The Ultimate Container Candle Making Guide
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, my guide will take you through every step of creating high-quality container candles. I spent months researching, practicing, and experimenting before I created a candle that burns beautifully and smells incredible… I’m excited to share this guide with you so you (hopefully) have to go through less trial and error than I did! Read this guide completely before you attempt to create your first candles. Craft responsibly!
Tools & Materials:
Wax (Any blend designed for container candles)
Fragrance oils (Make sure they are specifically formulated for candles)
Wicks (Cotton or wood, depending on your preference)
Wick clips (Only necessary if using wood wicks)
Wick stickers (For securing wicks to the container)
Pouring pitcher (Heat-safe, you will be melting wax in this pitcher)
Containers (Heat-safe glass jars or tins)
Thermometer
Double boiler, hot plate, or melting pot
Stirring spoon
Gloves and protective surface covering
Kitchen scale
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean, flat work surface. Cover the area with parchment paper to catch any spills. Gather all your supplies within reach to make the process smooth and efficient. You will be working with a hot pitcher so I also recommend grabbing a hot pad if you don't have a heat-safe surface to work on. You'll also want to have your wax specifications on hand, which includes its melt point, fragrance load, and pour temperature. You can find this information on your wax manufacturer's website or packaging.
Step 2: Wick Your Containers
Use wick stickers to secure the wick to the center of your candle jar or tin. If using a cotton wick, use a wick-centering tool. For wood wicks, two chopsticks held together with rubber bands can help keep them centered. Centering the wick will help create an even melt pool when you’re ready to burn the candle. There are many types of wicks on the market, so make sure you research what type of wick is right for your container size. It's important to use a heat-safe jar or container labeled specifically for candles, as they are guaranteed to be heat-safe. If you use a vessel that is not heat-safe, you risk shattering or cracking the vessel, resulting in hot wax spillage or fire! P.S. Just because you see someone else doing it (or selling it) does NOT mean it is safe. It's my job to teach you how to craft responsibly.
Step 3: Weigh Your Wax and Fragrance
Understanding the correct ratio of fragrance to wax is crucial. Most container waxes allow for a fragrance load of 8-12% but you will want to check your wax specifications for details.
Here’s where candle making can become a bit challenging (or annoying if you hate math)! There are various types of candle wax specifically for containers. If you’d like to learn more about each wax type, go back to our last blog post. I personally use a soy and paraffin blend because it gives me optimal results but it’s a personal preference. Each wax type accommodates a different percentage of fragrance oil, often referred to as the max load. Most container waxes allow for a fragrance oil load of 8-12%, we like to use a 10% fragrance load for most scents.
Our handy dandy calculator can help you figure out exactly how much wax and fragrance to use: https://calc.operationwax.com/
Example measurement for one candle at 10%:
Wax: 3 oz (by weight)
Fragrance oil: 0.3 oz (again by weight, not fluid ounces)
Step 4: Melt the Wax
Use a double boiler to melt your wax. Heat it slowly, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the optimal temperature. Temperature is going to be another variable that is specific to your wax type. If you're using the soy and paraffin container blend, you'll want to get the wax up to 190°F. We recommend using an instant-read thermometer for this part to get the most accurate temperature measurement. If you're using the double boiler method be careful not to get any water in the wax!
Step 5: Add Fragrance Oil
Remove the melted wax from the heat and stir in the fragrance oil. Stir for 1-2 minutes to ensure the oil is well incorporated. Use only fragrance oil formulated for candles. While some waxes can be used with essential oils, paraffin is not one of them since the flash point of essential oils is so low. If you'd like to use essential oils in candles, I recommend finding a candle-making guide specifically for working with essential oils.
Step 6: Pour the Wax
Different wax types have different pour temperatures to ensure a smooth finish, proper adhesion, and primo scent throw. Refer to your wax specifications for what temperature to pour at! If using the soy and paraffin blend container wax, let the wax cool to 160-170°F before carefully pouring it into your prepared container. Pouring too hot may cause sinkholes or uneven tops, so be mindful of the temperature. This is especially true for pure soy wax, which will be poured at a much lower temperature! We also recommend preheating your jars for great adhesion (to preheat, put the jars in the oven on a baking sheet at a very low temp (120°F -160°F) or use a heat gun to warm them before pouring).
Step 7: Let Your Candle Cure
Allow your candle to set at room temperature. For the best scent throw, let it cure for 3-7 days before burning. Some sites recommend waiting weeks but we have tested the cure time on hundreds of candles and haven’t found any evidence to back up the suggestion to cure for weeks.
That's all there is to it!
Candle making is a fun and satisfying craft and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. With practice, you’ll perfect your techniques and create something amazing!
Ready to get started but don’t know where to shop for supplies? Check out our DIY candle-making kits at OperationWax.com for everything you need to create your own beautifully scented candles!
Common Issues
Sinkholes: Sinkholes are a common issue, especially if you’re using 100% soy wax. The candle will look full when you pour it but when you come back to check on it, there’s a big hole around the wick. To fix sinkholes, let your candle harden completely, then melt additional wax about 10-15°F hotter than your original pour (pour temperature, not fragrance adding temperature). Before pouring, use a skewer or toothpick to poke a few small relief holes around the wick to release any trapped air. Gently pour a thin layer of hot wax over the surface to fill the sinkholes and smooth it out. Let the candle fully cool and, if needed, use a heat gun for a final touch-up.
Wet spots or poor jar adhesion: Preheat your jars before pouring to improve adhesion. While you might not notice this with colored containers, clear jars can sometimes show what looks like wet spots if hot wax is poured into a cold container. To preheat, simply use a heat gun to warm the jars before pouring. You can also put the jars in the oven on a baking sheet at a very low temp (120°F -160°F) until you're ready to pour.
Candle is tunneling: This could mean a few things. Tunneling can happen if your first burn isn't long enough. We always recommend burning for at least 2 hours for an initial test burn. If your melt pool didn't reach the edge within that time, try doing more test burns. Some makers may want to give up after the first burn, only to find that after two more burns, the candle is perfect. Tunneling could also mean your wick is too large for the candle you made, causing it to burn too hot and only melt the wax around it. In this case, you'll want to try a smaller wick size.
Candle won't stay lit: This usually means your wick is too weak for your candle (or you've trimmed it too short). We recommend sizing up when this happens. Wicks can be picky, which is why it's important to do your research and make sure you have the right type of wick for your container.
Uneven or rough tops: You probably let your wax cool a bit too much before you poured it. No problem, just use a heat gun to smooth out the surface... and remember to take the temperature before pouring next time!
Frosting: If your pure soy candle looks like it has dandruff, it’s likely a temperature problem. Frosting is usually just a cosmetic issue and won’t affect the burn or fragrance. To reduce frosting, try pouring at the correct temperature, preheating your jars, and ensuring your workspace maintains a consistent, moderate temperature.
Candle Safety Tips
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Trim the wick to 1/8"-1/4" before lighting.
Burn on a heat-safe surface, away from drafts, children, and pets.
Do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time.
Allow the wax to fully harden before relighting.