Mumsnet Talk

Hi Emjay,you need to use the same wax as you are using fro your candle.eg.if you are using soy wax to make your candle you need to prime your wick with soy wax,but it is so much easier to buy them ready primed.Fullmoons-cauldron also do multi purpose wicks suitable for any type of wax.Hope this helps.

You need to do paraffin in a double boiler so it doesn't reach flashing point - don't use a microwave.

Thanks! I have paraffin wax and beeswax to use as a hardener. Is there anything you can do to prevent the wax reachign the flash point and ending up with a big firey, burney mess?

I melt the soy wax chips in the microwave, but you can do it in a bain marie - just don't melt them directly over a heat source in the pan!

what do you all use to melt the wax in? do you just st up a ban marie with an old pan?

Just reviving this thread to ask a question about wicks - they are making my head hurt . I have bought what I hope is the right size of wick, but I need to prime it as it's just on a roll - can I use soy wax to prime, or do I need to use paraffin wax? I can lop a bit off a massive candle to use if I need paraffin but just wondered...

TIA

Oh dear me-I have just spent all day trying to figure this all out and find a good price.......I've ended up spending way more than I wanted and i'm not even sure i've got it right! I got very confused with wicks-seeing as I haven't got containers yet-I'm going to be searching for the right diameter containers everywhere now seeing as I have 100wicks coming whoops! My head and eyes are spinning......I really hope I haven't just wasted all that time and money.......

Thanks plipplops-I was worrying how'd I'd get them smelling nice.....would love other tried and tested suggestions!

Well I made Christmas scent (Pine, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon and Apple), Lime & Mandarin and Cinnamon & Apple. Also made a Spiced Lime (Lime, Clove, Nutmeg & Ginger) but they were gross and I binned them. One of the problems I found was that with buying essential oils and scents online you need to really use your imagination about how things smell and I made a few mistakes. What I hoped would be warm and spicy (clover, ginger & nutmeg) were just musky and horrible. I think if you buy scent oils it might be easier (the apple is a scent oil) as someone's already done all the blending but with essential oils It seems there's quite a lot of skill involved and I'm not sure how you achieve that? (Aromatherapy course maybe??)

weird-it's blanked half my message!? I also asked about great smell combinations...I like fruity, tropical holiday memory type smells best but happy to try any great one!
Very excited!

I've been watching this thread-I was hoping to get round to making some for christmas but ran out of time so now I want to make some for ME! (plus everyone will prob get them for their birthdays this year!!!)
I'd like to make some big ones (as I know that i'll never get round to refilling very often!) What would be best to make them in? I'm thinking the large yankee candle type size. Where can I get decent good priced jars from? Also has anyoen bought all the bits and pieces recently and if so where was cheapest?
Lastly-what are really amazing combinations? I prefer more fruity ones I think....and also ones that remind me of lovely holidays-tropical type smells....
I'm so excited about doing this

Just wanted to say I was totally inspired by this thread and made some lovely candles for friends and family this Christmas. If the feedback's good then thinking I might start selling some (I make and sell jewellery already so hope the two might compliment each other in some way?) I've loved making them and just wanted to say thanks!

Thanks Laurie and everyone on this thread. Just marking my place in case I lose the book mark again. Hope the Christmas presents went down a treat.

Million thanks for this thread Lauriefairycake.

My soy wax. Just arrived and I've cobbled together my first candle in an old 200ml Nutella jar. Used some old citronella and cedarwood oils.

Got the stuff from Fullmoon Cauldron; v quick and it was easynto alter my order. Have ordered oils from Oils4life, hopefullynhear vsoon.

Will let younknow how the candle goes.

A million thanks for everyone's top tips

You need to use a high percentage of oil - I've been using as much as 10% for really strong ones.

And you dont 'cook' the oil in with the wax when you melt it, you stir it in at the end.

I was inspired by this thread to make some candles too.

Please can someone tell me why there is no smell from my candles even though I have used essential oils?

They look fab, made one in a wine glass, one in a cup and one in a jam jar but I can't smell them

Any ideas?

Dunno if this pic will work, I made these last weekend, but they have almost no smell. May try lighting and adding more essential oils when they are liquid again.

www.flickr.com/photos/scotmitchy/6318450436/in/photostream

ah thanks Laurie. will have another shot at candle making soon.

Jax - you used waxed wicks with the sustainers on the end - and roll the waxed bit over the top of a pencil and balance the pencil on the top of the vessel. That way you get it right in the middle. It's also then easier to use 2 waxed wicks on slightly larger vessels.

oh I like this thread.

I made some candles last year using up a huge scented square candle that had burned weirdly.

Anyway - my question is; how did you manage to keep the wick dead centre to the middle of the cup? I really struggled with this as it moved around, despite me sticking the bottom metal thingy to the bottom of the glass.

thanks

I can't see that working as a candle QS as soy melts at such a low temperature - like the wax tarts you buy so it will just melt into a rather pretty puddly mess but you could make wax tarts with it. I've not tried making tarts as they're usually so cheap but you have just given me a fab idea so thanks!

Or you could use paraffin wax, burns at higher temperature and that's what most candles you buy in the shops is made off. There are tons of youtube vids for paraffin candles. It looks a bit more dangerous as it could catch fire in a microwave apparently.

Will it work in paper cupcake thingies?

I was thinking I could maybe make candles, and just tear the paper off after?

Wow, what a lovely idea. <bookmarks>

Thanks Laurie . Will give it a go!

1. Because soy wax 'burns' at a very low temperature - not enough to crack glass or china

2. You don't 'chip' anything - you put in the oven on a very low heat,, wait til melted then pour into a jug, wash the vessels in hottish water, dry thoroughly - then reuse the vessels with the melted wax in the jug - adding more wax and microwaving so that you have enough.