Tips for candle-making with essential oils

---

Author: Kacie La

Candles have been a symbol of warmth and tranquillity for centuries, bringing a unique blend of elegance and comfort to any space. Their soft, flickering light creates an ambience that is both soothing and inviting, transforming ordinary rooms into cosy sanctuaries.

In today's fast-paced world, the calming presence of a candle can be a simple yet profound form of self-care, offering a moment of peace amidst the hustle and bustle.

But beyond just buying candles, there's something truly special about making your own. Crafting candles with essential oils offers a personalised touch that store-bought ones can't match. This process allows you to choose your favourite scents and create a custom ambience while giving you an engaging and creative activity that can be both relaxing and rewarding.

Whether it's the soothing aroma of lavender for relaxation, the invigorating scent of citrus to energise, or the earthy tones of sandalwood for grounding, each candle you make is a reflection of your personal style and mood.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are concentrated natural extracts derived from plants, offering a wide range of aromatic fragrances. They are obtained through various methods, such as steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. These oils capture the essence of a plant, providing delightful scents that permeate the room.

In the context of candle-making, essential oils are used to scentyour homemade candles with an alluring fragrance that elevates the ambience of any room. N-Essentials offers a diverse collection of essential oils sourced from trusted and reputable suppliers worldwide, ensuring that you receive only the highest quality natural essential oils for your candle-making projects.

In addition to candle-making, essential oils can be utilised in a variety of ways such as diffusing, soaps, laundry fresheners, and even as natural alternatives to synthetic insect repellents. With their versatile nature and captivating scents, essential oils have become an indispensable component in the world of DIY cosmetics and home goods.

Can You Use Essential Oils in Candle-Making?

Yes, you can definitely use essential oils in candle-making. Essential oils are a popular choice for adding natural, fragrant aromas to homemade candles. When you incorporate essential oils into your candle-making process, you can create a range of scents that reflect your personal preferences and mood, from relaxing lavender to invigorating peppermint. This customisation is one of the joys of crafting your own candles, allowing you to create unique and personalised products for your home or as thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

How to Make a Scented Candle

Creating your own scented candles is a rewarding experience that allows for personalisation and creativity. Whether you're crafting a handmade gift or indulging in a hobby, using essential oils in your candles offers the flexibility to tailor the scent to your liking. Here's a detailed guide to help you make your own scented candles with essential oils.

Ingredients and Equipment

• Glass Jar: Choose a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. This will be your candle container.
• Pan or Double Boiler: For melting the wax.
• Wax Chips or Pellets: You can use beeswax or paraffin wax. Beeswax offers a natural, toxin-free option, while paraffin wax is known for a strong scent throw.
• Wooden Skewer or Chopstick: To stir the wax and help position the wick.
• Essential Oil(s): Select your favourite scent or create a blend. Be sure to use oils that are safe for burning.
• Candle Wick: Available at craft stores; ensure it's the right size for your jar.
• Wick Size Chart: Helps in choosing the correct wick size for your candle.
• Scissors: For trimming the wick.

Using essential oils in candle-making is a delightful way to infuse your candles with natural fragrances. Here's a detailed guide on how to best use them:

Choose the Right Wax

The type of wax you use is important. Soy wax and beeswax are popular choices for their natural properties and ability to hold scents well. Soy wax, in particular, has a lower melting point which helps in releasing the essential oil scents effectively.

Select Your Essential Oils

Decide on the essential oils you want to use. You can either use a single scent or blend different oils to create a unique fragrance. Consider the mood or ambience you wish to create with your candle. For example, a light lavender or fruity citrus.

Prepare Your Materials

Gather all the necessary materials, such as wax, wicks, a double boiler for melting wax, a thermometer, containers for your candles, and, of course, your chosen essential oils.

Melting the Wax

Use a double boiler to melt the wax. Heat the wax to about 77-82°C. It's important not to overheat the wax, as higher temperatures can damage the fragrance of the essential oils.

Adding Essential Oils

Once your wax is melted, remove it from the heat and let it cool down to around 49-54°C before adding your essential oils. This temperature range is crucial because if the wax is too hot, it can evaporate the essential oils, diminishing their fragrance.

Mixing the Oils

Add your essential oils to the cooled wax and stir gently for a thorough mix. The amount of oil you'll need can vary, but a general guideline is about 10-15 drops of essential oil per 1 cup of melted wax. This can be adjusted based on how strong you want the scent to be.

Setting the Wick

While the wax is cooling, prepare your container by fixing the wick in place. Always be sure to choose the right wick size for your candle to ensure safety. You can use a bit of melted wax to secure the wick at the bottom of the container.

Pouring the Wax

Once your wax and oils are mixed, pour the mixture into your prepared container. Make sure the wick stays centred as you pour.

Curing the Candle

After pouring, let your candle cool and set for several hours or overnight. It’s important to allow ample time for curing, which can improve the scent throw of your candle.

Trimming the Wick

Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to about ¼ inch. This helps ensure a cleaner burn.

What are the Best Essential Oils for Candle Making

When it comes to using essential oils for candle-making, the possibilities are endless. Picking the right combination of oils is important so that you get the right fragrance profile. Here are some essential oil combinations that are perfect for creating candles with a delightful fragrance:

Essential Lavender Oil and Essential Grapefruit Oil: This classic combination adds a citrus note to the floral beauty of lavender.

Essential Lemon Oil and Essential Rosemary Oil: This bright pairing is perfect for filling your home with a fresh scent.

Essential Cinnamon and clove: This warm, spicy combination sets a mood and creates an inviting atmosphere during the colder months.

What Essential Oils are Safe For Candles?

When it comes to creating a relaxing and inviting ambience, candles are hard to beat. For a greener and more natural option, add essential oils to your candles. The bottom line is that pure, natural essential oils in small quantities are safe to use in all homemade candles. Smaller quantities ensure that the smell is not too overpowering and the candle doesn’t smoke too much.

Geranium, peppermint, and ylang ylang oils are all excellent essential oils for candle-making and are suitable for use in the morning or evening. The flickering flames and soft light can instantly transform any room, filling it with warmth and an elevated atmosphere.

How To Use Essential Oils For Candle-Making? Our Top Tips

Before you start making candles, there are a few things to keep in mind when using essential oils. If you follow these simple guidelines, you can create beautiful, fragrant candles that will fill your home with warmth and light.

Choose The Right Essential Oils

Be sure to use high-quality, pure essential oils. The range of essential oils at N-Essentials comes from trusted and reputable suppliers all over the world. You can trust our collection to include only the highest quality natural essential oils.

Test Your Fragrance

If you’re using one essential oil, you’re set to have a concentrated scent in your space. Sandalwood essential oil is a great choice for a candle with one fragrance. But most people prefer to combine essential oils and make an all-natural blend of their own! Be sure to test the scent before adding it to your candles. We recommend mixing eucalyptus and lemon for a fresh smell with tangy citrus notes, or rosemary and cedarwood for an earthy fragrance.

Add The Right Amount Of Essential Oils To Your Candles

Use only a small amount of oil — too much can make the candle smoke. Add the oils to the melted wax, not the wick.

How Do You Dilute Essential Oils For Candles?

When it comes to adding essential oils to candles, the most important thing is to make sure that they are properly diluted. This is because undiluted essential oils can be very potent and cause your candle to smoke too much in an enclosed space like your home.

The best way to dilute essential oils is to use a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or coconut oil. Simply add a few drops of the essential oil to the carrier oil and mix well. Then, add a few drops of this diluted mixture to your candle wax and stir thoroughly. By taking the time to properly dilute your essential oils, you can enjoy their fragrance.

Where to Buy Essential Oils for Candle-Making in Australia?

Essential oils from N-Essentials are entirely natural. They are safe to use in candle-making at home. You can buy our essential oils in bulk or in smaller quantities. For more information, feel free to get in touch with us today.