Should You Make Your Own Scented Soy Candles?
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:41 am by admin
Candle crafting is a time honored art and scented candles have been enjoyed for centuries. Soy candles combine the beauty of the gentle candle glow with the ideal medium for holding a scent and a long clean burn. All these factors combine to make scented soy candles a favorite in home design, aromatherapy and just for fun. The adventurous and creative soul might consider even crafting their own beautiful soy candles rather than purchasing them. It’s not for everyone but some may enjoy the challenge of creating their own designer candle and fragrance.
Candle making even with soy is somewhat messy. If you have children, it is important they be safely occupied elsewhere when attempting to craft your own candles as hot soy wax can be dangerous. Choose a room without carpeting if possible. In very small homes and apartments, the laundry room may be ideal as these are often uncarpeted and have work surfaces for folding clothes. Remove the designer diaper bags, cute baby clothes or older baby clothes so they will be safe while you work with the wax.
Most people start making soy candles from kits. There are kits available online that can make up to five candles at a very reasonable price. You will need wax warmer, containers to hold your beautiful new candles and scents of your choice to add to the candle. The kit should contain the soy wax, the wicks and instructions. A wax warmer can warm the soy wax up gently but if you don’t have one handy then a double boiler on a stove or hotplate will do.
Once your wax is melted and right before it is, ready to pour you should add your fragrance. Soy candles will hold a lot of fragrance but you want to be sure you don’t have too overpowering a scent. Use essential oils that are especially made to scent candles and you can even experiment with mixing scents to create your own designer fragrance.
No matter what room you are working in you will want to cover the surface of the area you will be pouring the wax in. Aluminum foil over the folding table can protect the table because hot wax could damage some surfaces and is usually messy to clean up. If you are using the kitchen then it is important to be sure the cooling area where the candles will stay until thoroughly cooled remains undisturbed. Laundry areas are somewhat easier to manage, just make sure your designer diaper bags full of clean baby clothes, or the cute baby clothes you need from the room are by the door. Shut the laundry room door while the candles cool and in most homes your candles will be undisturbed until cooled.
If all this sounds like a lot of bother, then you probably should choose soy candles already made. You can simply open the package, light the candle and enjoy a quiet hour or two reading a book or taking a bubble bath.
