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The soft crackle of a burning wick, the gentle glow of a flame, and the subtle aroma of your favourite scent, the only thing more satisfying than watching a candle burn is knowing that you made it yourself.

DIY home candle making is a fun, relaxing, and relatively easy activity that pretty much anyone can master. The beauty of a home-made candle is that you can customise them however you like with scents, colours, containers, and more, while enjoying the confidence of knowing exactly what’s inside your candles (no hidden nasties or toxic additives).

And if you’re making candles in bulk and selling them, you might even be able to turn a profit! Here’s some things to know before starting your candle making adventures.

What Supplies Do You Need to Make Candles at Home?

There are a few items you’ll need in order to start making your own candles at home. Here are the essential supplies that we recommend for basic candle making, plus a couple of extras for customising your DIY candles.

Wax for Candle Making

There are a wide variety of waxes to choose from when making your own candles. The right wax will often depend on what type of candle you’re making:

  • Paraffin wax (straight wax): Low-cost and highly versatile, paraffin wax can be used for a range of different candles, including pillar candles, container candles, votive candles, and tealights.

  • Soy wax: A natural wax made from soybean oil, soy wax is great for container or jar candles, tealights, and votive candles.

  • Palm wax: Made from palm oils, palm wax is very firm, and almost brittle, making it ideal for pillar candles and votive candles.

  • Beeswax: An all-natural substance produced by honeybees, beeswax is a high-quality wax that can be used in virtually any type of candle there is.

  • Gel candle wax: Gel wax isn’t really wax. Instead, it’s made from mineral oil and resin. Gel wax candles are transparent, meaning you can customise them with all sorts of interesting (non-flammable!) decorations to really customise your creations.

Candle Wicks

Candle wicks are usually made from braided cotton, which is the popular and low-cost option that we recommend for beginners. However, you can also purchase wooden wicks which produce a lovely crackling sound when lit.

Fragrances

While not a necessity, many people like to be able to customise their candles with a unique scent. Fragrance oils can be added to your wax to fill your home with a lovely fragrance when lit.

Candle Dye

Another non-essential but fun way of customising your candles is to add colour. Candle dyes can be added to your wax so you can produce candles in every colour of the rainbow. Altering the intensity of your colours is a simple matter of how many drops you put in.

Vessel

The vessel you use to make your DIY candles will depend on the type of candle you’re trying to make. Freestanding candles, for example, will require a mould, whereas container candles can be made in a candle tin, glass, or other heat-resistant vessel.

Other Candle Making Equipment

For the best results, here’s some of the other equipment we recommend for making your own candles at home:

To get you started with candle making, or to test whether you enjoy it before committing a lot of time (and money) to the craft, we suggest starting off with a candle making kit for beginners.

Candle making kits contain most of the materials and equipment you’ll need to make your own candles at home. They’re also a fabulous and cost-effective option if you’re looking for a fun candle-making activity for the kids.

What Jars and Containers are Safe for Candle Making?

When making your own candles at home, it’s important to remember that you’re literally playing with fire, which means you can’t use just any old container.

Your container is going to need to be able to withstand high temperatures, as well as be able to expand and contract safely as it heats and cools. Thin glass is unlikely to survive this, which can lead to cracking or even exploding. If you’re planning on using a glass jar, it will need to be:

  • Thick
  • Heat-resistant
  • Crack-resistant
  • Non-porous and leak-proof
  • Non-flammable

Mason jars are a popular option as they’re designed for pressure canning and can withstand high temperatures.

If you’re looking for a safe alternative to glass, some good options include:

  • Metal candle tins
  • Oven-safe ceramics
  • Cast-iron
  • Camping mugs
  • Concrete candle containers
  • Enamel candle containers

When selecting the right container for your DIY candle making project, it’s always best to check the label first to see if it’s safe for candle making. At the end of the day, a container that’s specifically designed for candles is always going to be safer than something you just pick up from your local homeware store.

Share Your Creations and Light Up Our Lives!

We love seeing what our amazing customers can do with our range of candle making supplies and equipment. So go on and brighten up our day by tagging us @riotartandcraft when you share your incredible candle creations on Instagram.