This post shares with you 21 amazing easy DIY candles you can make at the comfort of your home.
There’s something fulfilling about lighting a candle you’ve made yourself. If you are looking for a way to unwind after a long day or want to add a personal touch to your home, crafting your own candles brings a cozy, hands-on satisfaction.
I remember the first time I tried making a candle, it felt intimidating at first, but once I melted the wax and added my favorite scents, the whole process became a creative escape.
Now, I’ve gotten the hang of it, and I can’t help but share how simple it can be for anyone, even if you’ve never crafted one before.
In this post, I’ll walk you through some easy DIY candle projects that you can make right at home, even if you’re aiming for a relaxing aroma in your living room or a thoughtful, handmade gift for someone special.
I’m pretty sure you will find something that will serve whatever purpose you need this project for.
21 easy DIY candles to make at home
1. Soy Wax Candles
Soy wax is eco-friendly and easy to work with. Simply melt the soy wax, add your preferred fragrance, and pour it into a heatproof container with a wick placed in the center. Soy candles burn cleaner and longer, making them a popular choice.
2. Beeswax Candles
Beeswax sheets can be rolled around a wick to create simple candles without any melting required. Just cut the sheet to your desired size, place the wick at one edge, and roll tightly. These candles have a natural honey scent.
3. Layered Crayon Candles
For a colorful and fun candle, melt crayon pieces with wax and pour each color in layers. Let each layer cool slightly before adding the next. This gives your candles a vibrant, striped look and lets you repurpose old crayons.
4. Teacup Candles
Repurpose vintage teacups by turning them into charming candles. Melt wax, mix in your fragrance, and pour into the teacup with a wick. These make wonderful gifts and add a cute decorative touch to any room.
5. Cinnamon Stick Candles
For a naturally fragrant candle, glue cinnamon sticks around the outside of a jar before pouring in your wax. As the candle burns, the heat will release a gentle cinnamon aroma, perfect for a cozy atmosphere.
6. Coffee Bean Candles
Add some coffee beans at the base of your candle jar before pouring the wax. The heat from the candle will warm the beans and give off a subtle coffee aroma, perfect for coffee lovers.
7. Lavender-Scented Candles
Add dried lavender buds and lavender essential oil to your wax for a relaxing, calming candle. Lavender’s soothing fragrance is great for unwinding and creating a peaceful ambiance.
8. Pressed Flower Candles
Using dried flowers, press them against the inside of a clear candle mold or jar. When you pour the wax, the flowers will be beautifully embedded in the candle, giving it a delicate, nature-inspired look.
9. Mason Jar Candles
Mason jars are the perfect containers for candles. Simply melt your wax, add fragrance, and pour it into a mason jar with a centered wick. The jar’s rustic look fits perfectly with farmhouse or vintage decor.
10. Lemon-Scented Citronella Candles
Create outdoor candles that help keep bugs away by adding citronella oil and lemon essential oil to your wax. Pour the mixture into jars or tins for outdoor gatherings to naturally repel mosquitoes.
11. Floating Candles
Mold candles into small, shallow shapes that will float on water. These are perfect for adding to bowls or bathtubs for a relaxing vibe. Use silicone molds for easy release and to get creative with shapes.
12. Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are freestanding and don’t require containers. Use a mold to shape your candle and let it cool before removing it. You can decorate the outside with ribbons or paint to match your decor.
13. Herb-Infused Candles
Infuse your candles with dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or mint. Add these herbs to your wax as it melts, along with matching essential oils. This gives your candles a natural and earthy aroma.
14. Coconut Shell Candles
Repurpose coconut shells by turning them into natural candle holders. Melt your wax and pour it into the halved coconut, centering a wick inside. These candles bring a tropical, earthy feel to your home.
15. Scented Gel Candles
Gel candles offer a unique, translucent look. Use gel wax instead of regular wax, adding fragrances and colorful decorative elements like shells, beads, or small trinkets. The gel allows light to shine through, creating a glowing effect.
16. Painted Candle Jars
Personalize your candles by painting the outside of the jar before pouring in the wax. Use glass paint to create designs, patterns, or inspirational quotes, making the jar a part of the candle’s decor.
17. Pumpkin Spice Candles
Perfect for autumn, you can add a blend of pumpkin spice essential oils to your wax. Pour the mixture into small, pumpkin-shaped molds or jars, and enjoy the cozy seasonal aroma.
18. Vanilla-Scented Candles
Add vanilla extract or vanilla essential oil to your melted wax to create a rich, sweet-smelling candle. Vanilla candles add warmth and comfort to any room, and they’re easy to make with common ingredients.
19. Concrete Candle Holders
Make your own candle holders by molding concrete into small, geometric shapes. Once they’ve dried, insert tealight candles. This project adds an industrial, modern feel to your home decor.
20. Eggshell Candles
Use hollowed-out eggshells as tiny candle molds. Melt wax, add a scent, and pour it into the cleaned-out shells with a wick. Once they’re set, you can crack the shell off or leave it on for a rustic, natural look.
21. Ice Candles
Create candles with a unique texture by adding ice to your candle mold before pouring the wax. As the ice melts, it leaves interesting holes and patterns throughout the candle, giving it a one-of-a-kind look.
Items needed to make easy DIY candles at home
Here’s a list of essential items you’ll need to make scented candles at home.
1. Wax
Wax is the primary ingredient in candles. You can choose from several types:
- Soy Wax: Eco-friendly, burns cleanly, and holds scent well.
- Beeswax: Natural and gives off a faint honey scent.
- Paraffin Wax: Common and inexpensive, but it may not be as environmentally friendly.
- Gel Wax: Gives a clear, translucent finish for decorative candles.
2. Fragrance Oils or Essential Oils
These oils are what give your candles their scent. Fragrance oils are synthetic and come in a wide variety of scents, while essential oils are natural extracts and can have therapeutic benefits. Add these to your melted wax based on your preference for scent strength.
3. Wicks
Wicks are necessary for burning the candle. You’ll need to choose the right wick size based on the diameter of your candle container.
- Cotton Wicks: Standard and burn cleanly.
- Wooden Wicks: Create a crackling sound like a fireplace, adding to the ambiance.
- Pre-waxed Wicks: Easier to use as they are already coated in wax for stability.
4. Containers or Molds
You need something to hold the melted wax. Some options include:
- Glass Jars: Mason jars, teacups, or small decorative jars work well.
- Metal Tins: Great for travel-sized candles.
- Silicone Molds: Useful for creating pillar or shaped candles.
5. Double Boiler or Melting Pot
To melt the wax, you’ll need a double boiler setup, which consists of a heat-safe bowl placed over a pot of boiling water. This helps evenly melt the wax without burning it. You can also buy a specialized candle-making melting pot.
6. Thermometer
You’ll need to monitor the temperature of your wax to avoid overheating and ensure you add the fragrance oil at the right time. Most candle waxes should be melted between 70–85°C, depending on the type. The thermometer ensures you don’t go over the recommended melting point.
7. Wick Holders or Wick Centering Device
These tools help keep your wick upright and centered while you pour the wax into the container. You can use popsicle sticks with holes or buy metal wick holders designed specifically for this purpose.
8. Color Dyes (Optional)
If you want to add color to your candles, you can use candle-specific dyes. These come in liquid, chip, or powder form and should be added to your melted wax. Avoid using food coloring as it won’t mix properly with wax.
9. Stirring Stick
You’ll need a stick to stir your melted wax and fragrance oils together. Wooden skewers, popsicle sticks, or dedicated candle-making stirrers work perfectly.
10. Adhesive Stickers or Glue Dots
These are used to secure the wick to the bottom of your container so it stays in place when you pour in the hot wax. You can also use a dab of hot glue for this purpose.
11. Pouring Pot
This is a small, heatproof pot or jug with a spout, used to transfer the melted wax from your double boiler into the candle containers without spilling.
12. Rubbing Alcohol and Paper Towels
You’ll need these for cleanup and to wipe any spilled wax or oils from your work surface and tools.
13. Decorative Add-Ins (Optional)
You can add items like dried flowers, herbs, or glitter to your candles for a decorative touch. Just be cautious with flammable materials, ensuring they don’t pose a fire hazard when the candle burns.
14. Labels (Optional)
If you’re gifting your candles or making them for sale, adding a label with the scent name, ingredients, and care instructions can add a professional touch.
This post showed you 21 DIY Candle that you can make at home.
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