Candle making is a fun experience, especially for those who adore creativity. If you’re a DIY kind of person, then you’re going to love the experience of wooden wick candle making. If you get better at it, you can also capitalize on it. Making wood wick candles is easy, and even if you’re a beginner, this article has all the bells and whistles to get your foot through the door of candle making.
How to make wood wick candles
Requirements
Since you’d like to know how to make wood wick candles rather than buy them, you’ll need essential supplies as outlined below.
- Base clips and wood wick
- Containers, e.g., glass jars
- Slow Cooker
- Wax like; myrtle wax, soy wax, or other natural wax.
- Essential oils are optional
- Fragrance oils
Process of making the wood wick candles
Now that you have all the essentials, where do you begin? First, turn the slow cooker on and tune it to a low level but don’t add water. Fill the jars with wax. Soy wax is the most popular wax people use in making wood candles, mainly because of its affordability. However, for those who’d like other alternatives, we’ll explore different kinds of wax and essential oils later in this article.
Before placing the wax in the jar, ensure you use a container blend; otherwise, the wax might shrink and pull away from the jar’s sides. Advisably, you should add a teaspoon of hard oil such as palm or coconut oil if the candle wax is hard (beeswax). These hard oils soften the wax as it solidifies to adhere to the jars’ sides.
Next, put the jars below the slow cooker. The size of the slow cooker, though, doesn’t matter, but you can fit about 5 to 9 jars at its bottom if, for example, they’re half-pint jars. You should add more wax as the candle melts if the size of the candle you desire doesn’t reach the jar level when the wax is still melting. Once you’re done, cover the cooker.
Another alternative heating method to melt the wax is suspending the wax jar over a pot of simmering water. Use a double boiler. Also, don’t forget to stir it until the liquid wax is clearer. At this stage, you can also add fragrance oil drops of your choice. For those who don’t know what type of fragrance oils to choose, don’t worry, as the comprehensive outline below will steer you in the right direction.
Types of fragrance oils for wood wick candles
If you want to enjoy a freshly scented environment in your personal space, then as you make the candles, you should also include the fragrance oils, as previously mentioned. Wood wick candles (or wooden wicks) lend an extra atmosphere to a crackling sound. Though essential oils are also a viable option, fragrance oils are the most suitable option. These types of fragrance oils are;
Christmas spice oil
The Christmas spice fragrance oil is one of those varieties that can catapult you quickly to a festive mood, courtesy of its good scent. The ingredients in this spectacular aroma oil combine cloves and cinnamon with a hint of crushed vanilla pods and plum scent. So, if you want to fill your house with a nostalgic festive feeling— especially Christmas, then this option should be at the top of your list of considerations.
Vanilla oil
For those new to the game of candle making, vanilla fragrance oil should be a better start. Plus, it’s among the top best varieties in the market. The fragrance oil gives off the scent mixed with tempting creamy scents, chocolate, and coconut with small hints of sugar. Vanilla oil is also best for lightening up the mood in any room.
So, if you want to make a wood wick candle to burn before retiring to sleep or add fragrance to your living space, rest assured that this fragrance oil won’t let you down. Also, it’s a perfect choice if you’re having guests over to tantalize their senses with a sweet vanilla aroma.
Perma violet oil
Perma violet oil is a great option and deciding on it is a matter of following your heart’s desire. The Perma violet fragrance combines lilies, heliotropes, and roses in its aroma. In addition, it’s coupled with spices to set it off. That combination should give you an idea of how best the aroma it produces is. Notably, this fragrance oil produces an aroma that every family member will love. Essentially, it’s best for burning a wood wick candle in the dining room, especially during mealtime.
Seaspray oil
If you’re ever feeling nostalgic about the smell of the sea and sandy beaches and crave more, then this fragrance oil will guarantee more of what you seek. That way, you can enjoy the essence of being on the beach for as long as you like. The aroma of this oil is woven with notes of green leaf, Mandarin, and lemon. The fragrance oil is also perfect for burning wood wick candles in your bathroom to travel to delightful favorite places as you unburden yourself of the day’s stress.
Coconut oil
Like the sea spray fragrance oil, this one is also a perfect solution for those seeking the essence of the atmosphere feel of seas and beaches in their homes. Also, with this oil in your wood wick candle, you can trigger the summer spirit any time you want. A wood wick brings back memories of the beach too.
On the other hand, the powdery scent of coconut is an excellent stress reliever. Even as you take long, hot baths, you’ll be doing yourself a favor health-wise by burning this fragrance oil as it also provides comfort. In addition, the oil emits a scent that can trigger good memories, which you can dream of as you sleep while relaxed.
Now that you have the scent handled, if you want the wood wick candles to have an elegant appearance with decorative colors, you should add colors to the melting liquid. These candle dyes are readily available on many online retail platforms like Amazon. After adding the color chips, stir properly to even out the mixture. Also, after stirring, leave the wax to continue melting as you prepare the wood wicks. You can either purchase or make the wood wicks yourself.
Making the wood wicks
For those who’d like this to be a more DIY-oriented project, aim to make the wood wicks yourself. The requirements you’ll need include;
- Scissors
- Balsa wood sticks
- Flash dish
- Paper towels
- Wood wick tabs
Using the pair of scissors, cut the balsa wood sticks to your preferred sizes. Remember, the length of these wood wicks should be slightly longer than the candle length. Alternatively, you can cut the balsa wood sticks to approximately 1 inch longer than the glass jar height.
You can either choose to go with soft or hardwood sticks. However, balsa wood sticks are a readily available plus; they’re more affordable. Moreover, they’re long and lightweight, making them a more suitable choice. So, if you want to get your hands on these wood wick sticks, try visiting a hobby store near you.
Coating and soaking the wood wick
This step requires you to place the wood wicks in a jar and then coat all sides of each stick by pouring olive oil on them. Leave the sticks to soak in the oil for about 20 minutes, then fish them out and wipe them with paper towels. Alternatively, you could use your cooking oil. However, olive oil is a budget-friendly option.
Note that you aren’t supposed to skimp the oil since it soaks in the wood, which will aid supplement the flame’s burning quality when the candle is lit.
Next, put the oil-treated wood pieces in the wick tabs. Use the tabs strictly designed for wood wicks. That’s because you’ll have trouble using other tabs for cotton wicks in this project. If you want to make as many candles as possible all at once, then consider using recyclable jar options such as baby food jars, jelly jars, etc.
Waxes that will work well with your wooden wick
As mentioned earlier, soy wax is the most preferred option. In this section, we’ll explore different types of wax, including soy wax, then you can decide on the option that’ll suit your needs.
Coconut wax
A high-yield and sustainable crop like coconut is among the natural sources of quality wax new in the industry. In addition, coconut wax is a preferable option because it holds a perfect blend of fragrance and color. Moreover, as it burns, it produces little to no soot. Though popular, it’s among the most expensive options. But if you’re willing to stretch your financial arms a little bit, rest assured that it’ll be worth the investment.
Gel wax
Panreco company is the largest producer of gel candle wax. So if you decide to settle for this option, chances are, you’ll be using the Panreco candle wax. Technically, gel wax isn’t wax. Its components consist primarily of mineral oils and resin.
However, it still holds some similarities to other candle wax, e.g., it has color and fragrance, and it melts upon burning. As for the difference, it is majorly in the transparency that’s making it possible to make other wax varieties from it. This wax is often used in novelty candles to imitate water, beer, or wine.
Paraffin wax
Paraffin wax is mainly popular for its ability to hold a huge quantity of colors and fragrances. In addition, it’s among the most affordable options in the market. It also comes in different varieties depending on the melting points. That makes it a viable alternative for making multiple kinds of candles, including those in pillars. Though versatile, this candle wax isn’t an eco-friendly option as its components are by-products of petroleum oil. On the other hand, if not properly cared for, it’s more likely to create soot.
Beeswax
Beeswax is arguably one of the best and probably the oldest candle wax option since time immemorial. These candle waxes go way back as far as ancient Egyptian times. Some of these waxes have been spotted in multiple pyramids. Just from the name, this wax is primarily made from bee wax — a byproduct of the honey-making process.
So, how does this bee wax come about? The bees excrete the wax onto the honeycomb for larvae incubation. During the creation process, the honey is infused with wax which gives off a natural fragrance with slight variations depending on the flowers the bees feed on.
After harvesting the wax, it undergoes melting with multiple filtrations. As a buyer, you’ll be purchasing this wax in the form of blocks, or pastilles, i.e., tiny pellets that melt easily. Also, you can buy them in the form of pre-rolled sheets that you can easily turn into candles without melting.
Soy wax
Uniquely, this type of candle wax is new in the scene, yet it has racked up a lot of popularity in the candle-making industry. Keep in mind that this candle wax was developed as paraffin and natural bee wax alternatives.
Soy wax bears some similarities to paraffin wax, such as; it comes in different blend varieties like melting points. A majority of these waxes are made from pure soybeans oil. Other natural forms of soy wax come from vegetable oils.
Putting together your wooden wick candle
Once you’ve noticed that the wax has completely melted, you should remove the jars from the slow cooker. Immediately after that, add the fragrance oil to the liquid and stir thoroughly before solidifying. If you don’t know the precise amount of oil that’ll be sufficient, about 12 – 13 drops Should be enough for a half-pint jar.
Using a base clip or a suitable substitute such as a metal washer, attach the wood wick to the base of either. If you decide to use a metal washer, trim the base of the wood wick to fit on the metal washer’s hole or whatever alternative option you decide to go with. Now while holding the wick with the base clip or the metal washer, lower it into the liquid wax.
Ensure you’ve positioned it right at the center of the jar the let the wax cool and solidify. After a couple of hours, the wax should be cool. Melt the top surface using a hairdryer or heat tool, then let it cool again. Remember to remove stray wax that might stick on the jar’s glass edges.
Once the cooling is done, test for cold scent throw (amount of fragrance a cold candle can emit). If you used essential oils and noticed that the cold scent throw is low, you’ll have to put it back in the slow cooker to melt, then add more essential oils. Advisably, you shouldn’t add essential oils to a burning candle as most of them are highly flammable.
Why choose a wood wick candle?
By now, you should know that these candles are the ideal choice if you want a cleaner and eco-friendly candle burn in your house. Some of the benefits of using these candles include;
- Slow-burning: in addition to clean-burning, these candles burn much slower than cotton wicks. So, you can be sure that your effort to make a wooden wick candle won’t go to waste in a single burn.
- The modern aesthetics: the wooden wick candles have a distinctly unique modern feel that a cotton wick lacks as it produces a flat horizon flame with a magnificent appearance.
- Clean burn: the main reason why most people opt for wooden candle wicks is due to their clean burn, courtesy of their eco-friendly components.
- Excellent fragrance throw: according to a popular study test, wood wicks can diffuse heat much faster than cotton wicks. That way, they can push over 35% of the fragrance into a room. So rest assured that once you light your wood wick candle, the fragrance should fill the room in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my candle starts emitting black smoke?
Before you light your candle, make a ⅛ inch trim on the wick. That way, you shall have made the candle environmentally friendly, and it shall last much longer. However, you should know that all candles, including the wooden wick ones, will produce smoke. So, it’s not something you can permanently get rid of.
Are the wood wicks candles safe?
These candles are made from eco-friendly materials, which makes them much safer than then cotton varieties which emit toxic chemicals when burning.
What should I do if my wood wick candle doesn’t stay lit?
In the same way, you’d avoid black smoke, i.e., the ⅛ inch trim should suffice. Also, clear the wax around the wooden wick’s edge then after the candle has cooled down if it’s struggling to stay lit. Remember to ensure that melted wax spreads to the edge of the jar to ensure an even burn.
Do these wood wick candles burn quickly?
Generally, these wooden wick candles burn faster. However, paraffin and soy wax blends tend to burn a lot faster. But compared to cotton candles, the wood wicks burn slower.
