Light up your night

Give your home a magnificent aroma with a homemade candle

with the strike of a match, you’ll be amazed how a scented candle can elevate your experience of being at home. A magnificent aroma can transport you to faraway places, and has great relaxation benefits, too. Here’s an overview of the candle-making process, plus a few ready-to-burn favourites.

HOW TO MAKE A SOY WAX CANDLE Gather your supplies

Hot glue gun and glue sticks; wicks with tabs, size to suit; heat-safe small ceramic bowl or glass vessel; wick bar holders; clothes pegs; soy wax; old saucepan; candle thermometer; heat-proof jug; fragrance oil; stirrer; scissors; safety labels

NOTES Refer to chosen product pack for variation in directions. For ease of use, shop for kits with pre-measured supplies.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Using hot glue, attach tab of wick to inside base of vessel. For wide-mouth vessels, you can attach 2 wicks, evenly spaced apart. Let dry. STEP 2 Thread top of wick through hole in wick bar holder. Rest ends of wick bar holder on edge of vessel. This holds wick upright when pouring wax. Repeat for all wicks used, if required. Use pegs to keep wicks taut.

STEP 3 Using capacity of vessel as a guide, estimate how much wax you need. Place wax in saucepan on low heat. Note, some wax types will require the double-boiler method.

STEP 4 Bring wax to 80ºc–85ºc. Use thermometer to check temp. The pour temp varies from wax to wax, so check packet for this info.

STEP 5 Check flashpoint of chosen fragrance. Transfer melted wax to jug when at required temp. Add fragrance oil to jug. Fragrance load can be anywhere from 6 to 10 per cent of soy wax quantity. Stir well for 2 minutes.

STEP 6 Pour wax into vessel when it reaches required temp (usually about 55ºc). Allow wax to set, undisturbed, for 24 hours.

STEP 7 Using scissors, trim wick to 6–7mm from surface of wax.

STEP 8 Stick safety label to underside of vessel.

STEP 1

STEP 2