The candle has undergone significant changes over time. When electricity did not yet exist, it was used to illuminate homes, along with oil lamps. Later, with the advent of electric light, candles were appreciated for other aspects, such as air fresheners and decorative elements to recreate suggestive atmospheres, so much so that they became true design objects.
Do you like the atmosphere that is created in your home when the light is soft and warm? Then you are surely a candle lover, like us. For this reason we have decided to select some ideas and tips to help you make handmade candles! Whether you simply want to decorate the rooms of your home or recreate a magical atmosphere for a special occasion like Christmas, follow our advice and discover how to make easy but beautiful DIY candles!
What you need to make DIY candles
- candle wax;
- heat resistant molds;
- wicks;
- candle dyes;
- essential oils.
Now that you have all the ingredients, let's get to the heart of the creation. Below we explain how to make your candles step by step.
Step by step guide for DIY candles
It may seem difficult, but actually making DIY candles is simple and fun. All you need is high-quality raw materials and a clear idea of shape, color and fragrance.
Prepare the mold
Wash it and check for cracks. Make sure to choose a heat-resistant material or a candle holder, because you will be pouring hot wax into it later. We recommend glass containers, simple and essential, perfect for holding hot wax.
Dry the mold well
Use a cloth to help you and heat it briefly in the oven, until it reaches a temperature higher than room temperature.
Melt the wax
Melt the wax in a double boiler, then add the colorant of the shade you have chosen and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Based on the size of the candle to decide whether to add more or less color or oil.
Fix the wick
Pour a few drops of wax into the mold to position the metal plate wick. Do not move it until the wax has cooled. Now your goal is to not let the wick string fall into the wax as you fill the container. The best trick is to use a chopstick placed on the edge and secure the wick with tape, or use a clothespin.
Bring your candle to life
Fill the mold with the melted wax and wait for it to cool. If you have chosen a decorated container and want to keep it inside, your handmade candle is ready! Otherwise, gently remove it from the mold and decorate it as you like.
DIY candles without wax
Did you know that you can make homemade candles without wax? The procedure is practically the same as for classic candles, but with one variation: instead of wax, you use lard! Let's see together how to do it.
- Choose a container and fix the wick to the bottom with hot glue.
- Melt the desired amount of lard in a small saucepan, being careful not to fry it. It will only take a few seconds for it to melt completely without burning.
- In another saucepan, add the wax crayons of the chosen color, in pieces or flakes. Melt them over low heat until they are melted.
- Add the color to the lard and mix well until you get a homogeneous result. Then add a few drops of the scented essence you prefer.
- Pour the mixture into the container and leave to solidify in the fridge.
See? It's very simple! Lard is available in all supermarkets: a great alternative if you can't find candle wax.
DIY Christmas candles
Christmas is the perfect time to fill your home with lights that can recreate that magical atmosphere that makes your home welcoming and warm. Making DIY Christmas candles is very simple. In fact, the procedure is identical to those seen previously, you just need to be a little more careful in choosing colors and decoration.
To make a DIY Christmas centerpiece with candles , get molds of different heights and shapes. Use the same color to give a sense of continuity, but have fun with the decorations by alternating ribbons and glitter of different colors. Place your candles on a tray or on a cake stand. At this point decorate the base with twigs, Christmas balls, red berries and fake snow. Alternatively, use an old garland as the base of your centerpiece and insert the candles you have made in the middle.
As for the candles, first choose the color of the wax: we recommend red, green or white, the classic Christmas colors. Then get some gold and silver glitter to insert into the wax or to use later as a decoration. In addition to the glitter, you can use colored ribbons, stars, pine twigs or red petals to decorate them or create compositions to use as centerpieces. Another simple but effective idea is to get a spherical mold to make candles that resemble Christmas balls, which you can then decorate as you like.
We leave you below a simple idea to make, but with a sure effect: ideal for personalising your home during the Christmas holidays!
DIY candles for Easter
Easter is a true hymn to pastel colors, flowers and that energy that you feel in the air when spring arrives. Do you like the idea of decorating your home with candles in delicate shades , like lilac or pink? If you don't feel like making them from scratch, don't worry! You can buy long candles in the colors you prefer and customize them as you like, giving life to small works of modern art. If you don't know how to do it, watch the video below... and get inspired.
If, instead, you like the idea of dedicating yourself to DIY, we have an original and perfect way to decorate your home during the Easter period. Watch the video below and learn how to create beautiful candles with eggshells!
Candle Decorating Ideas
If you don't like the idea of keeping your new candle in a glass or a glass container, after removing it from the mold you can decorate it as you like. Here are 5 ideas for creating unique and special decorations !
- With flowers. Simple and elegant, candles with flowers add a touch of color to your home. You can insert dried flowers directly into the melted wax, while you are preparing your candle, or apply them later. Use vinyl glue to make them stick to the wax once your candle is ready, and let them dry for at least 1 hour.
- With glitter. Apply tape to the parts you don't want glitter on, and cover the remaining areas with vinyl glue. Now, pour the glitter you've chosen into a large enough container and insert the candle, making sure it sticks perfectly to the glue. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes, then remove the tape. The result will be very bright!
- With jewel motifs. Do you like the idea of having homemade candles decorated with precious stones? In DIY stores you can find many decorative jewel elements: choose the ones you prefer and apply them to your candle, using vinyl glue. Leave to dry for at least 1 hour. Alternatively, you can choose to use adhesive rhinestones, very quick to apply.
- With Candle Pens. With these special candle pens, drawing lots of figures is really easy. These pens use liquid wax to create filigree lines, ideal for delicate patterns and logos. The extra trick? Use painting templates to paint realistic images.
- With your photos. Tape together a sheet of copy paper and a sheet of wax paper, then print the photo of your choice. Cut the image to the right size and wrap the candle with the sheet, making sure it adheres well. Use a hair dryer to fix the photo to the wax, making sure to point the jet of hot air over the entire surface.
