One of the questions that we are asked the most at Scents Soaps and Candles is – “What basic candle making supplies do I need to get started”. If you are new to candle making and want to know what supplies you need to get you started we have put together a list of what you will need to get going. Then as you catch the candle making ‘bug’ like so many of us do, you can then increase your supplies.
- Wax – Wax is the starting point of any candle making and you will need to buy container wax if you are making a container candle or pillar wax if you are making a free standing candle.
- Fragrance Oil – You can either use Essential oils or Fragrance oils to add fragrance to your candles. There are many great scents to select from and there are some great ‘dupe’ fragrances of your favorite perfume or aftershave.
- Colour – If you want to add some colour to your candles you can add some of our Bekro candle dye.
- Candle Containers and Molds – If you want to make container candles you can purchase some of our many candle glass containers. These come in various sizes and colours and so you can have a lot of fun choosing which ones you like the most.
- Candle Wicks – It is very important to choose the correct wick for your candle. If you buy the wrong wick you could have problems with your candle not burning properly. What sort of wax that you use, how much fragrance that you use and if you add dye will all affect how your wick burns. Scents Soaps and Candles have a wick guide and recommendation for each type of wax that we sell.
- Weighing Scales – You will need to buy a good weighing scales so that you can get the correct quantities of wax and fragrance oil.
- Heat Source – You will need a heat source (hot plate or stove) to melt your wax
- Saucepans and Pouring Jugs – You will need saucepans to melt your wax in. A lot of people do this by using a ‘double boil method’. This is when you use a large saucepan and fill it half full of water. Place it on the stove and heat it – put a smaller saucepan into the larger one and then add your wax to the smaller saucepan. Be careful not to spill any water into the smaller saucepan that contains the wax. Then heat up and melt the wax to the temperature that you want. Keep topping up the large saucepan with water as it evaporates.
- Thermometer – You will need a thermometer to measure the temperature of your wax.
- Warning Labels – You must put candle warning labels onto your candles which show the correct burning instructions and also act as a safety label.
- Calculator – It is very handy to have a calculator to work out the correct ratio of the ingredients that you will use.
Good luck and happy candle making!