How To Make Wedding Day Favours - Soya Candles, Tips from Wedding Belles Love
We have so many complements on how our boutique smells so amazing, well this section of our blog is how we hand make all our own products, that we give to each of our brides to take home after saying yes to the dress with us.
Here is our step by step guide, with a link below with a full shopping list, let us take away the work for you, and you can have fun making these beautifully smelly favours, or make them for gifts, or your own home.
When I first started to make natural candles, I very quickly learned that candle-making is harder than I had imagined.
Many guides were weighing the wax and working out ratios for wax and oils, as well as purchasing a lot of equipment, so here is my ultra easy guide.
Let’s get started!
Step 1, Measure the wax.
With natural soy wax flakes, I worked out that the wax melts to half the amount, so if you fill your jars with the flakes then times it by two, this is the amount of wax you will need.
Step 2, Prep Containers & Wicks
If you are using the pre-waxed wicks, we use a glue dot to the bottom of the wick and attach it to the bottom center of the glass jar. As well as if you are using the wooden wicks, it is easier with the glue dots to keep the wicks in place when you pour the wax.
Step 3, You need to secure the wick
We use wooden lollypop sticks to hold the wicks in place, they are cheap and you can make a few candles at the same time, as you pour the wax the wick will soften and mve if you dont hold them into place.
Step 4, Melt the wax.
Use a microwave-safe glass measuring jug. Heat the wax, starting with one-minute increments. Stir it thoroughly each time. After two one-minute sessions in the microwave, cut the time down to 30 seconds this will stop the wax from burning.
Step 5, Time to check the temperature.
This is where your thermometer comes in use, it is really hard to try an guess this, we have made this error a few times, so its one of the most important steps. When we add the candle fragrance the temperature needs to be around 185 degrees. If your wax is too hot wait for it to cool down.
Step 6, Add the fragrance oils.
We add around 3 Tablespoons of the candle fragrance oil to approximately 2 cups of melted wax, now stir it thoroughly with a fork, continue to stir for about 2 minutes to ensure everything is wellmixed, keep stirring until the wax is clear again.
Step 7, Now let the wax cool.
Let the soy wax cool as it starts to look cloudy it is time to pour. While you wait, you can prep your containers and wicks.
Step 8, Now pour the wax.
Now the wax is ready to pour, pouring the wax when it’s too hot, will cause separate from the sides of your container. Now carefully pour the wax into the jars, about 1/4 inch from where you want the top to be. Leave a space as you will be topping up the candles in a minute. We use a pancake batter dispenser as it's easier and saves time and waste.
Step 9, Let It Cool
It is time to let the candles cool completely. I normally leave mine over night, this is where you will notice. This is because you might notice that the tops of the candles dip or have holes in them, do not worry. This leads to the next step. So save a little scented wax in your measuring cup.
Step 10, The final Pour
Place your wax into the microwave for around 30 seconds, just so the wax is melted. Then carefully pour just enough wax to cover the candle and fill any holes.
Step 11, Time to trim the Wick
You can use any scissors to trim the wick, even the wood ones, they are very thin so will work easily.
Step 12, Let It Cure
I know it is going to be hard not to light your candle straight away, but scented candles need to cure for a minimum of 3 days, this is so they give off maximum scent when you burn them (known as “hot throw” in the candle making world). It’s also important to keep them covered, which is why I chose glass containers, we order plastic discs to place over the top of the jars if they don't have lids with them. We also add candle warning labels to the bottom, if we give them as gifts, with a advice on how to burn them.
It is now time to light your candle and enjoy your hand made soya candles.
Find your shopping list here:
Shopping list
Soy wax flakes,
Glass jars with or with out lids
Candle wicks either wood or pre-waxed
Candle fragrance oils
Glue dots
Wick holders - Lollypop sticks
Plastic discs
Warning labels
Large measuring jug
Fork & spoon
Meat thermometer
Microwave
Stainless Steel Piston Funnel