3 Deadly Mistakes When Making Candles

Candles can add so much to a room. They create light and atmosphere. In addition, they can emit a pleasant aroma. If you are interested in making your own candles at home, you may want to know how to make scented candles. The truth is that making scented candles is just as easy as making any other type of candle. However, there are a few key pieces of information you should keep in mind as you set out to make scented candles.

Types of Fragrances

There are so many types and brands of fragrances to choose from that it can be hard to know what the difference between them is, or, even if there is a difference. When you are first learning how to make scented candles, it is important that you choose a fragrance that will be appropriate for the type of wax you are using.

You pretty much always want a fragrance that is oil based. Water based fragrances do not mix well with candle wax, and so using them will not allow you to distribute the fragrances evenly throughout your candle. Oil based fragrances, on the other hand, are very easy to combine with candle wax. Using them will help you to produce a candle with a uniform appearance and scent.

When to add the fragrance.

One key to learning how to make scented candles is learning when to add the fragrance. You will want to do this as soon as you take the wax off the heat. Do not put the fragrance in when the wax is still on the stove as many types of fragrance oils burn easily. Adding the scent right after you remove your wax from the heat will allow you to mix it in thoroughly without effecting the quality of your finished product.

How Much is Enough?

Generally, you will want to add an ounce of fragrance for each pound of wax used. This is a good rule to follow when you are first learning how to make scented candles. For most fragrances and wax types, this is the perfect proportion. There are certainly exceptions to the rule, and as you become more experienced with your candle making, you may want to experiment with adding more or less scent to your candles.

This is a perfectly acceptable practice of course. If you are going to do this though, it is a good idea to keep a log book that details what proportion of scent to wax you used on each candle you made and your reflections on the performance of that candle. This is really a good idea, even if you are just learning how to make scented candles because it helps you to develop a sense of how different fragrances interact with different types of waxes.

The only other thing it is important to keep in mind as you begin making your scented candles is that some types of waxes do perform much better with a particular brand of fragrance oil. You will want to be sure and consult the manufacturers recommendations on the type of wax you are using. This is particularly important if you are using a type of wax you have never used before.