Candle-Making 101: Making a Basic Candle

Candle-making has come a long way from the simple tapers dipped over and over inside a cauldron of boiling wax. While that method is still effective, today there's a variety of additives, waxes and techniques to make each candle-making experience unique. There are even special gels available for a different kind of candle altogether. If you've always wanted to try your hand at candle-making but thought it was too time-consuming or dangerous, the truth might surprise you; as long as you have the basic tools and maintain safety precautions, making candles-whether for fun or profit-can be fast, safe and enjoyable.

To make your basic candle, you'll need the following items: a double boiler (a metal one is your best bet); a wax or candy thermometer, to ensure the wax doesn't get too hot; a metal ladle or spoon; candle wicks; a mold for the candle (or a dipping can for tapers) to make your job a whole lot easier; and a scale or balance for wax or additives. Those are just the minimum tools; you may also want a baking pan or cookie sheet to clean the molds, measuring spoons and cups for dyes or fragrance (if you're going to use them), and a craft knife for cutting away extra wax. If you plan on using molds-which you will, especially if you're going to make anything other than tapers or container candles-pick up some wick sealer, mold release, wick tabs and wax glue for gluing embellishments.

Before doing any work, set up a space in your home so you can work safely. Since you'll be using the stove a lot, pick an area near your stove with enough free counter space. Use a layer of wax paper, foil, or a bed sheet you won't need anymore for unforeseen messes. Wear your "chore clothes"-clothing you won't mind getting dirty. Put out everything you're going to need before you start the project so you won't be in the middle of something complicated when you suddenly need something in another room of the house. It might also be a good idea to have baking soda on hand, or even a fire extinguisher, for emergencies. It's important to remember there's oil in wax, and using water to put out an oil fire just makes things worse.

It might surprise you to know there are different types of wax, each with their own properties and uses. The kind everyone's familiar with is paraffin wax: it's inexpensive, retains color and dyes well, and is the most readily available. The melting point of paraffin depends on what you're trying to make. Beeswax is the other "mainstream" wax. It comes in sheets or blocks; sheet beeswax can be rolled around a wick to make a simple beeswax candle. Beeswax can also be combined with other wax, but it's recommended not to exceed 10% of the mixture. A releasing agent is also needed due to the cohesiveness of beeswax. The third most common type of wax is gel wax, which is exactly what it sounds like: wax in a gelatinous form. It's used solely in containers because it isn't solid enough for any other type of candle; the same can be said of vegetable-based wax due to its creamy make-up. A kid-friendly wax is known as bead wax; projects with bead wax are the best for kids because no melting is involved. You simply fill a container with the beads, insert a wick, and you're done.

After choosing what kind of wax to use, fill your candle mold with water (block the hole for the wick first.) Repour what's in the mold into a measuring cup, then for every 3 ½ oz. of water, figure on roughly 3 oz. of wax. Break the wax up and use the double boiler to melt it. Don't use a burner near the wall or anything flammable, because hot wax can be unpredictable. Use your wax or candy thermometer to make sure it doesn't get too hot.

Once your wax is boiling, spray a releasing agent into your mold. Insert your wick in the mold and tie it off outside the mold. Seal the wick with mold sealer, and tie it to a rod of sorts above the mold to secure it. Using a towel or potholder, pour the wax from the double boiler (carefully!) into the mold; try to do it as smoothly as possible to reduce the bubbles in the mixture. Leave a little room at the top of the mold for the wick. You can tap the sides of the mold to further eliminate bubbles, just do it gently-similar to tapping a soft-boiled egg.

There you have it-a simple, no-frills candle. Once you get the hang of it, you can add fragrance and color to the wax before pouring it into your mold for fancier results. They make great gifts, or you can customize them to fit any mood, color or theme in your house. Enjoy your new skill!