How To Make A Candle

level:

Beginner

time:

90 minutes

result:

2 candles

An image of tools and materials needed to make two scented candles.

This simple, step-by-step tutorial is designed with beginners in mind—no complex tools or guesswork, just everything you need to pour a beautiful, great-smelling candle at home.

We’ll be using CandleScience Coconut Apricot Wax, a smooth, easy-to-work-with wax that’s ideal for learning the basics. Whether you’re making a gift, testing a new scent, or trying candle making for the first time, this small-batch project is the perfect place to start.

Additional Items Needed:

Paper towels
Isopropyl alcohol
Scissors or wick trimmer

Step by step directions:

Step 1: Prepare the candle jars

Wipe out your Studio Tumbler Jars with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and a clean paper towel. Using a wick sticker, center one LX 18 wick in each jar.

Hands peeling a wick sticker off of the bottom of a candle wick.

A hand placing a wick into the center of a glass candle jar.

Step 2: Weigh and melt the wax

Place the pouring pitcher on the digital scale and tare the weight. Weigh 16 oz (453.6 g) of the CandleScience Coconut Apricot wax in the pouring pitcher.

Cubed wax being placed into a pouring pitcher on a scale next to a cutting board.

Wax in a pouring pitcher placed on a scale weighting 16 ounces.

Begin to melt the wax with a double boiler or hot plate.

A hand placing a pouring pitcher into a pot on a double boiler.

Candle wax melting in a pouring pitcher in a double boiler.

Step 3: Weigh the fragrance oil

While the wax is melting, weigh out 1.6 oz (28.35 g) of Caribbean Teakwood fragrance oil, or another fragrance oil of your choice, approximately a 10% fragrance load.

A hand pouring fragrance oil from a 4 ounce bottle into a glass measuring cup on a scale.

Fragrance oil in a glass measuring cup on a scale weighing 1.6 ounces.

Step 4: Add fragrance to melted wax

Once the wax reaches 185°F (85°C), add the fragrance oil to the pouring pitcher. Stir gently for 2 minutes to make sure the fragrance oil is fully incorporated into the wax.

A hand pouring fragrance oil from a glass measuring cup into a pouring pitcher in a double boiler.

A hand stirring fragrance oil into melted wax in a pouring pitcher in a double boiler.

Note: You can add dye if you choose to at this step. Be sure to stir in the dye completely. We chose to leave these candles undyed.

Step 5: Pour the wax

Allow the wax to cool to the recommended pouring temperature of 170°F (77°C). Carefully pour the wax into the candle containers.

A hand pouring wax into a glass candle jar.

Secure the wick with a wick bar. Allow the candles to cool completely.

Hands securing the wick of a freshly poured candle with a wick bar.

A hand ready to remove the wick bars of fully cooled candles.

Step 6: Trim the wicks and enjoy!

Once your candle has cooled completely, remove the wick bar and trim the wick to 1/4 in. (6 mm). Place a warning label on the bottom of the candle and your candle is all set!

A hand cutting the wicks of candles with wick trimmers.

Hands placing a warning label on the bottom of a candle.

Did you make it?

Show off your candles and all your handmade creations with the CandleScience community by tagging us @CandleScience and using the #CandleScientist hashtag on Facebook and Instagram. We may feature you in our Stories or on our website!