Welcome to the world of candle making – a creative, entertaining and sometimes experimental craft that is surprisingly easy to do at home.
Candles are an essential for creating a relaxing mood. Whether you’re using them to accompany a romantic dinner, with a calming bubble bath after a hard day, or just to create a chilled-out atmosphere in the evening, there’s something inherently soothing about candlelight.
Making your own candles is a great way of adding your own personal touch or customising your candles to your own preferences or decor. They also make fabulous gifts to give to friends or family, and hand-made candles can often be a cheaper option than store-bought candles.
In this complete guide to candle making we’ll cover the different options for making your own candles, decorations and colour effects, bespoke candle holder projects and more.
Read on to discover all about candle making, or use these handy links to head to each section:
DISCLAIMER - Burning any candles or associated products in your home poses a safety risk and can be a potential fire hazard. Never leave a candle burning unattended and be careful of placing candles near curtains or other flammable materials. When making your own candles, it is important to be aware that different types of wax burn differently and that hot wax can cause serious burns to skin. Research products and read instructions properly before using. All of the tutorials and guides in this article are followed at your own risk and Gathered is not responsible for any accidents or injury sustained as a result.
Treat yourself to a candle making kit
If you’re looking to try out candle making for the first time, you might find it more convenient to try a candle making kit rather than buying all the supplies individually.
Fortunately, there’s a huge array of kits available. Scented candles, colourful candles, eco-friendly candles, crazy shape candles, luxury candles – there’s kits available for all these and more!
Find your favourite Candle making kits on Gathered
How to make a candle
How to make candles at home with Soya wax
Using soy or soya wax is perhaps the easiest and most accessible method of candle making, with wax flakes or pellets being readily available online or from most good craft stores. As it’s derived from an all-natural product (soy beans) it’s a vegan-friendly option that burns cleanly.
In our tutorial Becki Clark shows you how to make simple candles at home using premade wicks and small pots, as well as helpful tips on how to add scents to your candle.
Learn How to make candles at home with Gathered
How to make beeswax candles
Beeswax candles have a unique colour, burn and smell all of their own. Many vegans choose to avoid beeswax as it is technically derived from animals, however there are also debates about the environmental impact of large-scale soybean production – so we’ll leave the ethical decisions down to you.
Our beeswax candle tutorial is great for if you want to take your candle making to the next level, as it goes into lots of detail and covers common problems such as wax sinkage and wick stabilisation.
The tutorial also covers how to make candles in moulds, including how to create your own moulds in order to make pillar candles.
Check out the How to make beeswax candles tutorial from Gathered.
How to make egg cup candles
This mini tutorial is great for making cute little candles in egg cups or shot glasses. It’s a great project for if you have any small amounts of wax left over from other candle projects.
You could also melt down any leftover wax from spent candles to make these tiny candles too.
Learn How to make egg cup candles with Gathered
How to make a candle wick
Candle wicks are readily available at surprisingly low prices online… but did you know you can also make your own with just some simple household materials?
Find out How to make a candle wick with Gathered
How to make wax melts
Ok, so technically it’s not candle making, but it’s close enough. Wax melts are a popular alternative to scented candles, especially as you can easily change scents whenever you choose.
By using your favourite essential oils, you can make your own wax melts to fill your home with fragrance. Alternatively, we’ve also included some fab kits to make your crafting as hassle-free as possible.
Try our How to make wax melts tutorial from Gathered
Wax wrappers delight
If you have any leftover beeswax, learn how to make beeswax wraps with Gathered and give your kitchen an eco-friendly craft update.
Creating decorative candles
How to paint candles
Regardless of whether you’re making your candles from scratch or buying store bought, you can always add that personal touch by learning how to paint candles.
But you can’t just go slapping paint on your candles – the key is using coloured melted wax to decorate your candles! We show you how this surprisingly simple technique can transform a blank candle into a brilliant one!
Try our How to paint candles tutorial on Gathered
Scrubs up nicely
Once you’ve had your fill of candle making, get clean and crafty with our essential guide to soap making.
Make your own candle holders
DIY Mason jar candle holders
Show off your crafting skills by transforming a clear glass Mason jar into a stunning and romantic red candle holder.
You can use our included template, or make your own custom shapes to create a clear area for your candlelight to show through.
Plus, we talk through the benefits of using a primer to get the best result and make it easier to obtain your desired level of translucency with your spray paint.
Find the DIY Mason jar candle holder tutorial from Gathered
DIY wooden candle holder centrepiece
This make is a prime example of something you’d see in a trendy designer shop with an eye-watering price-tag. However, with the right tools and a bit of crafty know-how, you can transform a plain plank of wood into a show-stopping centrepiece.
All you need to do is ‘artfully’ select that perfect plank!
Go super-stylish with this DIY wooden candle holder centrepiece tutorial from Gathered.
How to make log candle holders
Fancy a candle holder that shows off the natural qualities of wood? Then try making these gorgeous log candle holders.
You can often pick up logs for relatively cheap from good garden centres or DIY stores. Just make sure that your log is stable and sturdy before adding your candle so that it doesn’t risk being a fire hazard.
Learn How to make log candle holders with Gathered
How to make candle centrepieces for tables
If you’re looking for a stunning way to display your candles, then you should definitely try this herb pot centrepiece project.
Not only does it look fantastic, but the herbs you choose to incorporate will also help to add a subtle scent to your candle centrepiece.
Try our How to make candle centrepieces for tables on Gathered
How to make a DIY tealight candle holder
Can’t be bothered with power tools? Spray paint sounds a bit messy? Don’t worry, here’s a decorative candle holder project that really does keep things crafty.
You just need some card, glue and a stapler to make this cute tealight holder – although you may still want to use a proper tealight holder inside this decorative one for added safety.
Try the How to make a DIY tealight candle holder tutorial from Gathered
Make a splash
Get creative and pamper yourself at the same time with our guide on how to make bath bombs.
Stay safe when candle making
Making your own candles is an incredibly fun and rewarding hobby, but it’s important to always take safety seriously.
Hot wax can stain clothes and burn skin, so always take your time, work in a clear and well-ventilated area, and keep children away from candles and hot wax.
More ways with wax
Do you love the idea of using wax to get creative… or maybe just bought a bigger bag of wax pellets than you meant too? Then you should explore our Beginners guide to Batik art and discover this wonderful textile technique.
