Everything to make your own candles.

Make Your Own Candles This Christmas!

Also read this nice Blog about candles!

Read this manual for all tips and trick on how to make your own candles!

Basics of candle making.pdf

Making candles is easy with the right materials and tools.
In order to achieve a good end result, we are happy to help you with advice about the method and choice of products.

Paraffin :

Paraffin is a "residual" product of the fossil raw material petroleum
This is a saturated hydrocarbon. The paraffin we offer is pure and contains no harmful substances. From a toxicological point of view, this paraffin is harmless to public health.

Making candles with paraffin:

The possibilities of making a candle with paraffin are very large. By making a candle you can determine your own shape, color and scent.
To make a candle, a certain "recipe" is often used. The flammability is improved by adding raw materials such as Stearin. In addition, there are various safe candle dyes, so that you can give a candle its own look.
By adding a scent you give the candles extra character and make the atmospheric experience of burning extra special.

Melting Paraffin:

Read all the information about paraffin first, so that you can work correctly and safely.

Safety:
It sounds simple, but before you start, think about your safety for yourself, for others and for animals!
Molten paraffin can cause burns. Provide the right protective equipment and think of fire safety.

Time:
Give the melting of paraffin some time! Paraffin is a poor conductor of heat and will therefore melt slowly.

contraction/expansion:
Paraffin can expand up to 20%! After solidification, it will shrink again. Keep this in mind when you pour the paraffin into a mold.

Ambient temperature :
The ideal ambient temperature for processing paraffin is 18°C.

To heat:
Heat the paraffin indirectly by means of "au-bain-marie". Make sure you can regulate temperature by means of an adjustable thermostat. (for example, the knobs on your stove.)

fuse / pit

A wick, also called a wick or wick, is the heart of your candle. This important part of your candle ensures that the candle burns well or not well. Therefore, choose the right wick for the candle you want to make. The fuses we offer are of the highest quality and safety standard.

Choosing the right fuse:
The following factors influence the choice of fuse:

• Form
• Diameter
• Composition "recipe"
• Addition of color
• Addition Fragrance

When producing multiple candles, we recommend testing one candle first.

Here are a few possible solutions to known issues:

Smoke from the candle:

• try a smaller fuse
• check fuse placement

Dripping from the candle:

• use a thicker fuse
• check if the candle is straight
• prevent drafts when burning

Small flame:

• use a bigger fuse
• Customize the addition (recipe, color, fragrance)

Carbon deposition on the fuse:

• use pure paraffin and limit additions
• check centering and relaxation of the wick while pouring

White ash at the end of the fuse:

• use pure paraffin and the right additives
• check if the wick is straight in the mold before pouring

Fragrance and color

By adding a fragrance and/or dye, you can personalize a candle and give it a unique character.

Adding a dye or fragrance will change the burning properties. Due to the many raw materials in the colorants, it is not possible to indicate exactly what change this causes.
It is therefore wise to test a candle first. Look at the composition, the amount of dye and fragrance and the choice of the wick.

Note: Fragrance oils can affect molds/moulds

Processing color pigment

1. Weigh the required amount of color pigment or count the number of color tablets to be used.
2. Dissolve the pigment in a separate mixing bowl at a ratio of 1:10 at a temperature of approx. 90 ˚C.
3. Mix this whole with an electric mixer until a homogeneous mass.
4. Pour this concentrate into the rest of the wax and mix again until a homogeneous mass.
5. Check that the correct color has been achieved before starting candle production.

Immerse at 80ºC:

• dipping once = approx. 1.5% (15 grams / 15 tablets per kg of wash).
• dip twice = approx. 1.0% (10 grams / 10 tablets per kg of wash).
• To achieve the desired effect, you can increase or decrease the amount.
• Dark colors may require a higher concentration.

Through-and-through colors:

• Add approx. 0.1% - 0.2% p/kg (1 — 2 grams / 1 — 2 tablets per kg of wash)
• To get the desired color, you can increase or decrease the amount.
• Dark colors may require a higher concentration.

Differences during processing:

When coloring candles, many different factors affect the final result, including:

• way of mixing;
• temperature;
• dosage.

Below is a clear picture of the differences.

From left to right:
Candle 1: mechanically mixed and dipped 2 x at 70 °C
Candle 2: manually mixed and dipped 2 x at 85°C
Candle 3: mechanically mixed and dipped 2 x at 85°C
Candle 4: manually mixed and dipped 2 x at 70 °C

The final color rendering depends on the raw material. This is clearly visible in the image below. On the left, color pigment has been incorporated into candles with a high fat content. The middle image is the color rendering with 100% stearin candles and on the right the colors in pure paraffin.

The type of wax with which the color is dipped is also important. With the candles on the right, the left candle has been dipped in the paraffin wax, while the right candle has been dipped with paraffin wax.