How to Make Container Candles at Home (Beginner's Guide)
Homemade candles make thoughtful gifts and are surprisingly simple to make. This guide covers container candles: wax poured into a jar or tin, the easiest type for beginners.
What you'll need
- Candle wax. Soy wax is a popular choice for container candles
- Wicks sized for your container, wick stickers and a wick centring tool
- Heat-safe containers: glass jars, tins or ceramic pots
- A pouring jug, a saucepan for a double boiler and a thermometer
- Optional: candle fragrance oil and candle dye
Find wicks, holders, moulds and dyes in our candle making accessories.
1. Prepare the containers
Make sure jars are clean and dry. Stick a wick to the centre of the base with a wick sticker, and hold it upright with a centring tool or two pencils across the top.
2. Melt the wax
Put the wax in a pouring jug and stand it in a pan of simmering water (a double boiler). Never heat wax directly over a flame or leave it unattended. Melt it to the temperature on your wax's instructions.
3. Add fragrance and colour
If you're using them, stir in dye and fragrance oil at the temperature your wax recommends, using the amount suggested by the supplier. Stir gently for a minute or two.
4. Pour
Let the wax cool to the recommended pouring temperature, then pour slowly into your containers, leaving a little space at the top. Keep a little wax aside for top-ups.
5. Let it set
Leave the candles to set at room temperature, away from draughts. If sink holes appear around the wick, top them up with reheated wax.
6. Trim and cure
Trim the wick to about 5 mm. Scented candles smell stronger if you let them cure for a few days to two weeks before lighting.
Safety
- Never leave melting wax or a burning candle unattended. Keep away from children and pets.
- If wax catches fire, smother it with a lid. Never use water.
- Use containers designed for candles; some glass can crack from heat.
- Scented candles sold to others in the UK need proper safety labelling (CLP), so check the rules before selling.
Want something different? Clear jelly wax makes see-through candles you can decorate with shells or glitter.
