How to Make Soy Candles at Home
Clean-burning soy candles in your favorite scents, in reusable jars. A beginner-friendly craft that makes the best gifts.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 1 hour + curing
- Cost
- About $3 per candle
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What you’ll need
- A soy candle making kit (or soy wax flakes, cotton wicks and fragrance oil)
- Heat-safe jars or tins
- A pouring pitcher and a pot for a double boiler
- A thermometer
- Clothespins or wick holders
Step-by-step
- Secure the wicks to the bottom of each jar with a wick sticker, then hold them upright with a clothespin across the top.
- Melt the wax in a double boiler to about 185°F.
- Add fragrance at 185°F, about 1 oz of oil per pound of wax, and stir gently for two full minutes.
- Cool to 135°F, then pour slowly into your jars.
- Let them set for 24 hours, then trim the wick to ¼”.
- Cure for one to two weeks before burning for the strongest scent.
Troubleshooting
- Bumpy tops? Hit them lightly with a heat gun to smooth them.
- Weak scent? Let them cure longer, and make sure you added oil at the right temperature.
- Tunneling? Burn for 2–3 hours the first time so the melt pool reaches the edges.
Safety first: never leave a burning candle unattended, and always use heat-safe containers.
