Category Candle Making FAQ

Yes. If you are making pillar candles the outside can be painted with acrylic paint. The paint is not in the melt pool and does not interfere with the wick. This type of candle often will tunnel or not completely…

Yes. It has to be a product or food that can be steeped in oil and filtered so that no particles are suspended in the oil. The oil is used as a colorant. It is difficult to get vibrant colors…

Yes. It has to be an oil-based colorant and there is no guarantee of the outcome depending on the brand as this is not what they are meant for. If you are making candles as a craft to sell it…

Keep in mind that anything that is flammable normally is going to be flammable in your candle. Adding things that are tiny like spices such as cinnamon may clog the wick and may interfere with the candle burning. Cinnamon sticks…

This article is for the occasional crafter that likes to make their own candle. Making candles from scratch requires a few things like candle wax, candle wicks, and vessels to pour the melted wax in. The vessels can be glass…

Soy wax does expire. It has a shelf life of about 2-3 years if stored properly in an air-tight container. Candle wax made from soy wax has a shelf life of about 2 years. After that, the fragrance oil begins…

You can’t put stickers in candles. The ink and paper from the sticker would dissolve over time and the image would likely be distorted or destroyed. The better choice would be accessories. You can put stickers on candles.

You should cover candles when not in use. Soy wax candles are prone to evaporation and the fragrance oil load may deteriorate over time. Paraffin or pillar wax holds the fragrance better. A lid or cover also protects the candle…

You can put flowers in your candles. Many pillar candles are decorated around the outside of the candle with flowers and accessories. Container candles are often decorated with flowers on top. The key is to never leave them unattended and…

It is safe to make candles in coffee mugs. Many coffee mugs are designed to handle hot beverages. Candle testing is important as temperatures should remain around 175 degrees Fahrenheit for the candle container.

You do not add water when melting wax. Candle wax is an oil-based product and will not mix with water. You do not add additional water when melting wax melts in a wax burner. Wax melts are ready out-of-the-package.

Salt makes candles burn longer because it raises the melting point of the wax melt pool. The candle will require just a little more heat to burn resulting in a longer time. Sprinkle just a dash into the wax melt…

If you pour paraffin wax too cold the surface of the candle will be rough in texture. If you try to pour paraffin too cold to reduce shrinking it can result in what are called “jump lines” that look like…

If you pour soy wax too cold the texture of the candle wax becomes very rough and pitted. The candle wax may get large air bubbles trapped and not burn correctly. Soy wax should never be poured at temperatures lower…

Natural soy wax holds the most fragrance by weight at 8-10%. Some lighter fragrances can be added to soy wax up to 12%. This is almost twice the fragrance load of paraffin. Paraffin wax holds 4-6% fragrance by weight. Gel…

The strongest fragrance candle is Yankee Candle. The ultimate scent hot throw comes from paraffin wax and is our choice for commercial candles hands down. The strongest fragrance candle scent is peppermint and the runner-up is eucalyptus. It has earned…