Everything to make your own candles.

Also take a look at our blog about candles!

Read this guide to get off to a good start!

Basics of candle making.pdf

Making candles is easy with the right materials and tools.
To help you achieve a great end result, we are happy to advise you on the method and the choice of products.

Paraffin:

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

Making candles with paraffin:

The possibilities for making a candle with paraffin are almost endless. When you make your own candle, you decide the shape, colour and scent yourself.
Candle making often involves a particular "recipe". Adding raw materials such as stearin improves the burning behaviour. There are also various safe candle dyes, so you can give a candle its own look.
Adding a fragrance gives the candles extra character and makes the atmosphere they create while burning extra special.

Melting paraffin:

First read all the information about paraffin so that you can work correctly and safely.

Safety:
It sounds simple, but before you start, think first about safety – for yourself, for others and for animals!
Molten paraffin can cause burns. Use the right protective equipment and keep fire safety in mind.

Time:
Take your time when melting paraffin! Paraffin is a poor conductor of heat and will therefore melt slowly.

Shrinkage/expansion:
Paraffin can expand by up to 20%! After solidifying, it will shrink again. Keep this in mind when pouring the paraffin into a mould.

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

Heating:
Heat the paraffin indirectly using a water bath ("au bain-marie"). Make sure you can control the temperature with an adjustable thermostat (for example, the knobs on your cooker).

Wick

The wick is the heart of your candle. This important component determines whether the candle burns well or not. So choose the right wick for the candle you want to make. The wicks we offer meet the highest quality and safety standards.

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

• Shape
• Diameter
• Composition ("recipe")
• Added colour
• Added fragrance

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

Here are some possible solutions to common problems:

The candle smokes:

• try a smaller wick
• check the position of the wick

The candle drips:

• use a thicker wick
• check that the candle is straight
• avoid draughts while burning

Small flame:

• use a larger wick
• adjust the additives (recipe, colour, fragrance)

Carbon build-up on the wick:

• use pure paraffin and limit additives
• check the centring and tension of the wick during pouring

White ash at the tip of the wick:

• use pure paraffin and the right additives
• check that the wick is straight in the mould before pouring

Fragrance and colour

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

Adding a dye or fragrance will change the burning properties. Because dyes and fragrances contain many different raw materials, it is impossible to say exactly what change this will cause.
It is therefore wise to test a candle first. Pay attention to the composition, the amount of dye and fragrance and the choice of wick.

Please note: fragrance oils can attack casting moulds

Processing colour pigment

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

Over-dipping at 80ºC:

• single dip = approx. 1.5% (15 grams / 15 tablets per kg of wax).
• double dip = approx. 1.0% (10 grams / 10 tablets per kg of wax).
• You can increase or decrease the amount to achieve the desired effect.
• Dark colours may require a higher concentration.

Colouring all the way through:

• Add approx. 0.1% - 0.2% per kg (1 — 2 grams / 1 — 2 tablets per kg of wax)
• You can increase or decrease the amount to get the desired colour.
• Dark colours may require a higher concentration.

Differences during processing:

When colouring candles, many different factors affect the end result, including:

• mixing method;
• temperature;
• dosage.

The image below clearly shows the differences.

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

The final colour depends on the raw material, as the image below clearly shows. On the left, colour pigment has been used in candles with a high fat content. The middle image shows the colour in 100% stearin candles and on the right the colours in pure paraffin.

The type of wax used for dipping also matters. Of the candles shown here, the left candle was over-dipped in paraffin casting wax, while the right candle was dipped in paraffin dipping wax.