Candle Making for Beginners: Complete Starter Guide

Quick Answer

To make your first candle: melt wax in a double boiler, add fragrance at 185 degrees F (10% of wax weight), pour into a container with centered wick at 135-145 degrees F, let cool undisturbed. Basic supplies cost $50-100. Start with soy wax and pre-tabbed wicks for easiest success.

What You'll Need to Start

Essential Supplies

Estimated starter kit cost: $80-170

Choosing Your First Wax

Recommendation for beginners: Start with soy container wax. It's forgiving, affordable, and popular.

Choosing Your First Wicks

For beginners, buy pre-tabbed wicks:

• Already attached to metal base
• No assembly needed
• Various sizes available

Size guideline for soy wax:

• 2-2.5" container: CD-6 or ECO-4
• 3" container: CD-10 or ECO-6
• 3.5" container: CD-12 or ECO-10

For more detailed wick selection, see our wick sizing guide.

Step-by-Step: Your First Candle

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

• Cover surfaces with newspaper or old towels
• Gather all supplies within reach
• Ensure good ventilation
• Keep water away from hot wax

Step 2: Calculate Wax Needed

For each container:

Container volume (oz) × 0.86 = Wax needed (oz)

Example: 8 oz jar needs about 6.9 oz wax

For multiple candles, multiply and add 10% extra. For precise calculations, use our candle wax calculator.

Step 3: Prepare Containers and Wicks

1. Clean containers (remove dust, fingerprints)
2. Stick wick sticker to wick tab bottom
3. Press wick tab into center of container
4. Place wick centering device on top

Step 4: Melt the Wax

1. Set up double boiler (pot of water + pouring pot)
2. Add wax to pouring pot
3. Heat water to simmering (not boiling)
4. Stir occasionally
5. Monitor with thermometer
6. Remove from heat when fully melted (170-180 degrees F)

Important: Never heat wax directly over flame. Never leave melting wax unattended.

Step 5: Add Fragrance

1. Let wax cool to 185 degrees F (or per wax instructions)
2. Calculate fragrance: wax weight x fragrance percentage
   • Example: 16 oz wax x 10% = 1.6 oz fragrance
3. Pour fragrance into wax
4. Stir gently for 2 minutes

For more details on fragrance ratios and maximum loads, see our fragrance load calculator guide.

Step 6: Pour the Candle

1. Let wax cool to pour temperature (135-145 degrees F for soy)
2. Pour slowly and steadily
3. Leave 1/4" at top (for potential second pour)
4. Adjust wick if it moved
5. Don't move candles while cooling

Step 7: Let It Cure

1. Allow 24 hours to fully cool
2. If sinkholes appear, use heat gun or second pour to fix
3. Trim wick to 1/4"
4. Wait 1-2 weeks before burning (cure time)

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Wrong Temperature

Mistake 2: Wrong Wick Size

Mistake 3: Too Much Fragrance

Adding more fragrance doesn't mean stronger scent. Too much causes:

• Oil sweating
• Poor burning
• Fire hazard

Stick to your wax's recommended maximum (usually 6-10%).

Mistake 4: Moving Candles While Cooling

Moving cooling candles causes:

• Uneven surfaces
• Wick displacement
• Wet spots

Let candles cool completely undisturbed.

Mistake 5: Not Testing

Always test before selling or gifting:

• Burn test (4 hours)
• Check melt pool, flame height, scent throw
• Test multiple wicks to find the best

Understanding Wax Properties

Pour Temperature

Different waxes need different pour temps:

Fragrance Load

How much fragrance your wax can hold:

Cure Time

Time needed for fragrance to bond with wax:

Troubleshooting Guide

Problem: Sinkholes Around Wick

Cause: Wax shrinks as it cools Fix:

• Second pour with remaining wax
• Heat gun to remelt surface
• Poke relief holes before cooling

Problem: Wet Spots (Adhesion Issues)

Cause: Wax pulling away from glass Fix:

• Pre-heat containers
• Pour at correct temperature
• Cool more slowly
• Note: purely cosmetic, doesn't affect burn

Problem: Frosting (White, Snowy Coating)

Cause: Natural property of soy wax Fix:

• Can't fully prevent in 100% soy
• Purely cosmetic
• Pour at lower temp to minimize

Problem: Weak Scent Throw

Cause: Usually multiple factors Fix:

• Test different fragrance loads
• Try larger wick (bigger melt pool)
• Ensure proper cure time
• Try different fragrances

Problem: Candle Tunneling

Cause: Wick too small for container Fix:

• Size up wick
• First burn should reach edges (1 hour per inch diameter)

Cost Breakdown

Per Candle Costs (8 oz soy candle)

This doesn't include equipment, your time, or overhead—important for pricing if you sell.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a candle?

Active time: 30-45 minutes for a small batch. But candles need 24 hours to cool and 1-2 weeks to cure before burning.

Why does my candle smell stronger cold than when burning?

This is cold throw vs. hot throw. Some fragrances perform differently when burning. Also, try a larger wick for better hot throw.

Can I use essential oils instead of fragrance oils?

Yes, but essential oils are more expensive and some don't perform well in candles (citrus fades quickly). Start with candle-specific fragrance oils.

How do I know when wax is fully melted?

When no solid pieces remain and wax is clear/translucent. Stir and check the bottom of your pot.

Is candle making dangerous?

Hot wax can cause burns and is flammable. Use a double boiler (never direct heat), never leave melting wax unattended, keep water away from wax, and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

How many candles can I make with 5 lbs of wax?

Depends on size. For 8 oz containers: 5 lbs / 7 oz per candle = approximately 11 candles.

Conclusion

Candle making is an accessible craft with a satisfying learning curve. Start with quality supplies, follow proper temperatures, and test your results. Your first candles might not be perfect—that's part of learning.

As you progress, tracking your recipes, temperatures, and results becomes important. Many candle makers use software to record what works, so they can consistently reproduce their best candles.

Take notes, be patient with the curing process, and enjoy creating something beautiful and fragrant.