Homemade soy wax candles and melts are easy to make, budget friendly and better for your home’s air quality than store-bought candles.
I love the soft glow of a burning candle in my home, especially during the cozy fall and winter season. However, for the past 8 years or so, I really haven’t burned candles, for a few reasons, but mainly because I don’t do well with strong fragrances. Burning candles can be harmful to the air quality inside your home, especially if you’re sensitive, like me. So what’s a girl to do? An alternative that I’ve found is to opt for candles that are made with better ingredients or to simply make my own!
The process for making homemade soy wax candles and melts is really simple and straightforward. And what’s great too is that you can customize the scents, as well as the look by using different containers. I love to thrift ceramic and glass containers to make my candles, but you can use any vessel that you love! Weather you make these candles and melts for your home or to gift to someone close to you, you’re going to love how easy they are to make and the end result too!
PIN FOR LATER!
VIDEO
The following may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure here for further information.
CANDLE MAKING QUESTIONS
While I’m no expert candle maker by any means, I thought I’d answer a few basic questions you might have about candle making before we dive into the process!
What type of wax is best for candle making?
The type of wax used for candle making comes down to personal preference and your end goal. Because I make candles for personal use and to give as gifts, I look for a clean burning and relatively inexpensive wax, which is why soy wax is ideal for me. Check out the information below on the different types of waxes that are available and a bit about them to make the best decision for yourself!
Paraffin wax is one of the most widely used in candle making because it’s inexpensive, can hold a large amount of fragrance and has various melting points. However, it’s not eco-friendly and when burned can emit known carcinogens and soot.
Soy wax is more eco-friendly since it’s made from soy beans and burns cleanly. However, it doesn’t hold as much fragrance and tends to have more imperfections after it hardens during the candle making process.
Beeswax is a natural wax, eco-friendly and has a wonderful subtle scent, which is great for making unscented candles.
Coconut wax is another great natural alternative that is clean burning and eco-friendly. However, it tends to be more expensive than other waxes, which means it may not be ideal for some.
What are the best oils to use to make scented soy wax candles and melts?
I like to use essential oils in my homemade candles because I usually have them on hand and they give a very subtle fragrance, which is what I’m looking for. However, if you want to recreate a healthier version of a candle you love or you’d like the fragrance throw of a traditional candle, then you may want to use fragrance oils that are made specifically for candle making.
Do I need special equipment to make homemade soy wax candles and melts?
You don’t need to have any special equipment to make homemade candles, as I’ll show you in the tutorial below. However, there are some pieces of equipment that may be helpful. You can purchase candle making kits like this one that contains a wax melting pitcher, wick holders and mixing rod. Although they’re not totally necessary, they can be helpful!
How many wicks do I need per candle?
According to this article, you use one wick for candles 3 inches or smaller. For containers that are larger than 3 inches, you add a wick for ever inch. So for a candle that’s 4 inches, you need 2 wicks, for a candle that’s 5 inches, you need 3 wicks, et cetera.
HOW TO MAKE SOY WAX CANDLES AND MELTS
TOOLS YOU MAY NEED
- Quart mason jar or wax melting pot
- Stirring stick
- Glass jar or other vessel
- Wax melt molds
- Pencil
- Scissors
MATERIALS YOU MAY NEED
ESSENTIAL OIL COMBINATIONS FOR SOY WAX CANDLES AND MELTS
- 40 drops of clove bud essential oil & 60 drops of sweet orange essential oil
- 100 drops of Christmas Wreath essential oil blend
- 50 drops of snickerdoodle essential oil & 50 drops gingerbread essential oil
HOW TO HOMEMADE SOY WAX CANDLES
Glue wicks to the bottom of container. I thrifted several stoneware and glass pieces for these candles.
Either calculate the amount of wax and essential oil needed using this calculator, or pour roughly 2 cups of soy wax pellets into a quart size mason jar or double broiler and and melt over low-medium heat. You could also melt the wax in the microwave for 1 minute increments until the wax is fully melted, about 7 minutes.
Be careful when removing the mason jar from the double broiler or microwave because it will be hot!
Allow the wax to cool to 180°F, then add your desired fragrances. I added roughly 100 drops for a light scent, but you can add more as desired.
Wrap the candle wick around a skewer, popsicle stick or pencil and lay flat across the vessel. It’s easier to do this before pouring the wax, not after as pictured.
Pour the melted wax into your vessels.
Allow the candles to set 6-8 or overnight, then trim the wick before using. It’s best to wait closer to a week before burning for optimal fragrance throw.
HOW TO HOMEMADE SOY WAX MELTS
Follow the instructions above for melting wax, then add roughly 100 drops of essential oils (optional) and stir.
Pour the melted wax into the wax melt molds.
Allow the wax melts to set 2-4 hours or overnight, then remove them from the molds.
Add the homemade soy wax melts to a wax warmer and enjoy!
NOTES
- The most inexpensive way to make candles is to thrift vessels or use mason jars!
- Instead of hot gluing the wicks to the bottom of the vessel, simply dip them in hot wax, place them in the appropriate spot, then allow it to dry before pouring the rest of the wax in to make your candle.
- Add in things like pine needles and orange slices to the top of the candle to add a beautiful layer of dimension to the candle.
- Be sure to trim the wick before burning the candle each time.
- Try using fragrance oils that are designed especially for candle making for stronger scents.
Homemade Soy Wax Candles and Melts
Homemade soy wax candles and melts are easy to make, budget friendly and better for your home's air quality than store-bought candles.
Materials
- Soy wax
- Candle wicks
- Essential oils (optional)
Tools
- Quart mason jar or wax melting pot
- Stirring stick
- Glass jar or other vessel
- Wax melt molds
- Pencil
- Scissors
Instructions
- Glue wicks to the bottom of container. I thrifted several stoneware and glass pieces for these candles.
- Either calculate the amount of wax and essential oil needed using this calculator, or pour roughly 2 cups of soy wax pellets into a quart size mason jar or double broiler and and melt over low-medium heat. You could also melt the wax in the microwave for 1 minute increments until the wax is fully melted, about 7 minutes.
- Be careful when removing the mason jar from the double broiler or microwave because it will be hot!
- Allow the wax to cool to 180°F, then add your desired fragrances. I added roughly 100 drops for a light scent, but you can add more as desired.
- Wrap the candle wick around a skewer, popsicle stick or pencil and lay flat across the vessel.
- Pour the melted wax into your vessels.
- Allow the candles to set 6-8 or overnight, then trim the wick before using. It's best to wait closer to a week before burning for optimal fragrance throw.
For Wax Melts:
- Follow the instructions above for melting wax, then add roughly 100 drops of essential oils (optional) and stir.
- Pour the melted wax into the wax melt molds.
- Allow the wax melts to set 2-4 hours or overnight, then remove them from the molds.
- Add the homemade soy wax melts to a wax warmer and enjoy!
Notes
- The most inexpensive way to make candles is to thrift vessels or use mason jars!
- Instead of hot gluing the wicks to the bottom of the vessel, simply dip them in hot wax, place them in the appropriate spot, then allow it to dry before pouring the rest of the wax in to make your candle.
- Add in things like pine needles and orange slices to the top of the candle to add a beautiful layer of dimension to the candle.
- Be sure to trim the wick before burning the candle each time.
- Try using fragrance oils that are designed especially for candle making for stronger scents.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Plant Therapy Sweet Orange Essential Oil 100% Pure, Undiluted, Natural Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Grade 30 mL (1 oz) - 100pcs ECO 2 Wicks for Soy Candles, 6 inch Pre-Waxed Candle Wick for Candle Making,Thick Candle Wick with Base
- American Soy Organics - Pro-Flex Soy Wax Beads for Candle Making – (5-Pound Bag) - Microwavable Soy Wax Blend – Premium Soy Candle Making Supplies
- Mity rain Silicone Wax Melts Mold, 2pcs 12-Cavities Square Baking Molds Set for Candle-Making and scented wax melts, Baby Food Chocolate Truffles, Ganache, Jelly, Candy, Praline.
LOOKING FOR MORE NATURAL HOME POSTS?
- Homemade Air Freshener
- ProOne Water Filter Review
- How to Clean and Season Cast Iron
- 5 Reasons to Switch to Cast Iron
Did you make a soy wax candle or melts? If you did, I’d love to see how they turned out! Tag me on Instagram @thesimplehomeplace to show me your own recreations of these candles and melts!
Leave a Reply