Herbal Wellness Candlemaking Tutorials

What Type of Wax To Select?

Option 1: 100% soy wax will do!
Choose the soy wax with the lowest melting point, simply put, the softer the wax the easier it will adhere to the walls of the cup. (I use 100% soy wax for most of my cup wax making)

Option 2: 80% soy wax ➕ 20% coconut wax
Both waxes are low melting point, soft waxes that adhere easily to the walls of the cup. Don't go all coconut wax, the surface is not flat.

Option 3: 90% soy wax ➕10% microcrystalline wax (choose food grade)
Microcrystalline wax is a synthetic wax, food grade is slightly better, choose the melting point below 60 degrees. Adding it can improve the adhesion of the candle container, and also increase the proportion of essential oil added (increase 5%-10%).
Beeswax, other hard waxes with melting point higher than 55 degrees that is not very recommended for container candles. 

Wax core: 100g cup, 27-40 strands of cotton wicks are fine, bigger cup, bigger strands, usually 40 strands are enough .
Wood chip wicks are also available, they are nicer to look at, but burn with smoke.
Do not use glue: some sellers will send oh, remember to ask for wick holder. They tipically come me either wood or metal form, which is used to secure the wax wick to the bottom of the cup.

Tip: first take a marker to mark the center of the bottom of the cup, the wax core is glued to the dot glue, fixed in the center point, will not run out.
Fixing piece: there are metal and wood can be.
Heaters.

How To Add Essential Oils When Making Candles?

Essential oils are added at 5-10%, preferably 7-10%, 5% is a bit light. The choice of essential oils should not only add cost-effective citrus family, there should be a fixed part of the fragrance, the middle and back of the essential oils should be added, such as patchouli, vetiver, the overall flavor is richer, the aroma is more persistent. Consider adding a natural fragrance base as well.

When Should You Add In Your Essential Oil Mixture To Your Candle?

My reference is that it blends best at 60-70 degrees!
Note: When the temperature is too low (50 degrees Celsius) the diffusion of essential oils is not as good as it claims. I am aware that there are some textbook and tutorials advice you to blend below 50 degree Celsius. 

Tips and Tricks For Candle Making

1. After the candle is dissolved and the temperature is below 60 degrees, add essential oils and mix thoroughly

2. Use a heat gun to blow the walls of the candle container, about 50 degrees, not too hot. (The temperature difference between the candle and the wax solution is not too big, which can avoid the separation of the wax wall)
3. Add the wax liquid below 60 degrees and pour slowly. (not too hot)
4. Wax liquid height reach to the container wall where it is flat place end, wax surface is very nice, as to why you can try yourself.
5. Temperature maneuver all this is to avoid the wax liquid shrinkage caused by the cup wall appeared hollow, separated state. It will be very heart-breaking!
6. The same 200 grams of candle container, the larger the caliber of the wax made out of the more flat and nice!
7. If the wax surface after cooling accidentally have defects, hot air blower to blow a little reshape, try to do the previous steps, hot air blower is just a remedy!
8. Make sure to cool down naturally! Don't be in a hurry, the wax will shrink if the temperature drops suddenly.
9. Wax core cooling the next day before trimming, do not rush to cut, or damage to the surrounding wax surface.

All You Need To Know About The Wick

• Refrigerate

Scented candles can slow down the burning rate of the candle by placing them in the refrigerator for a few hours before taking them out and using them.

• Trimming the wicks

The wick is too long will make the flame of the scented candle too high, and the candle will be unevenly heated and produce black smoke. So before using the candle, use the wick cutter to trim the wick, the wick length is about 0.3cm from the candle.

• Lighting The Candles

 When lighting a candle with a match, please ensure you strike your lighter under the wick. Note that when lighting the candle to burn, avoid placing the candle in the wind, so as not to cause the candle flame shaking tilt, the formation of dripping wax or unattractive phenomenon.

• Extinguish

Aromatherapy candles is not recommended not be blown out directly with the mouth, you need to use a professional candle extinguisher to push the wick down inside the melted candle, and then quickly hold up the wick, so that you are not afraid of black smoke.