They create a cozy atmosphere and spread atmospheric light: candles can be found in millions of households, although some of their ingredients can be harmful to health, especially if they are made from paraffin.
Paraffin is a waste product that is made from petroleum. It may be vegan, but it is harmful to humans and nature: cheap candles in particular contain questionable colors, varnishes and fragrances that are released when they burn and can cause allergic reactions or other health problems. Candles made from soy and rapeseed wax are therefore much more sustainable. You can buy them ready-made – or simply make them yourself. This has the advantage that you can choose the colors and smells yourself. You can find out below which ingredients are needed and what is best for making scented candles.
What is suitable as a candle holder?
You don’t necessarily need new containers to make scented candles: keep old, burnt-out tea lights and use the small aluminum containers to make new candles. You can easily get suitable wicks Alternatively, classic cookie cutters can be used to make candles. Place them on a piece of baking paper and place the wicks in the middle. The important thing with this method is that you first pour in a thin layer of hot wax and allow it to harden before filling the mold completely. If you want to be particularly creative, you can also use hollowed-out orange peels as candle holders, which means the scent is included. Even more practical are ice cube trays or silicone baking molds, although the size is crucial here.
Another tip: If you have a to make scented candles, you will already find all the necessary utensils in it – from soy wax and candle tins to wicks and scented oils.
These are the most important basic ingredients
If you want to make your own scented candles, you only need a few basic ingredients: odorless preferably from soybean oil ( works too, but is not vegan and naturally smells more intense), suitable made of cotton and your favorite fragrance – either in the form of or you can use dried spices and flowers. Orange peel and coffee powder, cinnamon and vanilla, rosemary and lavender are particularly popular. The possibilities are endless. To color the candles, you can use special which you stir in during the melting process. Finally, the list of ingredients should be supplemented with the following items: a small pot, a heat-resistant bowl, suitable candle holders (as described above), small wooden skewers and a pair of scissors.
Make your own scented candles: step by step
Once you have all the basic ingredients, you can start making candles. To protect your skin from wax splashes, wearing simple recommended.
- Step: To avoid melting more wax than you need, you should measure the granules in advance. To do this, simply put the desired amount into the candle container – and it is better to add one or two more tablespoons.
- Step: Cut the candle wicks to the desired length, attach them to the wooden sticks and place them on the containers – ideally so that each wick is in the middle and touches the bottom (so that the candle burns all the way down later).
- Step: Take a small pot, fill it with one third of water and heat it on the stove. Place a heat-resistant bowl on the pot and melt the desired amount of candle wax in it over medium heat.
- Step: If you want to give the candle a scented note with essential oils, add them to the liquid candle wax – but be careful: just a few drops are enough for a pleasant-smelling result. So use sparingly.
- Step: Remove the hot bowl with the liquid wax from the stove (be careful: it’s hot!), pour it into the candle holders provided and decorate the surface – once the wax has solidified a little – with dried flowers or spices.
After about 24 hours (at room temperature), the scented candles should be completely dry and can be lit immediately or given as a gift.
More information can be found here.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
