Making soy candles
For my Christmas table this year I wanted to add something special that my guests could take home with them along with the goodie bag. I went through a few different ideas but settled on making soy candles for each place setting. Initially I looked through op shops to see if I could find enough shot glasses because I only wanted small candles. Unfortunately I couldn’t find many let along the number that I required.
Luckily my friend told me that Myer was having a sale on homewares so I found some beautiful salt and paper shot glasses that were only slightly more expensive than the ones I had been looking at in the op shops.
Before I show you whats involved in making soy candles, please bear in mind that I am not a candle maker and I don’t sell candles. I make them occasionally for myself and my friends as a hobby.
Supplies used for making soy candles
- Soy wax. I buy my supplies from Eroma.com.au
- Candle Vessel. I chose shot glasses.
- Candle fragrance – I chose vanilla caramel
- Small liquid measuring jug
- wicks
- wick stickums
- paddle pop stick with a hole in the centre for keeping wicks straight
- thermometer
- scales
- old double boiler
Preparing the shot glasses before adding the wax
The first thing I did was give the shot glasses a good clean out and ensure that they were really dry. Next up I added a wick to each glass and made sure they were kept in place using stickums. The final step is to place a stick over each wick to hold it upright when the wax goes in.
Measuring and heating the wax
When I make candles I use the following ratio:-
- 454 grams of wax
- 30ml of fragrance oil
Use your scales to weigh out the correct amount of wax and put it in the top of your double boiler. In this regard make sure you don’t use any of your good pans – try and find an old one at the op shops. I was lucky enough to inherit mine from my lovely great aunty.
Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water and put on medium heat. As the water comes to temperature the wax will start to melt. You should add you thermometer in at this stage. While the wax is melting measure out 30ml of fragrance.
Keep an eye on the thermometer and when the temperature reaches 70C you can add your fragrance in. I use a chop stick to give it a stir at this stage. Once the temperature reaches 75C then pour into your containers. THE WAX SHOULD NOT EXCEED 85C.
Just as the wax started to set I sprinkled the candles with some fine gold glitter so that they would compliment my Christmas tablescape. Leave the candles to harden overnight. Then remove the paddle pop sticks and trim the wicks so that they are only about 1cm above the top of the wax. I was able to fill all 18 shot glasses from one lot of the wax.
I was so happy with how they turned out and they were exactly what the table needed. If you would like to see another Christmas DIY have a look at my goodie bag post.
