Cinnamon*-Orange scent in winter or fresh lemon scent in summer? No matter what time of year it is: we love candles! And that's exactly why we'll show you how to make your own personalized scented candles.
The cold and dark season is immediately much friendlier with a few pretty candles. And even in the summer on the balcony we love the flickering candlelight.
The favorite fragrance must not be missing, which turns the home into a real oasis of well-being.
However, you can do without the standard fragrances. Create your own personal fragrance and design your candles the way you like them.
It is also really not difficult. Promised :)
Table of contents
Let's face it: homemade candles are a real eye-catcher. And since Christmas is also not long in coming: A nice gift idea!
What you need for your scented candles
You really don't need much for your DIY scented candles. Most of it you probably even have at home.
Wax granules
This is the basis for this tutorial. Either you melt wax remnants from old candles or you buy candle wax granules via Amazon.
You can also bring some color into play. Just use something Food coloring*. But be careful not to use too much. Otherwise you won't be able to see much of the decoration.
An alternative to the Food coloring* are wax crayons.
Whatever you decide: The color must be in the wax when you melt it in the water bath.
Make gel candles yourself is so simple!
Candle wick to make scented candles yourself
There are the most diverse types. Round, square, waxed and unwaxed wicks. And then they also come in a wide variety of lengths and thicknesses.
You should use thin wicks if your glass has a diameter of about 5 cm. All larger jars need a stronger wick.
If in doubt, use a thicker wick rather than one that is too thin.
We also need waxed wicks for our scented candles. If you have an unwaxed one, you have to wax it beforehand.
To do this, melt some candle wax and dip the wick until it is soaked with wax. Repeat the whole process 3-4 times.
A wooden stick or clamp can be very helpful in placing the wick.
Molds or jars for filling
To make scented candles yourself, you will of course also need a vessel into which you will later pour the wax.
For this you can buy pretty jars, use an old jam jar or pour the wax into small molds. The only important thing is that the mold is heat-resistant.
But don't forget to measure beforehand if the wick is long enough for the glass.
Scent and decoration
Essential oils provided fragrance in the candle. Use for this the same that you usually use for natural cosmetics or the fragrance lamp.
However, to make your candle smell great, you can also use fresh ingredients.
These look great as decorations at the same time. From coffee beans to dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks to flowers - whatever you feel like.
You can use pretty much anything you like as decoration. However, make sure that you place combustible materials on the side of the mold and never near the wick. When in doubt, avoid flammable materials.
If you have the material together, you can already start making scented candles yourself.
This is how essential oils work and how you use them properly!
Make scented candles yourself: step by step instructions
The more beautiful the candles, the cozier they look. We show you how you can easily make scented candles yourself. There are no limits to your imagination.
Step 1: Melt the wax
To begin, crush the wax remnants that you want to use for the scented candle. Remove impurities and burnt wick remains.
You can find out approximately how much wax you need by adding your wax scraps to the candle container before melting. This amount will take up a little more space than the melted wax. So add about 2 tablespoons more.
Now put the wax in a water bath and let it melt completely on medium heat.
Step 2: Prepare molds
While the wax is slowly melting, you can already prepare the desired candle molds. Make sure that they are heat-resistant.
Take the pre-waxed wick and place it in the center of the mold. If the wick has a metal base, you can glue it to the bottom with a little wax.
Attach the other end to a wooden skewer. Place this on the jar so that the wick hangs vertically to the bottom and in the middle.
Step 3: Color candle
If you want colorful candles, you can now add the color to the melted wax. Distribute it properly by stirring evenly.
Tip: To color the candle wax, you can also use colored wax crayons. Scrape some of it into the liquid wax with a knife. It is important that the wax crayons contain a part of the wax. Beeswax* included.
Step 4: Create your candle scent
When making scented candles yourself, you can choose between essential oils and fresh ingredients. The variant with the oils is certainly the easier and faster method.
Let the wax cool a little. Otherwise, the flavors can be lost. However, do not wait too long, otherwise the wax in the pot will solidify again.
For your favorite scent, add a few drops of the desired essential oils to the melted wax and mix properly. The combination of fragrance oils you can choose freely.
As soon as the scent rises to your nose, it should be enough of the aroma oil. If the candle smells too little later, simply melt the wax again. If your scented candle smells too strong, it's best to add some more wax.
You have a little more work with fresh ingredients. You should have them ready before melting.
Here, too, you have a lot to choose from, which will give your candle a pleasant scent. Add your desired ingredients to the jar or mix them with the wax.
If you choose lemon, lime or orange, make sure the slices are dried. Fresh slices can start to mold.
To get even more flavor, you can squeeze the juice of the citrus fruit into the wax.
Step 5: Pour candles
Once you have created your favorite scent, pour the melted wax into your mold. Once the wax has hardened a bit, you can start decorating. Then let the candle harden completely.
Your scented candle is ready!
3 loving ideas for homemade scented candles
There are no limits to your creativity when making scented candles. You can really let off steam. Whether in the fragrance itself or in the decoration.
If you're still a little short of ideas at the beginning, you'll find some inspiration here.
Vanilla cinnamon candle for Christmas mood
What would Christmas be without candles? The scent of gingerbread, cookies and oranges quickly spreads through the room and creates a Christmas atmosphere.
A likewise Christmasy but more restrained fragrance combination is that of vanilla and Cinnamon*. Here, too, you can use fresh ingredients or essential oils. It's entirely up to you.
We decided to use fresh ingredients. For this we scraped out a vanilla bean and added some Cinnamon* were added. Our candles were decorated with cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Make scented candles yourself with coffee
For those who like it a little more tart, the candle with coffee is a suitable variant.
To do this, crush coffee beans with a mortar and then add them to the hot wax. The heat releases the coffee aromas.
Pour the wax into your mold. Then you can decorate the candle with whole coffee beans.
DIY lavender scented candle
Flower lovers will enjoy the lavender candle. For this scented candle you simply give a few dried lavender flowers* into the wax.
Let it harden and you will have a pleasant and relaxing scent for your four walls.
Summer scented candle: lime lemon
For those who like to have a refreshing scent, lemon and lime is the perfect choice. Again, you can use essential oils or fresh ingredients.
Squeeze the lime and lemon and add the juice to the melted wax. If you like, you can also add dried lime and lemon slices to your jar.
But the candle not only smells good, it also keeps mosquitoes away from you on summer days.
Why you should make scented candles yourself
Would you have guessed that it is so easy to make candles yourself? You don't even need much material. If you like it minimalistic, just take a wick, a glass, the wax and a few drops of aromatic oil.
Nothing stands in the way of your personal designs. You can design the candles according to your preferences and let your imagination run wild.
Make scented candles yourself are really suitable for any occasion. Whether for Christmas, a birthday or simply as a small gift.
How to make your homemade candles burn even longer
So that you also have as long as possible something from your homemade scented candle, we have here for you helpful tips that let your candle burn longer.
1. less is more
Even if it looks beautiful: Refrain from too much decoration with flowers, Glitter* and spices. They contaminate the wax and cause your candle to soot more.
2. pay attention to the wick length
The ideal wick length is 1 cm. If a piece of the wick falls off, fish it out of the wax and save the short wick by liquefying the wax around it.
3. let the candles burn long enough
Large candles should be left to burn for at least two hours. This allows the candle surface to liquefy evenly. Otherwise, a tunnel will form around the wick and the edge will no longer melt.
4. keep distance between the candles
If you place several candles next to each other, there should be at least 5 cm distance. Otherwise, the candles will melt each other.
5. use salt to prolong the burning time
To extend the burning time a little longer, you can sprinkle the liquid wax around the wick with a little salt. The salt binds the wax and the candles last longer.
Our conclusion
Making scented candles yourself is not witchcraft! Let your imagination run wild and design your candles individually. A real eye-catcher and a great gift idea!
Have fun making them!
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