transparent (glass or plastic) - otherwise the beauty created inside will not be visible. Special gel dyes will help to give a color shade. V given view candles can also add aromatic essential oils.

Advice! Heat the prepared mold before pouring the melted gel. This will prevent the formation of bubbles.

"Delicious" candles - fruit and coffee

You will surely enjoy making candles at home, and you will definitely want to create something creative and out of the ordinary. Candles made from fruit peels - oranges, limes, grapefruits - look interesting and unusual. Candles created with the addition of coffee beans... Get creative and experiment, and a couple of our ideas will help you with this.

Half lemon candle

Necessary materials:

• wax or paraffin;
• four cotton wicks;
• a pot for a water bath;
• container for melting wax;
• two lemons;
• food coloring purple;
• lavender essential oil;
• dried lavender flowers.

Slice the lemons in half lengthwise. Remove the pulp carefully.

Melt the wax in a water bath. Add lavender flowers, essential oil and food coloring to it, stir.

Secure the wick in the center of the lemon half. Pour melted wax over the fruit candlestick.

Place the finished candles in a cool place until they have completely cooled and hardened.

Important! Do not refrigerate candles in refrigerator- the wax may harden unevenly!

Candles with coffee beans

Option 1

The easiest way to create a coffee candle is to add coffee beans to melted wax, or pour them into an already poured mold.

To do this, you will need all the same materials as for a regular candle, plus coffee beans.

Coffee beans differ in shape and size, and when added to wax, they also solidify in different ways. Therefore, each candle you create will have a unique design.

Option 2

Another manufacturing option can be decorating a finished candle with coffee beans.

For this, in addition to coffee beans, you need glue.

Advice! Coffee beans can be glued without glue - on soft wax while still hot. To do this, carefully remove the uncooled and uncured candle from the mold and "coat" it with coffee beans, lightly pressing them with your fingers.

Candle decorated with coffee beans

Individuality in your interior design will always be its winning side. Nothing gives home comfort apartment, like things made by the hands of the owners. And if until now you could not boast of such fruits of needlework, you have a great opportunity to fix it. We suggest you try to make candles with your own hands.

Candles are a wonderful souvenir that, on occasion, can brighten the atmosphere of any family holiday... Candles have long been an attribute of celebrations, significant dates, romantic evenings. Yes, just to sit in silence, listen to your favorite music under the thrill of a gentle spark - this is so sometimes not enough.

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

Moreover, the candle is a wonderful gift. The warmth of your hands and the light of a beautiful candle will be the best wishes for a loved one. Candles will decorate even the most modest environment, emphasize color range your apartment, will become a testament to the great taste of the owner.

Needless to say, mothers who are on parental leave can even earn extra money on such a pleasant activity. And not only mothers - everyone who is fascinated by the process of creating a candle. And those who wish to acquire such man-made beauty, rest assured, there will be.

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.

Candle Making Materials

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

• Vessel for melting wax
• Candle Molds
• Pot (for a water bath)
• Sticks (the first is to fasten the wick, the second is to stir the wax)
• Decorative items to decorate the product
• Wax crayons
• Household candles or old candle stubs
• Paper threads (100% cotton)

All this will help us create, if not a wax masterpiece, then a wonderful original candle. So here we go!

Candle wick

Now we have to learn how to make a candle wick with our own hands. We make a gel, paraffin or wax candle, in any case we need a wick. In order to make it, we need natural cotton thread without any impurities there. Alternatively, use colored floss 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 made of combustible materials. Only the core burns through them.

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

Wick for wax candles

Wick for gel candles

You need to be careful about the following detail: if the candle is painted with wax crayons, small chips can clog the wick without dissolving in paraffin or wax. In general, there are a lot of nuances in this matter, be prepared for the fact that choosing a wick for a certain type of candle will have to be a trial and error method.

If you take a very thick wick, excessive melting of the candle is possible, and this is fraught with soot. If you make a very thin wick, it will constantly extinguish.

There are several options for designing a wick: you can crochet it, braid it with a pigtail, twist it with a string. Before pouring the candle, you can soak the thread with wax, but 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 shapes that you find cute and appropriate for making candles. Do not limit yourself to ready-made molds: yoghurt packaging, cream jars, bakeware, cans, glasses or mugs that can withstand high heat can also play their role perfectly. Some even use a milk tetra pack as a mold for a future candle.

Candles are poured into tea cups

Candles are made in eggshell

But for your first experience, you better not philosophize: take something simple. For example, a glass of yogurt. Be sure to remove the paper label first, as it may catch fire.

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

Move on. We need to put any stick across the glass - a toothpick, brush or pencil. On it we need to tie the other end of the wick. It should be positioned strictly in the center in an upright, level position. So, you guarantee yourself that the candle will burn evenly and melt.

Candle coloring

You will get really beautiful candles provided that you do not forget to paint them. The easiest and most acceptable way is to color the candles using simple children's wax crayons.

Do you think it would be wiser to use watercolor or gouache? Indeed, the palette of these colors 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 unsuitable for working with a candle. They do not mix well with wax or paraffin, they can float in them of incomprehensible color in flakes, and then completely settle to the bottom.

The decor of candles can and should be carried out only with dyes on a fat-soluble basis, and these are our wax crayons.

Often, many craftsmen use lipstick or shadows to decorate candles. If you are not sorry for your cosmetics, please, you can follow their example. But rest assured that there will be a lipstick scent all over the house, which is far from always pleasant. To many, this smell may seem intrusive.

If you have already undertaken to make decorative candles with your own hands, it is better to use less aggressive materials. Choosing wax crayons, we stop at soft types this dye. Candles made with pearlescent wax crayons are especially good.

If you come across hard crayons, the procedure for melting them will be difficult. And planing them is quite problematic. So, we chose a crayon, sharpened it with a grater and added these shavings to the wax stubs. Thoroughly mixed the shavings and cinders with a stick.

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

You should not give up the use of dyes: they give the candle a unique look, create a unique pattern.

Candle filling

The wick is already ready, it's time to fill it. We need a regular tin... It will have to be flattened a little to form a kind of nose. This is necessary in order to facilitate the process of pouring out the molten material.

It is better to grease the previously prepared form with a thin layer of dishwashing liquid or plain vegetable oil. Both remedies are equally good.

We need to put the fragments of the candles in the jar (the candles must be of the same quality). If we are going to make a paraffin or wax candle, you can take a saucepan or ladle for melting, which is not too bad. In any case, this container should fit into the pot that will be used as a water bath. Basically, you can use anything you like except glassware.

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

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

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

Many in this moment make a mistake: they are trying to speed up the cooling process by placing a candle in freezer... In this case, it may spread unevenly.

It is not critical if we fill the candle upside down. If you are using a different method, then you should leave a little wax in order to fill in the indentations next to the wick. And after drying, they will definitely appear.

When the temperature of the candle is already 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 gently pulling the wick.

If you cannot do this, the form can be cut. Or put it in the refrigerator for a minute, and then put it under hot water for a few seconds.

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

DIY scented candles

To make aroma candles with your own hands is quite real. In particular, this should be done by those who are a true fan of aromatherapy. In order for you to get exactly aroma candles, you need to add some essential oils before pouring into wax. The choice of oil depends on your taste: you can add any oil, except perhaps you shouldn't take the pink one. After all, its smell when burning will be suffocating, heavy.

It's great if the decor of the aroma candle matches the plant, the oil of which we use. For example, taking lavender oil as the basis for the aroma, pink or lilac dyes should prevail in the candle decor.

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

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

Not only can oils make your candle aroma, regular coffee is a strong and pleasant aroma.

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

Experimenters are advised to mix oils: an unusual bouquet of aromas is guaranteed to you. If you are afraid to "cheat" and synthesize incompatible smells, look at the perfume recipes. Follow their directions, just don't add rose oil.

Gel candles

Now let's talk about how to make your own gel candles. In order for us to get gel candles, it is better to use ready-made gel wax. On the packages with it, the recipe for creating candles is often written, 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 during the heating process. We continue to heat, adding the remains of 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 has completely evaporated, you need to boil the solution.

Essential oil can also be added to gel candles, this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process, decorating gel candles. We freely lay on the bottom of any transparent container decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry plant stems or flowers. Then we fill everything with gel transparent wax. This candle looks just 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 as follows: large form insert a small one. Between the walls of the two forms, 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 off with a hot hair dryer. Thanks to this, excess paraffin will drain off, and the coffee beans will be clearly visible.

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

Coffee candles can be as follows:

Sea candles can be made in the same way: instead of grains, they will contain pebbles or seashells. As an option - transparent gel candles with small stones or coffee grains.

Candle Decorating Options

How else can you decorate a handmade candle? The first way to make your candle stand out is to use unusual, unexpected shapes. Sometimes interesting shape may be more advantageous than even the most elaborate decor. A wonderful element of candle decor is all sorts of glass coasters.

In a specialist store, you can find special decals for decoration. Or decoupage is a great way to decorate candles. By the way, it is very fashionable among professional candlestickers. Most often, napkins are used as the basis for decoupage. Do not forget about safety precautions: use a special varnish for candles.

For lovers original decor the following option will do:

Before pouring, arrange shells, pieces of dried fruit, cinnamon, seeds, 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 pasted over with bamboo or cinnamon sticks. To them you can add star anise stars or all the same coffee beans. This will beautiful decoration for aroma candles.

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

In principle, if you have the opportunity to turn to specialized stores for material, you will acquire a lot of useful tools there. For example, markers and outlines are sold there, they do not burn, and during the smoldering of the wick they melt together with wax / paraffin.

If you don't want to collect old candle stubs, 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 not constrained by anything: the prices for materials for making candles "do not bite", 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 more.

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

Categories

Handmade is gaining more and more popularity. Extravagant jewelry, paintings, toys, decorative elements, gifts - this is just a small part of what passionate craftsmen and amateurs create with their own hands. Today we'll talk about how to make a candle at home.

This process does not require special skills and devices. After reading our recommendations and detailed master classes, even beginners can start this exciting process.

CREATING A CANDLE: GETTING STARTED

Making candles with your own hands is much easier than you might think. And the main advantage of this activity is that the necessary materials are readily available. If you look well, you will even find them in your home.

MATERIALS FOR A DIY CANDLE

Wax, stearin, or paraffin wax are best for the job. Moreover, for beginners it is better to start acquaintance with the latter, it is the least whimsical to use. You can purchase paraffin wax from the store or use leftover white candles.

WICK

It is best to use natural threads as a wick, ideally thick cotton threads. Do not try to use synthetics: such a wick will quickly burn out and leave behind an unpleasant odor. To test the thread for naturalness, simply light the tip of it. If it melts, forming a hard ball at the end, then you have synthetics.

If you have conceived an unusual candle and are thinking how to make an original wick for it, then use colored floss threads. It is a great and natural material.

Remember an important rule: the thicker the candle, the thicker the wick should be.

It is easy to do it yourself. To do this, prepare a solution: dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons in a glass of water boric acid... Soak a cotton thread or floss in it for 12 hours. Then dry them and twist them into a tourniquet or braid.

If this process seems tedious to you, carefully remove the wick from the finished household candle and use it.

CANDLE SHAPE

First of all, decide on the configuration of the desired candle, and then try to find a hollow object of the same shape. You may find it useful:

Milk and juice cartons;
... plastic cups for yoghurts and desserts;
... shells from eggs;
. silicone molds for baking;
... glass goblets, wine glasses, wine glasses and glasses;
... children's pies;
... curly forms for ice cream;
... tin and glass coffee jars;
... empty cans.

The only requirement is that the mold material must withstand heating up to 100 ° C.

One more interesting option- pour candles into beautiful transparent glasses. They will not be available, but they will look very stylish and unusual.

Sometimes scented candles are made in tangerine or orange peel. The fruit is pre-cut in half and the pulp is carefully removed. You can also use large shells or coconut shells.

DYES

A white candle is elegant but boring. Naturally, the question arises of how to color the paraffin in order to obtain bright decorations interior.

For lovers of candlelight, it is best and cheapest to take wax crayons for children's creativity. Looking for a special candle? Look for pearlescent crayons - your creation will be unique.

Do not try to use water-soluble gouache or watercolors - you will be in for a fiasco. The dye will inevitably settle to the bottom or flocculate. The finished product will look very unpresentable.

WARE FOR MELTING PARAFFIN

In order to melt the paraffin wax, you will need a small saucepan for the steam bath and an iron bowl. Experienced craftsmen recommend drowning paraffin in a steam bath, considering other methods, including a microwave, to be fire hazardous.

We recommend that you also use this method, proven over the years, for a start: place a bowl of paraffin in a container with boiling water. If the candle is planned to be colored, add the crayon immediately and stir the melted mass several times to obtain a uniform color.

FRAGRANCES AND DECOR

Any materials at hand are suitable for decorating candles. First, decide on the topic of your work. Pebbles and shells will effectively complement the candles in nautical style... For the New Year theme, use beads, small cones, small decorative balls, ribbons and bows. Decorate Valentine's Day candles with hearts, glitter bows, dried flowers, coffee beans, etc.

Homemade candles are best scented with essential oils, which can be purchased at your nearest pharmacy. Another option is to find vanilla cinnamon in your kitchen. It is worth adding flavors to the melted paraffin at the very end, after dyeing.

STEP-BY-STEP MASTER CLASSES

We bring to your attention a selection of available master classes that will help beginners learn basic techniques and techniques. If you already know how to create candles with your own hands, you can draw interesting ideas from them to translate into your creativity.

COFFEE CANDLE

Want to create a romantic mood? Light a coffee candle - its divine aroma will take away all worries, leaving only a good mood and serenity. It is especially pleasant in rainy autumn or cold winter. And also this great gift for any reason and even without.

* Valentine's photo

For work you will need:
... paraffin;
... whole coffee beans;
... wick;
... two plastic cups different sizes;
... wick holder - teaspoon, wooden stick, or plastic coffee stirrer.

If you have not found paraffin wax, take household candles, you can also get a wick from them.

Use a knife to crush the paraffin into small pieces to speed up the melting process. If you used store candles, gently crush them with the blunt side of your knife to avoid damaging the wick.

Put the paraffin in glass jar and put it in a pot of warm water. Heat the water over low heat until the paraffin is completely melted in the jar - it should become transparent.

At this time, prepare the pouring mold. In the larger plastic cup, place the smaller one after filling it with water. There should be a fairly wide space between the sides of the cups. Add coffee beans halfway between the sides.

Pour the melted paraffin into the mold to the level of the grains, wait 10 minutes. Then pour the paraffin up to the edge of the mold and let it completely harden. This will take about an hour.

Gently pour the water out of the inner glass and remove it from the paraffin ring. Lower the wick into the workpiece so that it reaches the bottom of the glass. Tie its upper end to the holder and place it on top of the glass, centering the wick.

Pour melted paraffin in the middle of the candle. Place a few beans on top for decoration. Now, until the candle is completely solidified, you will have to wait 4-6 hours.

Carefully remove the frozen candle from the glass. Moreover, it can be cut with scissors to facilitate manipulation.

If you want the grain to be seen better, blow hot air from a hair dryer on the sides of the product. The paraffin will melt and the surface will become embossed.

An excellent aroma candle turned out, isn't it? Do you want to make her even more romantic? We invite you to create heart-shaped candles using the same technology, which will become an unforgettable gift for your significant other for Valentine's Day or for a birthday.

Watch a detailed video of creating a fragrant coffee candle and you will see that everything is even simpler than it seems at first glance.

RAINBOW CANDLES

Do you want to add bright colors to your home? Handmade interior rainbow candles will help you with this.

To make them you will need the following ingredients:
... paraffin;
... stearin;
... wick;
... cylindrical shape;
... dyes that match the colors of the rainbow.

For more information, see the detailed video tutorial. For novice craftsmen, it shows all the stages of preparing a candle mass and creating a gradient color transition.

COLORED CANDLES IN LAYERS

Spectacular multi-colored candles in a transparent glass will become the highlight of your interior. How to make them, see our master class illustrated with step-by-step photos.

Materials (edit)

Before making colored candles with your own hands, prepare:

Transparent wax;
wax pencils;
disposable paper cups;
glass cups;
wicks;
ice cream sticks;
aroma oils;
microwave oven;
grater.

Step 1. Grate regular transparent wax and fill paper cups with the resulting material. It is only necessary to fill them with this material by a quarter.

Step 2. Send the glass to the microwave for 45 seconds. Get it out. Stir the wax with a wooden stick. It should melt completely, if this has not happened, send the glass to the oven for another 30 seconds.

Step 3. Dip the wick into an empty glass cup. You can attach the other end of it to an ice cream stick and put it on upper part a cup. This will make it easier for you to continue working. Pour some wax into a glass and wait for it to set. Thus, the wick must be fixed in the center of the cup.

Step 4. Remove the paper wrapper from the wax crayons. Grate them and add the desired color crayons in separate cups with wax. For a third of the wax glass, add shavings of one pencil to get a fairly saturated color.

Step 5. Send a glass of colored wax to the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Take it out and add a few drops of your chosen aroma oil while stirring. You don't have to, but with oil your candles will exude a pleasant scent.

Step 6. While holding the wick, pour the first layer of colored wax into the glass. For an interesting pattern, tilt the cup at an angle and hold it there until the wax grabs.

Step 7. In the same way, melt the cups with wax of a different color and also, but at the opposite angle, pour them one by one into a glass cup. Fix the container in a different position each time until the wax sets.

Step 8. Having formed a multi-colored candle, let the wax cool completely.

Bright and unusual candles are ready. You can use them for their intended purpose or give them to friends as souvenirs.

SOURCE: http://www.rukikryki.ru/

Another one interesting idea- square multicolor candle. Wax crayons are also used to color it. If you are a beginner, be sure to check out the clear video tutorial, with its help you can easily make such a cool craft for a gift to friends and family.

OPEN CANDLES

Decorative candles can be varied design, because talented masters do not get tired to amaze with their imagination and creative experiments. In support of these words, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the method of making an unusual openwork candle.

For work you will need:
... paraffin;
... optional dye and flavor;
... wick and holder for it;
... cylindrical shape;
... small ice cubes.

Melt the paraffin wax in a water bath. If the candle is supposed to be colored, color the candle mass, if you wish, you can also aromatize it.

Place the wick in the mold so that it reaches the bottom. Do not forget to attach it to the top of the makeshift holder. Fill in crushed ice, not reaching a couple of centimeters to the brim.

Pour melted candle mass into the mold. Leave the workpiece until the paraffin has cooled completely. In this case, naturally, the ice will melt, and cavities will form inside the candle.

Drain the water carefully and remove the product by pulling on the wick.

Be careful, this beauty is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Such an unusual openwork candle will be a wonderful present for your family and friends. If you use paraffin wax from old candles for work, get this beauty completely free.

You will receive visual instructions for action from the detailed videos of creating openwork candles. After viewing them, you can independently make such beauty at home.

Video # 1:

Video number 2:

Option number 3: And if you are wondering what to give your friends for New Year then surprise them with a handmade red openwork candle. It will be an unforgettable gift and will bring a holiday feeling to your home along with a Christmas mood. Watch the work of the master and be inspired by your own masterpieces.

MASSAGE CANDLES

The main ingredient for making a massage candle is soy wax. By adding useful ingredients to it, you can get a product that has healing properties. It no longer acts as a decor, but as a home cosmetic product which makes the skin soft and well-groomed.

The healing properties of essential oils:

Lemon essential oil will help rejuvenate the skin and unclog pores.
... Orange oil has an anti-cellulite effect.
... Rose oil stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and contributes to the elasticity of the skin.
... Rosemary oil can cleanse the skin of age spots and make it smooth.
... Patchouli oil does a great job of moisturizing.
... Lavender oil will delight you with its healing effect.

They also add solid vegetable oils... For example, cocoa butter is used to moisturize and tone the skin. And with its regular use, beauticians promise you smooth and delicate skin.

Exotic shea butter can save dry skin from flaking. Coconut oil, which is rich in natural antioxidants, can smooth the skin.

General algorithm for creating a massage candle:

1. melt the wax with hard oils in a water bath;
2. Let the mixture cool slightly and add liquid oils;
3.Cool the mass a little more and add essential oils, extracts and vitamins;
4. pour the resulting candle mass into the mold, having previously inserted the wick into it;
5. Wait until the candle has completely hardened and remove it from the mold;
6. The hardened candle is ready to use.

We offer you the most common recipes for effective massage candles.

Recipe number 1

Soy wax - 85%;
... avocado and shea butter (aka shea butter) - 5% each;
... essential oil of patchouli - 2.8%;
... essential oil of ylang-ylang - 2%;
... vitamin E - 0.2% (a few drops).
Light the finished candle and let it melt a little. Put it out. Put some warm wax on your hand and you can give yourself a rejuvenating massage. Do not be afraid to burn yourself - the melting temperature of such a candle is much lower than that of a paraffin one.

Recipe number 2 "Massage candle with a calming effect"

Soy wax - 80g;
... shea butter - 40g;
... almond oil - 40g;
... cocoa butter - 20g;
... essential oils of sage and lavender - 2 g each
A session of massage of such candles is best done before bedtime. The soothing effect of essential oils will help you relax and sleep soundly.

Recipe No. 3 "Massage candle with anti-cellulite effect"

Beeswax - 100g;
... cocoa butter - 60g;
... ground chili pepper - 5-10g;
... essential oils of orange and grapefruit - 3 g each
Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the candle. After the massage, you may feel a burning or tingling sensation due to the presence of chili in the composition.

Regular massage will help get rid of the hated " orange peel", Will make the skin soft and supple.

WE DECORATE CANDLES IN THE TECHNIQUE DECOUPAGE

If you don't have a dye, but want to create something bright and memorable, don't be discouraged. The simplest candle made from stubs can be turned into a work of art. To do this, you need to have a little patience and decorate the product to your liking.

CANDLE DECORATED WITH DRY FLOWERS

Dried leaves, stems and flowers will help you create an exclusive candle, which will be almost impossible to repeat. Usage natural materials limited only by the local flora and your imagination. That's when the ability to collect herbarium will come in handy to you in full.

* photo by Lyudmila Klimova

To work you will need:
... any dried flowers;
... 2 candles - for decoration and regular;
... tea spoon;
... tweezers;
... nail scissors;
... paraffin wax for the final coating.

From the dried flowers you have available, compose the composition that you want to bring to life.

Heat a teaspoon ( inside over the fire, because the spoon will turn black a little, and in order not to stain the candle - then we will carry out all the manipulations with the other side of the spoon).

Attach a dry flower to the candle to be decorated and gently iron its petals with the outer side of a spoon so that they melt to the paraffin and do not stick out. Thick stems may need to be ironed several times while heating the spoon.

Excess stems that go beyond the candle, carefully cut off with scissors.

Glue the rest of the elements in the same way, choosing the desired location for them. Make sure that the edges of the leaves and petals do not stick out.

It remains to consolidate the result. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, pour it into a container into which you can completely dip the decorated candle.

Holding the candle by the wick, immerse it in the melted paraffin wax, place it on a flat surface and let it cool. If the petals were poorly smoothed and sticking out tips are still visible, repeat this procedure again.

Such an elegant candle will win any heart and will not be left without attention. Complete it with a beautiful candlestick and it will become a unique decoration for your home.

DECOUPAGE CANDLES WITH PAPER NAPKINS

The desire to decorate a candle could come instantly, but there are no dried flowers at hand. In this case, paper napkins can be dispensed with. With their help, you can easily decorate a candle for any holiday.

Choose a napkin with the pattern you want. Cut out the desired items from the napkin. Carefully remove the bottom two layers of paper from the resulting blanks. Further, the principle of operation is similar to the decoration with dried flowers.

Place the prepared element on the candle and iron it with a hot spoon. Sand the cooled surface with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. It is not necessary to immerse the candle in melted paraffin with this method.

Your masterpiece is ready. Make up beautiful composition from candles in the New Year's style, fir branches and colored balls. It will bring a good mood and a festive atmosphere to your home.

DESIGN PHOTO IDEAS

Want even more inspiration ideas. Browse our selection decorative candles... You will definitely find one that you want to repeat immediately.

We were able to convince you that you can create unique masterpieces even from scrap materials? That is why candlelighting has become a favorite pastime for many, beginners and not only, masters.

Original form templates:

Now that you know what candles are made of and how, you can get to work. Do not try to use your favorite photo as a template and unconditional ideal. Get inspired finished works to create your own unique candles. A little effort and perseverance - and already your masterpieces will be a standard to follow.

Per last years making candles from mass production slowly migrated to the home workshops of needlewomen, turning into a creative activity.

Candles, which some century ago were not only the main source of light, but also a kind of indicator of the well-being of the family, used in wealthy houses instead of a smoking torch, have long lost their original meaning. Today, it is important to make candles with your own hands at home in order to use them in a completely different quality - as an element of exquisite decor and an invariable attribute of creating a romantic mood.

Making decorative candles as a hobby

Thanks to the simple creation technology and a large selection of materials for work and decoration, now every craftswoman can open a miniature "candle factory" at home, which will not only bring pleasure from creativity, but can also become an additional source of profit.

The advantage of this type of hobby is that the activity is simple, not boring, and a beautiful result can be obtained quite quickly. For these reasons, making candles at home will appeal to and will be within the power of needlewomen of all ages - both venerable and not yet very experienced.

What is needed for creativity

The best part is that you need a minimum set of materials to get started:

• candle gel, wax or paraffin;
• wick or cotton threads without synthetic impurities for its manufacture;
• mold for pouring out a candle;
• elements for decoration.

Wax or paraffin can be used from ordinary household candles, and it will not be difficult to extract a ready-made wick from them. Candle gel is also easy to make with your own hands. Instead of an expensive form, you can take any suitable refractory container - a beautiful cup, jar, tin box. In short, starting a new hobby is not very expensive. We can say that this is one of the.

Based on the main material used for the manufacture of candles, two basic technologies are distinguished - wax and gel, which are similar in many ways, but, nevertheless, have their own nuances in their work.

Secrets of making candles from wax or paraffin

In the process of creating a product from wax, the most important moment is the melting of the material. Here you need good dexterity and speed of action, since melted wax or paraffin cools quickly, moreover, it is very hot and can easily burn.

Also, before making a candle with your own hands, it is important to choose the correct thickness of the wick: if you make it too thick, then the candle will melt and smoke unnecessarily, and a very thin one will constantly extinguish. The twisting density of the wick also plays an important role - for wax and paraffin candles, the threads should be twisted slightly loosely so that the flame does not go out.

There is no universal advice - optimal thickness and the twisting density of the threads for the wick will have to be displayed only on personal experience, by trial and experiment. Each master develops his own formula and secret over time. successful work.

DIY gel candles

To make beautiful transparent candles that do not emit either odor or smoke, you can use ready-made gel wax, or you can cook consumable on one's own. In the latter case, you need to purchase ingredients such as glycerin, tannin, gelatin, distilled water and mixing them, boil over low heat until the liquid has completely evaporated.

This technology is somewhat more complicated than wax technology, but the result is worth the effort - the products are very elegant and unique. During cooking, the mixture may become cloudy, but this is a temporary phenomenon that disappears immediately after the gel cools down.

Gel opens up many different possibilities for decoration. For example, seashells, pebbles, starfish, dried citrus fruits or flowers filled with transparent wax look very beautiful. In this way, women seeking can make candles with their own hands at home, since no harmful substances are released during work.

Making aroma candles at home

Separately, it should be said about aroma candles - they are also easy to make at home. The advantage of home-made scented candles is also that you can have one hundred percent confidence in the environmental friendliness and harmlessness of the fragrant components.

Why learn to make candles

Designers and decorators often use beautiful interior candles to create false fireplaces in houses and apartments. They can also become good gift or a romantic souvenir, therefore, if you learn how to make a high-quality and original product, then it is quite possible to make good money on your favorite hobby.

Especially if on the eve of large generally recognized holidays to make products with themed design. Self-made products can also be offered to restaurant owners who often use candles to create an intimate atmosphere in a restaurant. evening time or giving a special festive atmosphere.

Step-by-step master classes with photos

To help those who are just trying themselves in creating "hearths", we have prepared unique master classes with step by step photos. Detailed instructions will help you delve into the intricacies of craftsmanship and master the difficult moments.