Soy wax flakes, a glass candle container with a wick held centred by a wooden wick holder, a measuring jug and a bottle of fragrance oil

You do not need much to make your first candle. One wax, one wick, one container and one fragrance will get you a finished candle this afternoon. Here is exactly what to buy and in what order to decide it.

What you need to start

Six things, and two of them are already in your kitchen

1

A wax

The wax decides how the candle burns, how it looks and what it can be poured into. Soy is the easiest starting point for candles in glass.

Which wax should I use?
2

A wick

The wick has to suit both your wax and the width of your container. Too small and it tunnels, too large and it smokes.

Which wick should I use?
3

A container

Start with a container candle rather than a free standing one. Use heat safe glass, tins or ceramic, never thin plastic.

Candle containers
4

A fragrance

Use a fragrance oil rated for candles, or an essential oil if you want a natural scent. Follow the recommended usage rate for the one you buy.

Fragrance oils  Essential oils
5

Colour, if you want it

Optional. Use a dye made for wax rather than a water based colourant, or leave the candle natural.

Candle colour and dye
6

A few bits of kit

A pouring jug, a digital kitchen scale, a thermometer and something to hold the wick centred while the wax sets.

Wick holder  Measuring jug

A starter shopping list

Everything for your first batch of small candles

Decide the two that matter

Wax and wick are the only choices that change how the candle burns

Choosing your wax
Which candle wax should I use?
Soy, paraffin, gel, beeswax and more, and what each one is actually good for.
Choosing your wick
Which candle wick should I use?
Matching wick size to your wax and your container diameter, then burn testing.

Start simple

One wax, one fragrance, one container, one wick

Once you understand how those four work together you can change one at a time and see what it does. Every new combination of wax, wick, fragrance and container should be burn tested before you make a larger batch or sell your candles.

Shop candle making suppliesFree candle recipes

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