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How to Make your own Coconut Wax Candle at home

How to Make your own Coconut Wax Candle at home

Whether you’re reading up for your candle making journey, picking up a new hobby, or taking a candle making class right now, Light 4 Life is here to help you in your quest to create basic homemade candles.

Let’s start with your candle wax!


Why should I use Coconut Wax for my homemade candles?

Coconut wax is considered one of the best and healthiest types of candle wax that you can use to make candles. It is odorless and colorless, and it doesn't produce as much soot compared to the other types of candle wax in the market. If you’re a fan of scented candles, your candle’s fragrance can last longer in coconut wax, especially when using essential oils. It is also more sustainable so you’d be doing Mother Nature a favor.

There are so many reasons why coconut wax is the best to use for your candles and if you’re interested to know more, you can get more information by reading our entry: All About Coconut Wax Candles to know more about its benefits and a simple comparison between coconut wax and other types of wax used to create candles.



How do you make your own coconut wax candle at home?

When you're making your homemade candles, whether you're using candle making kits or making candles from scratch, it is important to plan for a smoother workflow. Here are a few things every candle maker needs to consider before jumping in on candle making or taking candle making class at home.


1. Prepare your space

Candle making requires a space where you can melt your wax, assemble your molds, and dry out your candles. You'll need a spacious work table and a room that preferably has proper ventilation especially if you’ll be using fragrances for your candles. Think of it as a candle maker’s workshop where you can also store your candle making supplies.


2. Research for suppliers

You will need to find candle making suppliers in your area. Candle making kits are usually provided when you take a candle class or you can simply type “candle making suppliers near me” on your browser and order your coconut wax and other materials. You can also ask during your candle class for any leads.


3. Prepare your ingredients

Once you know where to get your candle making supplies, it's time to list down your ingredients before you order or go to your supplier. You will find a lot of homemade candle recipes online and you can use those to start. In the future, as you understand the behavior of your ingredients and as you develop your own taste and preference, you can experiment on your candle recipe and improve your own candles.


4. Prepare your tools and equipment

Every candle maker has its own taste and preferred set of tools and equipment. Whether you're using molds, jars, bottles, and so on, you'll need to make sure that these are all set up and ready for use. The last thing you want is putting your ingredients together and getting them ready for pouring, only to find out that you're out of candle wicks. Are you sure you have a thermometer and a pair of scissors? Just like your ingredients, you can purchase all your tools in your candle making supplier’s store.


5. Start creating your candles!

Finally, you can now begin the actual candle making process! Lay down your tools and measure out your ingredients according to the size of the batch you're making. If you're using a candle making kit, these are usually pre-measured for you. Start by measuring your wet and dry ingredients and putting them in separate containers. This avoids mistakes like adding on too much was or too much fragrance. Once you're ready to melt your ingredients, add them to your melting pot and mix them.

Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. Candle making is a science as it is an art. Your candle making class will show you what things you need to follow but here are some candle making tips every candle maker should keep in mind when you make your own candle.


Candle making tips every candle maker should keep in mind.


Know your wax and wicks

As mentioned earlier, there are different kinds of candle wax. There are also different kinds of wicks and several factors that need to be considered while choosing the wicks.


Check your temperature

You need to monitor the temperature when melting the wax. Every type of candle wax has a different melting and pouring temperature. Use a thermometer to keep it in check. To help prevent cracking, pre-heat your containers to 140°F-170°F before pouring the mixture. Do not exceed 180ºF.


Know your oils

It is important to know how to use your oils and which oils to use for your fragrances. Some candle making kits already come with oils so this can be a good starting point. Remember to get your measurements right to make sure your candle gives off the right amount of fragrance.


Know your measurements

This isn't only applicable to fragrances, it applies to all the ingredients you will be using for your candles. A good trick would be to measure out your wax and other ingredients before starting your candle making process. You will learn this in your candle class but it's best to learn and read about it before your class.


Protective gear

You will be handling and pouring hot wax so you'll need to keep yourself safe. A pair of gloves might help. You'll also be working with fragrance so if you're a bit sensitive to smell, consider wearing a mask. You'll also need something to keep your workstation neat and tidy to avoid spills or accidents.


Practice makes perfect!

It takes a while to get everything right so don't give up if you don't come out with a perfect batch, especially when you make your own candle. Your wick might be off-center or too thin, it's not giving off enough fragrance, under burning or tunneling, and the list goes on — this is perfectly fine. The instructions on your candle making kit will not be enough and watching tutorials or taking candle class can only do so much but the rest is up to you. You'll need to keep practicing and experimenting with your candle recipe before you achieve the perfect candles.

One of the many exciting things about candle making is the journey. If you need candle making tips, check out our Top 10 Candle Tips and Tricks for Making Candles. It's about making mistakes and learning from those experiences.

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