Candle making for beginners: an easy to make candle with your own hands.

Modern production candle production is not only the production of necessary household items. This is real art, amazing with flights of thought and unlimited imagination. Modern candles are real elements of decor and interior design that can easily replace works of art. Today, candle making has become a favorite hobby among many people. The thing is that candles are easy to make, they don’t require a lot of expensive material, but the field for imagination is endless.

What you need to make your own candle

To prepare a candle, we need paraffin. It can be purchased in specialized craft stores, as well as in hardware stores. Paraffin can be taken from old, unburnt or broken candles. Instead of paraffin, you can use beeswax. This natural material, which, when burned, cleans and disinfects the air. However, it cannot be dyed or flavored. IN Lately Soy wax is gaining popularity. It hardens quickly, burns for a long time and is easy to clean.

Pay attention to where you will be working. Prepare your workspace and cover it with old oilcloth or newspaper. We will need a water bath pan, an old bowl, a wick and a thermometer. You can use a thin rope or a paper rope as a wick. You can decorate the candle with decorative elements - Christmas tree branches, shells and beautiful stones. Don't forget about dyes - it is better to use oil-based dyes; food-grade dyes will not work. By adding aromatic oils at a certain stage, you give the candles a special charm - when burning, they will emit a pleasant smell.

How to make a candle

Fill a saucepan with water and put it on fire. You will need it for the water bath. Melt wax on open fire You can’t - it burns and evaporates.
Grind the paraffin into shavings and place in an old aluminum bowl. Keep in mind that paraffin is practically not washable, so it is advisable to have a separate vessel for making candles.
Paraffin needs to be planed, do not put wax in one piece– it will melt for a very long time. Place a small container in a pan of boiling water and wait for the wax to begin to melt.
Just in case, have warm soapy water and a damp cloth on hand. If wax gets on the table or stove, it will need to be wiped off immediately.
Use a thermometer when heating the wax. Craft stores sell a special thermometer for making decorative candles. If you can’t find such a thermometer, you can use a regular confectionery analogue.
Wax usually melts at a temperature of 85-90 degrees. It is very important to monitor the temperature so as not to overheat the wax. If you let it get hotter than it should, it may begin to boil and then simply ignite.
Melting wax is a fire hazardous process. Carefully monitor the melting of paraffin and do not trust the process to children without adult supervision. If the wax catches fire, it cannot be extinguished with water; use a rag for this.
If you burn wax from old used candles, you need to pay attention to whether there are old wicks in the mass. If necessary, remove them with tongs.
When the wax becomes liquid, you need to add flavoring and dye to it. You can add several colors without mixing too much to get a candle with multi-colored patterns.
Prepare a candle mold. Typically the shape is a glass cup with transparent or patterned walls. You need to secure the wick in it so that it is straight in the center. To do this, one end of the wick must be secured to a round tin plane the size of a penny. The second end of the wick is tied to a stick, which holds it in an upright position.
If you want to add some decor to your candle, now is the time to fill the mold with them. It is best to place them as close as possible to the walls of the mold, so that after the wax hardens they can be seen.
The wax mass is carefully poured into the candle mold. In this case, you need to make sure that the wick does not move.
Wax and paraffin harden depending on the density of the raw material. Usually homemade candles freeze for 10-12 hours. But it’s best to wait a day; the longer the candle hardens, the better it will burn. There is no need to put a candle in the refrigerator.

After hardening, the candle can be used. Before doing this, do not forget to trim the wick, leaving a small tail for burning. The candle can be removed from the mold or left to be used directly in it. Candles self-made can become a pleasant and original gift.

This is interesting! If you add scented citronella oil to the wax when preparing a candle, the candle will repel mosquitoes as it burns. It's safe, simple and effective method protection from annoying insects.

Gel candles are gaining popularity due to their lightness and original design. Decorate gel candles a pleasure because the transparent structure allows all decorative elements to be visible. Let's look at how to make a gel candle.

You need to buy a special gel for making candles at a crafts and crafts store. It can be transparent or colored. You can mix several colors to get the desired shade.
We melt the gel in the same way as paraffin. The gel becomes liquid at 100 degrees.
We lower the wick into the prepared form in the same way as in the previous description. Lower it to the bottom decorative elements- buttons, pieces of dried citrus fruits, toys, beads - anything. Please note that decoration items must be non-flammable.
Pre-wash the decorative elements and dry them dry. Some decorations can be placed on the bottom, while others can be added to the candle as the melted gel is poured. They will remain as if floating in space.
Arrange decorative elements so that they are not located close to the wick. Maintain a distance of at least one centimeter from the wick.
Sometimes after the candle hardens, bubbles form inside the gel. To prevent this from happening, the mold must be heated. This can be done by lowering it into hot water or using a hairdryer. If you put the mold in water, be sure to dry it thoroughly afterwards. If, on the contrary, you want to decorate the candle with a lot of bubbles and focus on this, you need to pre-cool the form in the freezer.

After hardening, the gel candle cannot be used earlier than one day later.

As interesting idea You can use the gel in several colorful shades. To do this, pour a little gel into the bottom of the mold and wait a few minutes until it sets. After this, pour a gel of a different shade into the container. This way you can combine colors and make a bright striped candle. If you want the colors to have smooth transition, you don’t need to wait long for it to harden. In this case, they will mix at the color border. If you want clear boundaries, you may want to wait longer. However, do not over-expose the composition, otherwise, after complete hardening, a whitish film may form on the surface - it will spoil the appearance of the candle.
You can make a natural candle from lemon zest. To do this, cut the lemon in half and carefully cut out the pulp. When melting, add cloves, lavender essential oil and a sprig of rosemary to the gel. The melted gel must be poured into the mold and allowed to cool. You will get a beautiful and fragrant fruit candle.
So that when burning, the finished candle emits pleasant aroma, you need to add coffee beans to the melted wax. After you pour the wax into the mold, decorate the top of the candle with an original pattern of seeds.
You can make a candle with your own photos. To do this, print the photo on tracing paper and cut out the image. After this, attach the photo to the candle and heat it with a hairdryer. After some time, the drawing will begin to be transferred to the candle. This way you can make candles with any design or picture.

Exquisite decorative candles can change the atmosphere in your home. Handmade candles make the interior warm and cozy.

Video: how to make clear gel candles

Candles are an attribute of any holiday. Candles can be found in stores different colors, shapes and sizes. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to find the “candle of your dreams.” Besides, you want your holiday decoration to be special. You can realize your original design ideas by making candles with your own hands.

Cinder candles

Collected candle cinders and pieces of paraffin can be melted down into a new candle. To do this, you will need floss thread, a beer can, a juice bag or any other shape, sunflower oil and, of course, the candle stubs themselves. They can even be different colors. In this case, you will get an original “rainbow” candle.

Remove the wicks from the remains of the candles, place all the pieces of paraffin in metal container and put it on water bath.

If you are using white paraffin, but want to make a colored candle, crumble baby wax crayons into a container. To make the candle with a mother-of-pearl shimmer, add raw material eyeshadow. By adding a few drops of essential oil to melted paraffin, you can make a scented candle.

While the paraffin is melting, prepare the mold for pouring. Lubricate its walls with sunflower oil to make the frozen candle easier to remove.

Make a wick. To do this, twist several strands of floss tightly. The thicker the candle, the more thread is needed for the wick. Soak the wick with melted paraffin. Tie one end of the wick to a pencil and place it on top of the mold. The end of the wick should touch the bottom of the mold. You can additionally fix the wick from below. To do this, pierce a hole in the center of the bottom of the mold, pull the end of the wick through it and secure it by tying a knot on the outside.

Pour about two-thirds of the melted paraffin into the mold and leave overnight. In the morning, when the paraffin hardens, a depression will form in the middle of the candle. Melt the remaining paraffin in a water bath and fill this “crater” with it.

Then leave the candle for another day. When the paraffin has completely hardened, remove the candle from the mold. If sunflower oil does not help and the paraffin still sticks to the walls of the mold, put it in the freezer for 10 minutes or keep it in hot water.

DIY coffee candle

To make a coffee candle you will need 5 white paraffin candles or several candle cinders, 4-5 tbsp. l. coffee beans, beer can, juice box or other shape, pencil, knife, sunflower oil, floss, small saucepan or bowl.

First, chop the candles with a knife and remove the wicks from them.

Melt the pieces of paraffin in a water bath.

While the paraffin is melting, prepare the mold and wick in the same way as described above.

When the paraffin melts, without removing the saucepan from the water bath, add coffee beans, and after 10 minutes, remove them and place them on the bottom of the mold, filling it almost halfway.

Pour a small amount of paraffin over the coffee beans to prevent them from floating and cool slightly.

When this layer of paraffin has hardened, melt the remaining paraffin and fill the mold to the top. When the candle has hardened, remove it from the mold.

Hold the layer of grains over the fire for a few seconds so that the paraffin melts slightly and the grains become more noticeable.

DIY fruit candle

To make a fruit candle you will need a lemon, orange, grapefruit or any other citrus fruit with a thick peel, several white or yellow candles, floss, a small pan or bowl, and a pencil.

Cut the fruit in half and carefully remove the pulp, being careful not to damage the peel. The peel halves will serve as candle holders. Twist several strands of floss into a rope and soak them in paraffin or remove the wick from the candle. Tie one end of the wick to a pencil and place it on top of the peel half. Make a hole in the bottom of the peel, pull the lower end of the wick through it and tie it with a knot on the outside.

Chop the candles with a knife, remove the wicks from them, and melt the pieces of paraffin in a water bath. Pour melted paraffin over the peel halves and leave until hardened.

Pictures for candles

Even the simplest candle can be turned into a festive one in 5 minutes. To do this, you will need a thick candle, paper napkins with a pattern, scissors and a teaspoon or tablespoon.

Carefully cut out a picture from a napkin that you would like to decorate the candle with. Please note that such napkins are usually multi-layered, but you will only need one, upper layer with an image. You can cut out one design or several, gluing them around the entire circumference of the candle.

Lightly heat a spoon over an open flame.

Attach the design to the candle and gently smooth it with a warm spoon, moving from the center to the edges of the picture.

And if you choose a picture of Santa Claus as the plot, you will get such a beautiful New Year’s candle, which will decorate the New Year’s interior and will be good New Year's gift .

DIY gel candle

Transparent gel candles look very unusual. In addition to their external beauty, they have another advantage: the gel burns slower than paraffin. In general, the principle of making a gel candle is the same as a paraffin candle. However, there are a number of features.

To make a gel candle, pour 5 parts of colorless gelatin with 20 parts of water. After 30-40 minutes, add 25 parts of glycerin to the swollen gelatin. Place the mixture over low heat and heat until a clear solution is obtained. Separately, take 10 parts of glycerin, heat it and dissolve 2 parts of tannin in it. Mix both solutions. You will end up with a cloudy solution. Heat it for some more time until it becomes transparent. Please note that the gel cannot be heated to temperatures above 120 °C, as in this case the oil part will begin to decompose, the gel will turn out cloudy and will smell unpleasant. Try to stir the gel as little as possible, otherwise bubbles will form in it. If bubbles still appear, place the candle on a well-lit windowsill. The gel will warm up and the bubbles will disappear.

Pour the finished gel into a glass form with a wick.

You can use any beautiful shape as a form. glass vessel with not too thin walls. Wash it thoroughly, dry it and heat it in the oven. This is done to reduce the temperature difference between the gel and the walls of the vessel. If this difference is too large, bubbles will form near the walls of the mold. In addition, temperature changes can cause glass to burst.

The wick is made and attached in the same way as for paraffin candles. Of course, it is impossible to pierce a glass vessel, so the lower end of the wick is glued to the bottom with glue.

The gel is poured along the walls of the mold. Do not pour it in a stream under any circumstances.

You can make an original candle by placing non-flammable materials in the lower part of the mold: pebbles, shells, beads. The decorations are poured into an empty mold without a wick, filled with gel and left. When the gel hardens, a hole is pierced with a knitting needle and the lower part of the wick is inserted there. The top one is attached to the pencil as usual. Then the mold is filled with the remaining gel to the brim.

Individuality in your interior design will always be its winning side. Nothing gives it so much home comfort apartment, like things made by the hands of the owners. And if until now you could not boast of such fruits of handicraft, you have a great opportunity to fix it. We invite you to try making candles with your own hands.

Candles are a wonderful souvenir that can brighten the atmosphere of any occasion. family holiday. Candles have long been an attribute of celebration, significant dates, and romantic evenings. Yes, just sitting in silence, listening to your favorite music to the trembling of a gentle light - this is sometimes so missing.

For some, a candle is nothing more than a cute decorative item. And there's nothing wrong with that either similar products serve as a wonderful decoration in the home. But scented candles can become a real psychotherapeutic tool: they will help create the necessary atmosphere for relaxation, taking a person into the world of dreams and pleasant memories.

In addition, a candle is a wonderful gift. The warmth of your hands and the light of a beautiful candle will best wishes to a loved one. Candles will decorate even the most modest setting, highlight color scheme of your apartment will be evidence of the excellent taste of the owner.

Needless to say, mothers on maternity leave can even earn extra money from such a pleasant activity. And not only mothers - everyone who is fascinated by the process of creating a candle. And you can be sure that there will be people who want to purchase such hand-made beauty.

So, we have many reasons to finally start our creative process. But to make a candle we need to stock up certain materials and tools.

Materials for making candles

Indeed, how to make candles with your own hands without special materials? We will need the following in our work:

Wax melting vessel
Candle molds
Pan (for water bath)
Sticks (the first is to attach the wick, the second is to stir the wax)
Decorative elements for decorating the product
Wax crayons
Household candles or stubs of old candles
Paper threads (100% cotton)

All this will help us create, if not a wax masterpiece, then a beautiful original candle. So let's begin!

Candle wick

Now we have to learn how to make a candle wick with our own hands. Whether we make a gel, paraffin or wax candle, in any case we will need a wick. In order to make it, we need natural cotton thread without any impurities. Alternatively, use colored floss threads as a wick. It looks very cute and unusual.

The thickness and texture of the wick depend, first of all, on the thickness of the part of the candle that should burn out. For example, there are candles that are partially composed of flammable materials. Only the core burns out in them.

For those who are going to cast a candle from wax, you need to take thick threads and weave them not very tightly. Paraffin and gel candles, on the contrary, require a tight weave of threads (otherwise the wick will smoke when burning).

Wick for wax candles

Wick for gel candles

You also need to be attentive to the following detail: if the candle is colored with wax crayons, small shavings can clog the wick without dissolving in the paraffin or wax. In general, there are a lot of nuances in this issue; be prepared for the fact that choosing a wick for a certain type of candle will have to be done by trial and error.

If you use a very thick wick, it is possible that the candle will melt too much, which can lead to soot. If you make a very thin wick, it will constantly go out.

There are several options for designing a wick: it can be crocheted, braided, or twisted with a rope. Before pouring the candle, you can soak the thread with wax, or you can do both pouring and impregnation at the same time.

If you don’t want to waste time making a wick, then use a wick from ready-made household candles.

Candle mold

In this matter, your imagination plays a decisive role. You can use any plastic or metal molds that you think are cute and appropriate for making candles. Don’t limit yourself to just ready-made molds: yogurt packaging, cream jars, baking tins, tin cans, glasses or mugs that can withstand high temperature heating Some even use milk tetrapack as a mold for a future candle.

Candles poured into tea cups

Candles made in eggshells

But for your first experience, it’s better not to split hairs: take something simple. For example, a yogurt cup. Be sure to remove the paper label first, as it may catch fire.

We take our glass and pierce a hole in the middle of its bottom with a thick needle - insert the ready-made wick there. WITH reverse side cup, the wick must be tied in a knot. In this very place of the knot there will be the top of our candle, because it will be poured “upside down”: the knot minimizes the flow of paraffin, stearin or wax through the hole we made at the bottom of the glass.

Go ahead. We need to place any stick across the glass - a toothpick, brush or pencil. We need to tie the other end of the wick on it. It should be positioned strictly in the center in a vertical, level position. This way, you guarantee yourself that the candle will burn and melt evenly.

Coloring a candle

Really beautiful candles You will succeed provided you don’t forget to color them. The simplest and most acceptable way is to color candles using simple children's wax crayons.

Do you think it would be smarter to use watercolor or gouache? Indeed, the palette of these paints is richer than the color variety of crayons. But the problem is that both gouache and watercolor are made on a water-soluble basis: these dyes are not suitable for working with a candle. They do not mix well with wax or paraffin, they can float in them in strange-colored flakes, and then completely settle to the bottom.

Decorating candles can and should be done only with fat-soluble dyes, and these are our wax crayons.

Often, many craftsmen use lipsticks or shadows to decorate candles. If you don't mind your cosmetics, please feel free to follow their example. But rest assured that the aroma of lipstick will linger throughout the house, which is not always pleasant. Many people may find this smell intrusive.

If you decide to make decorative candles with your own hands, it is better to use less aggressive materials. When choosing wax crayons, we focus on soft types of this dye. Candles made using mother-of-pearl wax crayons are especially good.

If you come across hard crayons, melting them will be difficult. Yes, and planing them is quite problematic. So, we chose a piece of chalk, sharpened it using a grater, and added these shavings to the wax cinders. Mix the shavings and cinders thoroughly with a stick.

However, there is another coloring option. In specialty stores it is easy to find tableted pigments of different colors. They can be mixed with each other and dosed. Using such pigments, you will be able to make a truly unusual, bright or delicate candle. Pigments in tablets significantly expand the possibility of obtaining interesting shades.

You should not refuse to use dyes: they give the candle a unique look and create a unique pattern.

Pouring a candle

Now that the wick is ready, it’s time to fill it. We will need a regular one tin. It has to be flattened a little to form a kind of nose. This is necessary to make the process of pouring out the molten material easier.

It is better to grease the pre-prepared form thin layer dishwashing liquid or plain vegetable oil. Both remedies are equally good.

We need to put the fragments of candles in a jar (candles must be of the same quality). If we are going to make a paraffin or wax candle, we can take a saucepan or ladle for melting, which is not too much of a waste. In any case, this container should be placed in the pan that will be used as a water bath. In principle, you can use whatever you want, except glassware.

So, we fill the pan with water, boil the water, and then immerse the container with wax or paraffin. This is how our material will melt.

When the material and shavings are completely melted, you can begin pouring the candle.

Fill the bottom of our mold with wax and let it cool. Do not rush to fill the entire mold at once, otherwise a lot of wax or paraffin may leak out through the hole in the bottom. We pour the wax in layers, and what has flowed out is re-sent for re-melting. When the candle is completely filled, it needs to be cooled. The temperature should be room temperature.

Many people make a mistake at this point: they try to speed up the cooling process by placing a candle in freezer. In this case, it may spread unevenly.

This is not critical if we fill the candle upside down. If you use another method, then you should leave a little wax in order to fill the depressions next to the wick. And after drying they will definitely appear.

When the temperature of the candle becomes equal to the temperature of the room, you need to untie the knot at the bottom of the mold. At this moment, we remove the product itself by carefully pulling the wick.

If you can’t do this, you can cut the mold. Or put it in the refrigerator for a minute, and then put it under hot water for a few seconds.

After this, we cut off the excess part of the wick, leaving a tip of 1 cm. If there are unsightly seams left from the mold, they can be removed hot water. But with these manipulations, the candle may become cloudy, its shine may fade. That's why optimal solution will choose a candle mold that does not contain seams.

DIY aroma candles

Making scented candles with your own hands is quite possible. In particular, this is worth doing for those who are true fans of aromatherapy. In order for you to get exactly aroma candles, before pouring into wax you need to add some essential oils. The choice of oil depends on your taste: you can add any oil, except perhaps rose oil. After all, its smell when burning will be suffocating and heavy.

It would be great if the decor of the aroma candle matches the plant whose oil we use. For example, using lavender oil as the basis for the aroma, pink or lilac dyes should predominate in the decor of the candle.

Using laurel or mint oil, it is better to decorate a candle with green shades.

Vanilla or cinnamon will be organic in warm, beige-brown tones of a candle.

It's not just oils that can make your candle scented; regular coffee is a strong and pleasant scent.

In principle, achieving the scent of a candle is not so difficult. Aromatic oils are added to paraffin, wax or gel. And then the process of making a scented candle is no different from creating a regular candle.

We advise experimenters to mix oils: you are guaranteed an unusual bouquet of aromas. If you are afraid of “doing something weird” and synthesizing incompatible smells, look at perfume recipes. Follow their instructions, just don't add rose oil.

Gel candles

Now let's talk about how to make gel candles with your own hands. In order to make gel candles, it is better to use ready-made gel wax. The recipes for making candles are often written on the packaging with it, and you can use it.

For those who are used to doing everything themselves, the following recipe can help:

5 g gelatin

2 g tannin

20 ml water

35 ml glycerin

First we need to dissolve the tannin in the glycerin through the heating process. We continue to heat, adding the remaining glycerin and gelatin to the composition. Add water to the resulting clear solution. Bring the mixture to a boil. Some cloudiness of the solution should not scare you: it will soon disappear. Until the water completely evaporates, you need to boil the solution.

You can also add essential oil to gel candles; this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process is decorating gel candles. At the bottom of any transparent container we freely place decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry plant stems or flowers. Then fill everything with gel transparent wax. This candle looks simply incredible: transparent, delicate, with a magical pattern inside.

Coffee candles

Making decorative candles is also not difficult. For example, you can make an original coffee candle. The decor is, of course, coffee beans. The principle of operation is this: a small one is inserted into a large mold. Between the walls of the two molds you need to pour coffee beans, and then fill them with candle mass.

As soon as the mass with coffee beans has frozen, the walls need to be blown with a hot hairdryer. Thanks to this, excess paraffin will drain and the coffee beans will be clearly visible.

Now the outer layer with coffee beans is ready. We put it back into the mold, fill the inside with paraffin/wax of a different color.

Coffee candles can be like this:

You can make sea candles in the same way: instead of grains, they will contain pebbles or sea shells. As an option - transparent gel candles with small pebbles or coffee beans.

Candle decoration options

How else can you decorate a candle you created with your own hands? The first way to add originality to your candle is to use unusual, unexpected shapes. Sometimes interesting shape can be more advantageous than even the most skillful decor. A wonderful decorative element for candles - various kinds glass stands.

In a specialized store you can find special stickers for decoration. Or decoupage is a great way to decorate candles. By the way, it is very fashionable among professional candle makers. Most often, napkins are used as the basis for decoupage. Don't forget about safety precautions: use special varnish for candles.

For lovers original decor The following option will do:

Before pouring, place shells, pieces of dried fruit, cinnamon, seeds, and dried flowers around the edges of the mold. Or let it be coffee beans in an ensemble with rhinestones and beads. But in the latter case, it would be more appropriate to talk about the decor of the finished product: we insert decorative elements into melted paraffin/wax.

An already frozen candle can be covered with bamboo or cinnamon sticks. You can add star anise or the same coffee beans to them. It will be beautiful decoration for aroma candles.

If you are using dried plants (or any other decorative items that can become flammable), the candle wick should be thin so that the candle only melts in the middle.

In principle, if you have the opportunity to go to specialized stores for materials, you will get a lot of useful tools there. For example, markers and outlines are sold there; they do not burn, but during the smoldering of the wick they melt along with wax/paraffin.

If you don't want to collect old candle cinders, use paraffin beads or candle gel. In specialized stores you can even find ready-made wicks (with a metal holder). For floating candles, you can purchase specially formulated wax.

Today, the imagination of a creative person is practically unfettered by anything: prices for materials for making candles are not high, the process is exciting and not as long as it might seem. Having once created a beautiful candle with your own hands, you are unlikely to deny yourself the pleasure of experimenting again.

And for inspiration, we invite you to watch a wonderful video master class about creating carved candles

Range of products offered

A promising niche is the production of church candles

Receiving technology finished products is very variable, which makes it possible to obtain a wide variety of products using the same materials and equipment. And what candles to bet on when opening own production paraffin candles will depend on the specific market. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to analyze the potential audience here.

Are there several large churches in the region? Then it makes sense to produce large quantities of church candles. And in villages and villages, for example, ordinary household candles will be in demand.

The range of products can be huge:

church,
household,
nominal,
aromatic,
candles in a sleeve,
curly.

Each designated type of product involves the use of very different raw materials. This means that similar products may ultimately differ in appearance and properties.

It is not practical to plan the production of only one type of candle. It would be great if the workshop could produce a wide variety of products – from household items to original ones made by hand. But in the case of small business, it is unlikely that it will be possible to produce large quantities of goods - home production candles as a business, as a rule, is limited to the production of only decorative products of various directions.

What raw materials will need to be purchased?

Both the production of candles at home and their manufacture in a full-fledged workshop will require the purchase of certain raw materials. And the difference here is only in the volume of supplies of the necessary components. Depending on the type of product being manufactured, the following raw materials may be required:

paraffin,
wax,
stearin,
gel,
wicks,
flavorings,
decorative elements (beads, rhinestones, sparkles, dried flowers),
metal sleeves,
glass container.

The main raw materials include paraffin substances. To organize production, they will have to be purchased in large quantities. But the auxiliary components that are used to decorate candles can be ordered from suppliers as needed.

This business is good because the candle production machine processes inexpensive raw materials. Here are the average prices for components:

Paraffin – 50-80 rub./kg.
Cord for wick – 2-8 RUR/m.
Pigment – 1000-2000 rub./kg.
Flavors, dried flowers, fillers – 1500-4000 rubles/kg.

When launching a mini-factory for the production of candles, you should prepare for the fact that over the final recipe of the candle composition in order to obtain the output high quality products, you'll have to do a lot of work. By experimenting with the ratio of the components used, you can find your own ideal recipe. But purchasing a ready-made and “tested” raw material composition will cost the entrepreneur a tidy sum. In this regard, making gel candles is much simpler - all you need to do is find a supplier of high-quality candle gel.

Description of the technological process for making candles

The ability to organize a business at home becomes possible thanks to simple technology. The process is carried out using one of two methods - casting and pressing.

Casting technology for candle production involves pouring a molten paraffin mixture into pre-prepared molds. The work here is done manually. When using the pressing method, the process is performed using special equipment - a press machine. Here, in automatic mode, the wax turns into a candle strip, into which a wick is inserted using dies.

The choice of technology is obvious - when planning the production of large quantities of goods, it is advisable to use the pressing method. In the case of original decorative products, casting technology is being introduced.

Having decided to invest certain investments in mini candle production, it would be profitable to open 2 workshops at once, one of which would produce products for the mass consumer (household and church candles), and the other - original products to order.

As for personnel, to work with technological equipment no need to hire highly qualified specialists. But to produce decorative handicrafts, ideally, it is necessary to hire both designers and candle makers. The production of carved candles is especially difficult in terms of implementation - you cannot do without special skills. And products supplied to the market will only be in consumer demand when they are made with high quality.

Equipment required for making candles

Once it has been decided what assortment will be supplied by the workshop to the market, it is important to equip it with equipment and available supplies.

Only mass production can be produced using special machines. Original candles are cast by hand according to pre-prepared sketches.

Which candle machine to buy will depend on the planned production volumes and the amount of investment that the entrepreneur is willing to spend on equipping the workshop. Suppliers today offer for sale both semi-automatic and fully automated equipment. And this directly affects him market value. Domestic equipment of medium power can be purchased for 300,000-400,000 rubles. And the price of a machine for the production of candles of the same power, but of a foreign brand, is slightly higher - from 550,000 rubles. But according to entrepreneurs experienced in this matter, foreign equipment is better both in quality and functionality, and therefore it’s hardly worth skimping on it

You can save on the technical equipment of the plant by purchasing used machines. But in this case, there is a high risk of running into unscrupulous seller, which will sell devices that are already out of order.

A standard line for the production of candles with a capacity of up to 200 candles per hour is equipped with the following set of machines and automatic machines:

tank for melting paraffin mixture,
press extruder,
packaging machine,
automatic wick weaving machine,
forms.

The complete set of the line may vary depending on the manufacturer. And if necessary, optional equipment, which will greatly simplify the process, will have to be purchased separately. And this applies in particular to molds - to expand the range, it is important to have at least 15 matrices in your arsenal. Their price starts from 1500 rubles/piece. (the simplest ones).

And if you plan to make church candles with your own hands, you won’t expect to spend much on equipping your workplace. All the master needs is forms. And they also need to be purchased in sufficient quantities so as not to waste the time that goes into hardening the candles. There are several options for making injection molds:

plastic,
aluminum,
silicone.

Depending on the material of manufacture, the mold for making candles
cost starting from 100 rubles/piece. But there are also completely unique matrices that allow you to make original multi-layer candles. The cost of these can reach 2000 rubles/piece.

Sales channels for finished products

According to experts, the production of decorative candles, regardless of the chosen business development option, should pay off fairly quickly. But in order to reach the break-even point, it is necessary to fine-tune the sales channels. And since the product sales market is huge, profits will not be long in coming.

It is important to think through sales channels even before launching the workshop. finished products. It’s great if the equipment works “for a specific customer.”

Of course, equipment for carved candles will pay for itself much faster if the finished products are sold in wholesale quantities. But as practice shows, large supermarkets are very reluctant to cooperate with small and medium-sized businesses. No problem – it will be easy to find interested buyers:

Church candles will be distributed to local churches, churches and church shops.
Services for the production of original products can be offered to any commercial company. For example, candles with a company logo are very popular today in big cities.
Decorative items can be offered to souvenir shops, pavilions and stalls.
You can open your own store selling candles. But in in this case, the list of capital costs will include not only the price of equipment for the production of church candles, but also the cost of renting space and all commercial equipment.

The basis profitable business– a well-written commercial proposal. If there is competition in a particular region, you can offer products to customers at better prices.

In the case of a home business, difficulties with selling finished products are also not expected. Candles can not only be offered to private stores for sale, but also exhibited at handmade exhibitions. The Internet will also provide great chances for development - launching your own online store will attract customers. But souvenir, scented and themed candles are always in demand as gifts. By fulfilling customer orders with high quality, you can create good reputation, and over time there will be more than enough buyers. But in this case, wait big profits It’s hardly worth it, because it’s impossible to manually produce large batches of goods. But as you develop a client base and attract income, it is quite possible to buy machines for making candles and launch a full-fledged workshop.

Profitability of a candle making business

It will be difficult to name specific profitability indicators for the candle business - much depends on the specific region, the type of products produced and production capacity.

And before moving on to profitability indicators, you need to calculate the capital costs of organizing a workshop. To buy equipment for the production of medium-power candles, rent premises and provide a raw material base, an entrepreneur will spend at least 600,000 rubles. Investments will be significantly reduced if we start talking about home business- here it is quite possible to spend 10,000 rubles on the purchase of everything necessary for the production of the first batch of products.

And if, in addition to the fact that you plan to buy a machine for the production of church candles, the entrepreneur also plans to provide customers with delivery of finished products, the business plan will also have to take into account the costs of creating your own fleet of vehicles.

To prove that the business of making candles (church, household or decorative) is highly profitable, you can give the following figures. The wholesale cost of 1 household candle is ≈6-15 rubles, while its cost is about 3-10 rubles. If speak about decorative items, then the price of the final product is much higher – from 50 rubles. But in the case of original products self made, the markup on the product is at least 100%.

Learn how to make candles with your own hands without high costs and have fun.

The interest today is more common among women, but making this device is a manly skill that can be traced over many years. Especially in medieval times, trade in them was vital for kingdoms and villages because light was a necessity.

Today, when candles are not carried practical value, they can add an atmosphere of comfort, coziness, and romance to any room. They have a very meditative, relaxing effect and can be thought-provoking. Their main drawback- enough high price. What does it take to do it yourself?

Materials: what is needed for manufacturing

The process will not take you more than two hours, but the resulting products will complement your home or work interior and will become a good gift for loved ones.

Wax

This is the heart of a candle, of which there are three main types.

Paraffin. Traditional, used for hundreds of years to make a torch. Now it continues to be the most common among all species. It's cheap and you can easily add color and scent to it. The main problem with paraffin remains its potentially toxic nature. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum, which automatically gives it a bad rating for most consumers. If natural products are your credo, it is best to look for an alternative option.

Soybeans. New to the market, it is becoming an increasingly popular main ingredient. Soy was created in the 90s, when the natural food movement was actively gaining momentum. It is usually made from soybean oil, but is sometimes mixed with paraffin and other waxes (palm, beeswax, etc.) It also easily takes on colors and scents.
Beeswax. Oldest crafting ingredient; candles from beeswax were found in the great pyramids of Egypt. As the name suggests, it is produced by bees and is a by-product of the honey process. Because of this, it has a natural golden color and a subtle sweet aroma. This is completely natural product, but you won't be able to add other flavors to it. The natural smell will overwhelm other aromas. Bee is also the most expensive option.

Most types sold in stores come in granule form. This makes the job easier as the granules melt faster. If you bought a block, use sharp knife to cut it into small pieces.

Wick

The wrong wick can ruin your homemade candle. the main problem- this is the size, or more precisely the width. For container ones, which will be discussed, you need a wide wick. The length of the wick is not important - you can trim it.

Aroma oils

Without the smell, your wax just burns. It looks nice, but doesn't create the subtle scent that candles are used for. There are thousands of scents to choose from - just search online. You can use essential oils, but the end product won't be as good. Men should choose from such "masculine" scents as a mixture of clove, amber and sandalwood, apple and maple bourbon, blue spruce, butter rum, coffee, whiskey.

Melting utensils

A saucepan with a double bottom will do the job best. Melting directly over the flame in a regular pan will be too strong, so use a double boiler.

Form

Coffee mugs, glassware, jars - anything that can withstand heat is used as a container. With a lid, they can be transported, sent, so you can easily give them to your loved ones.

Accessories: thermometer, spatula, old pen

Having a thermometer on hand allows you to quickly take your temperature. When you buy wax, especially the kind that is used for making, it will have instructions on it as to what temperature the fragrance oil is added to, when to pour into the container, etc. Use a spatula or spoon to loosen it and dissolve large chunks. Later you will find out why old pens/pencils are good helpers for homemade candles.

Workflow: how to do it?

Prepare your work area

Working with wax is quite a dirty business. It melts, drops can get everywhere, you won't even know it until it dries. Place newspaper or paper towels around the work area. Use them to set the thermometer, spatula - be careful, they will probably stick a little. Luckily, the wax isn't that difficult to clean; you can simply scrape it off with your fingernail. Prepare your molds and wicks.

Melt the wax

Using a double-bottomed saucepan or water bath, melt the wax. Place about 200-300 grams, watch it melt by breaking it into pieces with a spatula and stirring it. It melts in about 10-15 minutes. Remember to monitor the temperature - you want it to be between 70 - 75 degrees. If the temperature starts to rise, remove it from the heat.

Secure the wick

While it is melting, attach the wick to the container. The rare wicks have a small sticker embedded on the bottom, but the main part does not. Super glue is one option, but you can use an old candle trick: dip a metal wick tongue into melted wax, then quickly attach it to the bottom center of the container. After a couple of minutes, when it hardens, the wick will be fixed to the bottom.

Add aromatic oils, stir

When completely melted, add desired fragrance oils. Each type is different and requires different quantities per 1 kilogram, so follow the instructions on the package. When you take a block that is suitable for different purposes, remember the following proportion: 60 grams of oil per kilogram of wax. Pour it into the pan, stirring for one minute to ensure even distribution.

Add color if desired

This step is optional. Your candles will come out a natural milky white, but you can add a little color by using a non-toxic colored pencil or block. For example, you can add half a millimeter of red pencil to 500 grams of wax to get a soft pastel shade. Want to bright color? Use more pencil.

The color will be much brighter in the melted mixture, but will turn milky as it cools.

Let the mixture cool

After adding the aromatic oil, turn off the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes. Optimal temperature for pouring into a container is about 55-60 degrees. This won't take long - just a few minutes - so pay attention to your thermometer. Once it is properly cooled, pour it into the container. Hold the wick so that it remains centered, without over-tightening it. We recommend leaving some in the pan - you will need it at the end.

The secret to attaching the wick

The wick, attached to the bottom, may initially wobble a little in the liquid wax. You definitely want it to stay level and centered while everything cures. Simply place the handle on top of the mold, tie a wick to it, and leave to set for a few hours.

As the candle cools, you will notice a slight dip in the wick. The wax will also come away from the edges of the jar. Reheat the remaining mixture in the pan and fill the holes that appear.

Trim the wick

You will probably have a few extra inches of wick sticking out. A wick that is too long will burn too brightly. Light it and check it: if the flame is more than 2.5 centimeters, cut the thread.

Admire your own handcrafted candles

Cool the candles at room temperature to avoid the formation of cracks.