My favourite finds for trying a hand at candle-making yourself, as a fun project at home.
Have you been considering making candles yourself? Why not!? Candle-making can be a fun and relaxing activity. It is definitely an exercise in concentration and mindfulness.
In this blog post, I would like to share some tools and materials that may help you with this fun activity. Even though I may not be using all of the tools and materials myself anymore, I tried a lot of them throughout my candle-making journey, and I am happy to let you know what worked for me best.
At the end of the post, I share a list of quality candle-making suppliers that I have been happy with.
Here is a selection of what you may find handy. Please note that many of the links below are Amazon affiliate links that will take you to the German Amazon page. Amazon may be the easiest place for you to start when you’re getting your DIY tools and supplies. For example, my beeswax supplier offers the same beeswax that I am using, though only in small quantities, exactly on Amazon. If you want to shop consciously, I recommend you look for products with the following labels: Handmade, Small Business, Made in Germany (or look for the Country of origin info). If you would like to know more about Amazon affiliates, you can read about it here.
wax for candle-making
I am excited to say that you can find the same beeswax that I am using for my candles on the German Amazon! Even though it is sold only in small quantities there, that is perfect for your DIY projects. ActiveTimeLife is beeswax by the Kelage German brand that offers 100% pure organic beeswax suitable for both candle-making and cosmetics production. It is the best you can get! You can get it in a natural yellow colour, or a white beeswax version.
As for other types of waxes, Amazon can be pretty tricky. Most reputable wax producers only sell through big supply companies. That is not to say that quality waxes cannot be found on Amazon but you will have to do a bit more searching, and trying them out for yourself. Try to look for waxes with more “complicated” names, like Kerawax 4170 or NatureWax® C-3 Soy. Pay attention to whether the wax is designed for containers, or for pillar candles.
wicks
The above-mentioned beeswax producer is also offering wicks for candle making. Great! Make sure you look for a wick that corresponds to the diameter of the mould that you are planning to use.
If you’re looking for pre-tabbed wicks for containers, similar to waxes, finding reputable candle wicks on Amazon is tricky. Just browse and trust your gut, and if you are considering perfecting your skills and looking into candle-making more thoroughly, I will share my favourite quality candle-making suppliers below.
MOULDS
To get a good quality mould, look for LYSON. Lyson is a Polish company and is considered Number 1 in anything beekeeping-related (at least in Europe). That includes silicone candle moulds. Especially if you’re a beginner and have never tried pouring candles before, a good-quality mould will be so much easier to start with. Lyson moulds are sturdy and firm, they keep shape easily. They have a pre-cut slit for the wick, which will not only help with your wick placement but also will make it easy to take the candle out once the wax solidifies.
Start with smaller moulds and work your way to more complicated ones. This applies also to other moulds you will find on Amazon (and there are many). Try something small and less intricate and work your way up from there. With larger moulds from no-name sellers, you may need to mark the centre for the wick, make cuts in the mould to take the candle out and find various ingenious ways to hold the mould up and prevent it from toppling over once it is filled with hot wax. Good luck!
JARS
Getting jars suitable for candles is tricky, too. (Candle making really is a skill that requires a lot of time and effort to learn and perfect.) You need to make sure that your jar is heat resistant and will not crack when heated up by the flame. It should also have a thick bottom in order not to damage furniture once the flame descends all the way to the bottom of the jar and the jar gets hot.
The jars that I’ve tried and tested from Amazon are these BigDean mini jars. (At the end of this post, find my recommendation of a German jar supplier for those of you who want to go further in candle-making.) If you want to get candle-making jars from Amazon, consider trying tins rather than glass, and always err on the side of caution and use smaller (thinner) wicks so that the jar (or tin) does not get too hot. If you’re planning to give DIY candles to your friends and loved ones, don’t do so before thoroughly testing the candle yourself first. When you burn your candles for the first time, keep a very attentive eye on it. Maybe even place the jar on top of a tray or plate to make extra sure that your furniture will be protected if something goes wrong.
You can also try these amber jars by a German producer. They are tried and tested for candle making, though as always, make sure you keep in mind all the advice above.
TOOLS
The aim of this blog post is not to try and teach you the candle-making process. If you want to know more about that, I warmly recommend this excellent YouTube video by Bob Binnie. Let me just leave you with a list of tools that will come in handy for your project. You don’t actually need that much in addition to what I have described above.
Melting and pouring pitcher – A pitcher used via the double-boil method (immersed in a pot of hot water) is the easiest way to start. Choose one that is big enough to make more than one candle (otherwise you’ll get annoyed with how long everything takes), and ideally get one that comes with a stainless-steel mini spatula to help you stir and pour (stainless steel is so much easier to clean up than silicone). Clean your pitcher by wiping the liquid wax off with a kitchen towel.
Heat gun – This is not a necessity but if you are a candle-lover, a heat gun comes in handy not only for a DIY candle-making project but also for cleaning up your candle holders or old candle jars. You can try to use a hair dryer instead but the hot air flow in a hair dryer tends to be too strong and may cause the wax that you intend to melt and clean to splash all over.
DIY CANDLE-MAKING KITS
If you find all this a bit too complicated, I hear you! You can also look for beeswax candle-making kits. That may actually be the easiest way to start, especially if you don’t have too much energy to research and are simply looking for a fun activity to do with your kids.
There are many rolled-beeswax candles DIY kits available on Amazon. I haven’t tried them myself but I’m sure you will find one that calls to you.
As for scented candle kits, I can only recommend ones from quality suppliers. Look at this page by Terre de Bougies. I am convinced that any candle-making kit by them will be high quality with guaranteed results.
GOOD CANDLE-MAKING SUPPLIERS
Here a quality candle-making suppliers that I have bought from and can recommend:
- Terre de Bougies (France)
- Candle Craft (Germany)
- Revivo Candela (Germany)
There is also a supplier in Belgium:
- Antwerp Luxury Candle Supplies (Belgium)
Quality glass jar supplier:
- INNA Glas (Germany)
Happy candle-making!
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Enjoy your candles, and until next time!
Emma