If you are interested in learning how to make your own candles, container candles are a good way to get started. Not only will they make inexpensive yet thoughtful gifts with a personal touch, but you can also up-cycle existing vessels. These do not have to be see-through. Anything goes, from china to collectible tins. Smaller containers are best for beginners until you get the hang of securing the wick and pouring wax around it.
Types of wax
If you use soy wax instead of paraffin or gel wax, you or the gift recipient will also be able to re-use the candle containers, since soy wax burns off cleanly and thoroughly. Also, make sure you buy single-pour or one-pour wax to avoid having to do a second pour to cover sink holes that form around the wick as the liquid wax cools and solidifies. Two full containers of solid wax chips equal what you would need to melt down to fill your container high enough to turn it into a candle.
You won't really need color unless you use glass containers. In that case, make sure to use dye especially formulated for candle making. Food coloring will not work because it is water-based. Since the same goes for fragrance, only use fragrance oil manufactured for candle making to avoid fire hazards.
Candle kits
Prepackaged candle kits have easy instructions and generally include dye or fragrance. Other materials you will need to get on your own include a thermometer and the proper wicks. Wicks for container candles have metal bases that you attach to the bottom of containers via glue gun. Wicks should increase in thickness according to the diameter of your containers.
Follow the instructions for each kit carefully, as they vary slightly according to the type of wax they contain. The most important factor common to all of them is the necessity to always monitor the temperature of the wax as you melt it. Fragrance starts to evaporate after 200 degrees Fahrenheit, rendering your scent useless. More important, wax will burst into flames anywhere upward of 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Pouring temperatures range from 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
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