Make Your Home Smell Great With Homemade Candles

Written by: JeanG

Do you want your home to smell great without having to buy expensive candles from the store? If so, then making a homemade candle with essential oils is the perfect solution. In this article, I will walk you through how to make a candle that smells like lavender. All you need are some materials, your favourite scent of essential oil, and an empty jar! Before we get started on our project, let's talk about why it's important for our homes to have a pleasant smell:

  1. It can help reduce stress levels by triggering happy memories or releasing calming aromas
  2. A good smelling home often means that someone cares enough about their living space
  3. The scent can make you feel more at home and add individuality

How to make a homemade candle with essential oils

Now that we know the benefits of a good smelling home, let's get started on our project! First, gather all your materials together. To make this candle I will be using:

  • An empty jar for melting wax and pouring it into (I am using an apothecary jar)
  • A sharp knife or scissors to cut up the wicks
  • A small pot for melting wax (I am using a tin can)
  • Thin string, hole punch and embroidery needle to add the wick
  • Wick trimmer to trim my wicks into desired length
  • My favourite essential oil scent of fragrance. I'm going with lavender today!

Step 1: Melt soy wax

  • Melt soy wax in a pot over low heat

At this point you should have your tools and materials ready, so turn on the stove to medium-low. Take your soy wax and put it in the small pot with water - do not cover the soy wax! Once the water bubbles up around the edges of your jar, add about two tablespoons of melted paraffin wax. This will help the soy wax melt faster and make it easier to pour later on in this process!

  • Stir your jar occasionally

This step takes about 15 minutes before you can move onto the next one, so be patient as you wait for all of that lovely melted wax!

Step 2: Add the essential oil

Next, we need to measure out the amount of drops of our favourite essential oil scent of fragrance.

The first one will be how much I need for a single drop on the wick (0.05 ml) so don't forget to measure tiny drops!

I want my candle to have a strong lavender smell that fills up any space, so I'm going with 20 total drops of lavender oil.

However, you don't need to be exact with your measurements! You can always adjust the scent in the final stages by adding more or less essential oils if needed.

I am using a dropper bottle so it is easier to measure out my drops and not spill any on counter tops because I'm clumsy!

Essential Oils

Step 3: Add anchor wicks

Now it is time to add the wicks. You will need a hole puncher, scissors and either some thin string or an embroidery needle.

  • Cut two pieces of string about one metre in length for each candle you are making
  • Take your anchor wick and find out where on the string (or thread) it and place it at the bottom of the jar
  • Punch a hole about two inches from the bottom of jar
  • Thread one end of your anchor wick through the hole. Hold onto this side so it does not unravel
  • Take the other string and thread it into a loop, then place in on top of the first piece you threaded in order to form an "x"
  • Reach down to the bottom of your jar and hold on tightly. Pull up so that you are pulling the top string through, but keep a grip on the anchor wick

It is important not to pull too hard or else you will cause it to unravel around the hole - you may need someone's help for this!

Step 4: Pour wax into mason jar

  • When your wax has melted completely, carefully pour it into your jar
  • Allow the candle to stand for about an hour to let the wax dry
  • Remove any excess wick sticking out from the top and trim to about a half an inch

Can you put too much essential oil in a candle?

No, it is safe to put as much oil in a candle as you want. However, if the smell becomes too overpowering or strong, then dilute with more of your wax and continue pouring until desired scent strength has been reached.

What essential oils are safe for candles?

  • Tea tree
  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Cinnamon (cannot exceed 15% of total oils)

You can use this list to come up with other combinations that you like. The more powerful the scent, the less amount will need to be used in your candle recipe. It is best not to put too many as it will overpower the candle scent.

What essential oils should you avoid?

Clove oil or clove essential oils should not be used in candles. Cloves are a natural source of Eugenol, which is toxic when ingested and can cause skin irritation when it comes into contact with the skin.

Why not light some candles and unwind with some Peanut butter and dark chocolate cookies?

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