Candle Making for Beginners: Wax, Wicks and Safety

Hello dear friends. You do not need a big workshop to make candles. A few of the right materials and a few basic safety rules are enough. The rest is patience, curiosity and a little love. 🕯️

First, let me tell you a little about our candle making workshops. With our youngest participants, we melt the wax together and set our intentions. Then it is time for the tins. On the table there are paint pots, brushes and a basket full of small fragrance bottles. The children have great fun painting their own tins, and each one comes out more creative than the last. The warmth of the melted wax, the colours of the paint and the children’s joy all mix together.

We can plan a day like this with you too: with student groups from kindergarten to university, with adults and with company teams. If you would like to try it at home on your own first, I have gathered what you need to know below. Making a small light with your own hands is a lovely feeling.

The most important rule: follow the instructions of the maker of your wax, your wick and your fragrance. Every type of wax has its own melting and fragrance temperature. Wax is a little like soil; it does not like to be rushed and asks for care.

What do you need?

What you need to begin is a short list, and part of it may already be in your kitchen:

• Wax: soy, beeswax or paraffin, for example. Each has its own texture, melting behaviour and instructions.
• Wick: it should match the type of wax and the diameter of the container.
• Container or mould: it should be heat resistant.
• Two pans for a double boiler, or a wax melting pot
• A kitchen thermometer
• If you like, fragrance and colour made for candles

If you are wondering how the waxes differ, you can read the post where I compare soy, paraffin and beeswax candles through the link below.

Why the wick matters so much

The wick matters so much because it decides how your candle burns. A wick that is too thin for the container may tunnel down the middle and leave the edges unmelted. A wick that is too thick may make a flame that is too big and leave soot. Wick makers usually state which wax and which diameter each wick suits. For your first candles, you can make a small test candle and watch how it burns. Watching the flame is the most enjoyable part anyway.

Containers, fragrance and colour

Containers, fragrance and colour need care too; not every glass jar is suitable for a candle. Thin or cracked glass can break with heat. A sturdy, heat resistant container with a flat base is the safest choice.

For fragrance and colour, I suggest using only products made for candle making. The temperature and amount for adding fragrance change from maker to maker; too much can spoil the burn. Dried flowers, stones or other decorations can catch fire near the flame or change how the candle burns. If you would like to use them, I suggest keeping them away from the flame and testing first. When you choose a scent, listen to your heart; the scent that makes you happy is your scent.

Safety rules

The safety rules are simple, but none of them should be skipped:

• Melt the wax in a double boiler, never directly over the heat
• Never leave melting wax unattended
• If wax catches fire, never pour water on it; turn off the heat and cover the pot with its lid
• Keep children and pets away from hot wax
• Keep your work area ventilated
• Never leave a burning candle out of sight, and keep it away from curtains and anything flammable

Trimming the wick before each lighting also helps keep the flame steady.

Let us plan a workshop together

Let us plan a workshop together; the flow is simple. We melt the wax, choose the colour and scent, and pour it into the mould. While the candle sets, we talk about why we will light it: a wish, a thank you, an intention. Everyone goes home with their own candle. We can bring the workshop to your school or office, or meet at Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. There, walking around the farm and spending time with our animals while the candles set becomes a lovely part of the day. The produce we grow from heirloom seeds holds EU-approved organic farming certification, and those who wish can shop from the farm too.

We plan the materials together; sometimes the school or company provides the paints and tins itself. You can write to us; we will get back to you and build the flow together around the age group and the size of the group.

If you are looking for a ready-made candle, you can also look at the handmade soy candles from Şifa Köyü. They are made one by one, with care, using natural aromatherapy oils, and some have a natural stone on the lid. The shop is in Turkish and delivers within Turkey; current details are on the product pages.

With what intention would you like to light your first candle? I would be very happy if you shared your experiments with me. May your light always stay warm. With love. ✨

Candle making workshop →

Candle making workshop in Şile, Istanbul →

Soy vs paraffin vs beeswax candles →

Şifa Köyü shop: handmade soy candles (in Turkish) →

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