🌟 Wax Selection
🧊 Option 1: 100% Soy Wax
Choose soy wax with the lowest melting point. In simple terms, softer wax adheres better to the cup’s walls.
🧊 Option 2: 80% Soy Wax + 20% Coconut Wax
Both waxes have low melting points, making them soft and suitable for good adhesion to the cup’s walls. Avoid using pure coconut wax as it can result in uneven surfaces.
🧊 Option 3: 90% Soy Wax + 10% Microcrystalline Wax (Food Grade)
Microcrystalline wax is a synthetic wax, and it’s preferable to use food-grade quality with a melting point below 60 degrees Celsius. Adding microcrystalline wax can enhance adhesion to the cup’s walls and allow for a higher percentage of essential oil addition (increase by 5%-10%).
❄️ Beeswax and other hard waxes with melting points above 55 degrees Celsius should not be added, as they are intended for silicone mold making.
🌟 Other Materials
🥚 Wick: For a 100g candle, you can use 27-40 strands of cotton wick; for larger candles, use more strands (usually 40 is sufficient). Wooden wicks are also an option for a more aesthetic look, but they produce smoke when burned.
🥚 Glue Dots: Some sellers may include these; remember to ask. Use them to secure the wick at the bottom of the cup.
🍓 Tips: First, mark the center of the cup’s bottom with a marker, then use glue dots to secure the wick in the center to prevent it from shifting.
🥚 Wick Holders: Both metal and wooden options are suitable.
🥚 Heat Gun:
🌟 Fragrance:
Add essential oils at a rate of 5-10%, with 7-10% being ideal (5% will result in a milder scent). When selecting essential oils, don’t just choose cost-effective citrus oils; include oils with base, middle, and top notes for a richer and longer-lasting fragrance. For example, consider oils like patchouli and vetiver. You can also consider adding natural fixatives.
🦔 Common Pitfalls in Candle Making:
1、Add essential oils to the wax at temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius and mix thoroughly.
2、Use a heat gun to warm the cup’s walls to around 50 degrees Celsius (not too hot to avoid wax separation).
3、Pour the wax slowly into the cup at temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius.
4、Finish the final layer of wax at a point where the cup’s wall is even and avoid areas with curvature for a better-looking candle surface.
5、Pay attention to temperature to prevent wax contraction and separation, which can create holes in the candle.
6、For 200g candle cups, larger diameters result in smoother and better-looking candle surfaces.
7、If there are defects in the cooled wax surface, use a heat gun to reshape it. However, it’s essential to ensure that previous steps are done correctly; the heat gun is a remedy.
8、Allow the candle to cool naturally; do not rush it, as rapid cooling can cause wax to contract.
9、Trim the wick after the wax has cooled the next day; do not rush to trim it as it may damage the surrounding wax surface.
10、If you use opaque candle cups, any hollow areas in the cup’s walls won’t be visible (a sneaky strategy). However, it’s still best to master the basics, as most cups are transparent.
