Give the Gift of a DIY Candle | Musings on Momentum

One of the first things I do when I come home from work each night is light candles throughout our home. Something about the soft flicker of candlelight immediate relaxes me and helps me put my work day behind me so I can focus all my energy and attention on my husband and Puggle. I love this tradition but I have to admit that I go through more than a few candles each year.

I successfully weaned myself off Diptyque a while ago and have been sticking to inexpensive IKEA options lately but still…the price of candles plus the stress of a trip to IKEA can really add up. It’s no surprise that I have been wanting to give candle making a shot if for no other reason than to avoid the insanity of the IKEA parking lot. With Christmas just around the corner and DIY gifts yet to be made, I decided it was the perfect time to give it a try.

I based my process on about a half-dozen tutorials I found online and documented it every step of the way so I could share it with you. Had I known how incredibly easy the process actually is I would have started making my own candles years ago. A bit of wax, some wicks, a few pretty containers and drops of essential oil later, I am now the proud owner of two (and a half because I initially judged my wax portions poorly) homemade candles. My step by step guide to DIY candle making can be found just after the break.

MATERIALS

Wax (two pounds yielded two and a half candles)

Wicks (I used six inch)

Essential oils

Containers for candles

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 – Assemble your wax, wicks, essential oils, and containers.

Step 2 – Measure out wax flakes by filling each of your candle containers to about an inch below the top. REPEAT this step (the wax will reduce by half when it melts).

Step 3 – Adhere your wick to the bottom of your candle container with double sided tape, glue dots, super glue, etc.

Step 4 – Melt wax by microwaving it in a glass bowl or using a double broiler (I melted mine on the stove top). I melted my wax one candle at a time rather than all at once so I could create different scents for each. Remove wax from stove and let it cool briefly, then add in 60-100 drops of essential oils for each candle.