Season's Greetings!

2016, a year that hardly any American will be able to forget.

Hope you get to ring out the year with loved ones and good will!

Happy Holidays!

'Tis the Season for Handcrafted Gifts! - Soy Wax Candle Edition

If you have a Pinterest account or have spent any time on the internet, you might have run into some DIY gift ideas. This one is no different.

For some reason, I wanted to make candles this year. I went online to look for a recipe/instructions, my only criteria being it had to be easy and fairly inexpensive.

I came across this simple recipe for soy wax candles from CandleScience.com. And surprise! It's a business that sells candle-making materials -- one stop shopping!

I made a few adjustments to their recommended methods, mostly because I found easier/cheaper ways to do a few things. And I want to share those here with you.

RECIPE YIELDS ENOUGH TO FILL 24 fl oz.
(i.e. 3 CUPS -- 3 x 8 oz CONTAINERS, OR DERIVATIVES THERE OF)

MATERIALS

• 1 lb soy wax
• 1 fl oz fragrance oil
• pre-tabbed candle wicks
• hot glue gun
• 1 sturdy drinking straw
• disposable wooden chopsticks, not separated (like the kind that have been piling up from Chinese take-out -- you need one for each candle)
• containers (3 x 8 oz jars/tins or any derivative there of -- like 6 x 4 oz jars, etc.)
• 8 cup Pyrex (or equivalent) measuring cup 
• cooking pot or double-boiler, large enough to fit Pyrex measuring cup
• silicone spatula, or other mixing utensil
• kitchen scale
• tray (optional)
• 1/2 block of candle dye (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Get your hot glue gun ready. Why hot glue? Because we need something that can withstand the heat of melted wax. 
2. As you wait for the glue gun to heat up, prep all of your materials. Make sure your candle containers are clean and dry before you start. Place them on a tray to keep them organized. This will also protect your table/surface from the heat or from any spills when you start pouring the melted wax.
3. Thread one pre-tabbed candle wick into a drinking straw. Apply one pearl-sized bead of hot glue at the bottom of the tab. Using the straw, apply the candle wick to the center of the candle container and press down. Remove the straw and repeat for each container.
   
   

   A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 9, 2016 at 1:46am PST

   
   
4. Once you are done attaching all of the candle wicks, hold them up straight by using disposable chopsticks. Be careful not to split the chopsticks, though! You need them to act like clothespins or paper clips -- only open them wide enough to hold the wick in between.
   
   

   A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 8, 2016 at 3:08am PST



5. Fill your double-boiler or cooking pot up to about half full with water (use your judgment here) and heat on medium.
6. Tare/zero out your kitchen scale with the Pyrex measuring cup on it. Scoop 1 pound of soy wax into the cup.
7. Wait for the water in the pot to start simmering. If it is at a full, rolling boil, reduce the heat. 
8. Carefully lower the Pyrex cup into the pot, being mindful not to let it touch the bottom, or to let any water get into the wax. If necessary, remove some water from the pot. If you're using a double-boiler, rest the Pyrex cup in the upper pot (you can also pour the soy wax chips directly into a double-boiler, if you feel confident that you can clean it all out afterwards).
9. Stir occasionally as you wait for the wax to melt. This is going to take a little bit, so turn some music on or something. Wax will turn a golden color as it becomes liquid.
10. If you want to add some color, the recommended amount of candle dye is 1/2 a block for 1 lb of soy wax. I would say use your judgment here (you could certainly mix and match), keeping in mind that the color will change a little bit as the wax cools and solidifies. Continue to stir until everything is melted and mixed evenly.
11. DO NOT OVERHEAT THE WAX! As soon as the last bit of solid has become liquid, turn off the stove and remove the Pyrex cup from heat. Let the wax cool for about a minute before you add any fragrance oil (this is to make sure the fragrance doesn't burn off).
12. Gently stir fragrance oil into the melted wax until it is blended in. Don't stir it too much -- you don't want to create any bubbles.
13. Let the wax cool for at least a few minutes before pouring it into the containers. The original recipe says to wait until it's 135° F. My rule of thumb for knowing when it's okay to pour is when you start noticing trails in the wax when you stir, kind of like if you were stirring honey (or any thick, clear liquid).
14. Pour the melted wax evenly into each container, using the spatula to scrape the sides, etc. Obviously, don't fill each one to the brim (unless you want the melted wax to overflow when you light the candle). In general, you should leave at least a 1/2" from the top.
15. Let the candles set overnight. Keep them at room temperature in a dry area, out of the way of any disturbance.
16. When cleaning up your utensils, it will make your life easier if you wipe off any remaining wax with a dry paper towel before you start washing them.
17. Once your candles are all set, carefully remove the chopsticks. Make sure you don't tug too much on the candle wicks.
18. Cut the wicks so that they're about 1/4" to 1/2" tall.
19. Et voilà! Put the lids back on and decorate the containers to your heart's content!
    
    Or just light and enjoy!
    
    

    A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 12, 2016 at 9:44pm PST