Spring has sprung! Blooms are bursting and the birds suddenly seem louder. Hillsides have begun to display their vibrant verdant colors. During this season of renewal, let the energy found and felt in nature’s reawakening inspire you to take on a DIY project.
Team Lavender would like to suggest making a homemade soy candle from scratch, using ABCo’s lavender essential oil. Candle making combines the human creative impulse, a love of recycling, and the desire to create a clean scent and a calming space. Bonus points? The final results double as a springtime gift for a friend, relative, or neighbor!
While seemingly daunting at first, the process of melting soy wax flakes, figuring out the ratio of essential oil to wax, and letting the candles sufficiently set is not as hard as it seems. A learning curve certainly exists, but most at-home candle makers find the process relaxing. The multiple benefits of handmade soy candles are worth noting: unlike store bought candles, they do not contain any dangerous chemicals—which means they burn cleaner so your air quality is not compromised. Plus, these non-toxic beauties burn longer than traditional paraffin candles. For an additional artistic touch, adorn your candle with actual lavender buds.
Your candle’s scent can be custom selected for yourself or a gift recipient. For folks with a sensitivity to strong smells, soy candles with lavender offer just the right amount of aroma. In other words, no headache inducing odors here! You will breathe in a mild, clean and natural scent after making soy candles with our lavender essential oil.
“Not An Exact Science”
Hearing that a DIY project is “not an exact science” is music to our ears. Most of us want to know that a home project leaves room for error, and luckily candle making is very forgiving. It can be messy though, and to state the obvious—wax can be tough to remove. Definitely use newspaper underneath any pouring of wax. When it comes to wicks, most website advice advocates the use of a glue gun. But we found that the glue gun glue will melt when you add the hot soy wax, upon which you will experience an [ironically] sinking feeling while helplessly watching the wick float up from the bottom. Our PRO TIP is this: buy the kind of wicks that come with peel-off stickers. Or use permanent double sided tape to secure the wick. We promise it will save pennies and heartache in the end.
Candle making’s creativity derives from not only figuring out what size and shape and type container you want to melt the wax in, but also from choosing your desired scent and possibly in blending different oils. Most of us might think to use up old, empty votive glasses, but other possible containers include seashells, tea cups, other unused ceramics that have been sitting around for decades, glass yogurt holders, mason jars, spice bottles, or even a used tin. Just be sure the material is heat resistant.
So, sally forth and make some candles! We hope you are inspired! The video below has easy-to-follow instructions that will walk you through all of the steps.
MEET THE AUTHOR/TINA TUMINELLAis a writer from Pittsburgh, PA who thinks of herself as an eater, talker, music-lover, mommy, francophile, and obsessive recycler. She bakes sweet things regularly, rides bikes and hikes with her family, and is a sucker for a pun. Her favorite product: Organic Lavender Cream
FAQs
The ideal ratio of essential oil to wax is around 3%. In this case, Victoria has measured 15ml of Lavender Essential Oil for 500 g of wax. Try to maintain this ideal ratio, as the oils have a high scent throw, therefore, if you want to maintain the aromatherapeutic properties, remember that sometimes less is more!
What is the ratio of essential oils to soy wax candles? ›
The recommended fragrance load for a soy wax candle is generally between 5% to 10% of the weight of the wax used in the candle. However, some blended waxes like coconut soy wax can usually take up to 12% (which will usually give a very strong scent throw).
How many drops of lavender oil in a candle? ›
Allow the wax to cool to about 50-55ºC before pouring in the essential oils. This is because if you add the oils when the wax is too hot, you will burn the scent off and waste those precious (expensive) scent molecules. You'll want to add about 35 drops of essential oils per 100ml.
What does lavender essential oil in candles do? ›
Opt for lavender-scented candles as they are renowned for their calming and relaxing properties. They can help alleviate stress, promote better sleep, and even reduce headaches and migraines. Adding them to your self-care routine or meditation practice can enhance the overall experience.
How to add fragrance to soy candles? ›
Step 4: Add fragrance once the wax reaches 185°F (85°C) Once the wax hits 185°F (85°C), add 1 oz (28 g) of fragrance and then remove the pitcher from the heat. Gently stir for 1-2 minutes to allow the fragrance to bind with the wax.
What temperature should soy wax be before adding essential oils? ›
Add your fragrance at the right temp: Adding your fragrance oil when your wax is at the proper temperature will help it bind to the wax, which will help give you a stronger scent throw. It is usually recommended to add your fragrance to the wax at 180-185F for soy and paraffin wax 200-205ºF for palm wax.
What is the best essential oil combination for candles? ›
Here are some combinations of the best fragrance oils for candles:
- 10 drops rosemary + 15 drops sweet orange.
- 15 drops lemon + 10 drops lime.
- 12 drops sweet orange + 12 drops basil.
- 15 drops vanilla + 10 drops lavender.
- 20 drops eucalyptus + 5 drops lemon.
They are not formulated to withstand the heat of a flame. They break down under heat, can be extremely flammable, and some may even become toxic when burned. Essential oils are also highly volatile, meaning that they evaporate easily. This is great for diffusing but makes them unstable to use in candles.
Can you use 100% essential oils in candles? ›
The answer is yes, essential oils can be used in candle making, but there are a few things you should know first. Essential oils are notorious for not playing nicely with candle wax. Unlike fragrance oils, essential oils oftentimes have very low flash points which cause them to evaporate when added to hot candle wax.
Why is my soy candle curdling after burning? ›
Now this is normal! Pure soy, with no additives, will be rough and cratered when it resets after a burn. It is completely normal and is an indication that your wax is 100% soy. If it sets smoothly then your wax has additives in it, most likely paraffin wax, to prevent these tops.
For instance, a larger container will require more wax, and will therefore need more essential oil to create a good scent throw. In general, we recommend adding 30-35 drops of oil to every 160g of soy wax flakes. Make sure your fragrance load doesn't exceed 10% of the wax amount at any time.
What is the best carrier oil for candles? ›
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best carrier oil for candle making is, then we recommend PURA D'OR Organic Fractionated Coconut Carrier Oil as the best one. DIY projects are so much fun to do for it offers an avenue for us to constantly explore our creativity.
What are the ingredients in lavender scented candles? ›
A blend of hay, dried lavender flowers and vanilla creates the base together with cedar and musks. The soy wax burns clean and evenly throughout to create a long-lasting aroma. With sustainability at the core of our family business, we use natural soy wax, 100% cotton wicks and reusable glass jars.
Can you burn lavender in a candle? ›
One of the easiest ways to infuse its intoxicating scent throughout the home is with candles. I've found that dried lavender doesn't diffuse throughout a room as quickly and evenly as a burning candle. But good candles with quality fragrance can get expensive, so I decided to make my own lavender candles.
