Candle Making Guide & Supplies
From Marinaโs studio
Your first pour.
A little everyday magic.
A practical starting point for making candles, with a simple practice batch, essential tools, and a thoughtfully organized supplier directory.
Iโm Marina, the maker behind Velvet Candle Company. Iโve been creating candles since 2019, and this is a place to begin exploring the craft, one small batch at a time.
A note about these links: Some supplier links below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Choose supplies that suit your project and budget.
01 / Gather the essentials
Start small. Learn your materials.
A plain container candle is a useful first project. Save sculptural shapes, gel layers, and decorative toppings for later: each needs its own materials and testing.
Ingredients & containers
- Container wax, such as Golden Brands 464 soy wax.
- Fragrance oil approved for candle use.
- Containers specifically made for candles.
- Wicks matched to your wax and the jarโs inside diameter, plus candle wick adhesive.
- Optional candle dye; keep the first batch uncolored to simplify testing.
Tools for a careful pour
- A digital scale that measures grams.
- A thermometer suitable for hot wax.
- A heat-safe pouring pitcher and double boiler, or a purpose-built wax melter.
- A stirring utensil, wick holders, scissors, and heat protection for your hands and worktop.
- A notebook and candle warning labels.
Choose the wick before you pour. Start with the supplierโs wick chart for your exact wax and container diameter. A jarโs advertised ounce size does not determine its wick. Keep a few nearby wick sizes for separate test candles.
02 / Your first practice batch
A simple soy container candle.
This example uses Golden Brands 464. It is a starting formula for your own tests, not a pre-tested Velvet product recipe. Use suitable candle containers with enough room for the blend and the makerโs recommended headspace.
Measure by weight
That is a 6% fragrance load by wax weight: 300 ร 0.06 = 18 g. Use this amount only if the fragrance supplierโs candle-use limit and the waxโs limit both allow it. Otherwise, reduce the fragrance amount.
The total blend is not a jar size. Divide it between suitable test containers as needed. Choose the wick for each container individually.
- Prepare your space and containers. Work on a level, heat-resistant surface, away from children, pets, and flammable materials. Keep water out of the wax. Clean and fully dry your candle containers, then fix each wick upright and centered.
- Weigh the wax and fragrance separately. Use grams on your scale. Record the wax, fragrance, amounts, container diameter, and wick. Begin with a single fragrance and no decorative additions.
- Heat the 464 wax to 185ยฐF / 85ยฐC. Use a double boiler or a wax melter according to its instructions and monitor the temperature. Never leave heating wax unattended or place a wax-filled pot directly over a flame.
- Add fragrance and mix gently. At 185ยฐF / 85ยฐC, remove the pitcher from the heat safely and add the measured candle fragrance. Stir gently for two minutes. These temperatures apply to this 464 example; use the supplierโs instructions for any other wax.
- Cool, then pour. For this 464 batch, start at 135ยฐF / 57ยฐC. General Wax lists a 135โ145ยฐF pouring range; record your chosen temperature. Pour slowly, leave the containerโs recommended headspace, and secure the wick with a holder.
- Let the candle cool, then cure. Leave it undisturbed until completely solid and cool. Cooling is not the same as curing. Allow this 464 batch about two weeks to cure before evaluating its fragrance performance. Keep the candles covered once fully cool.
- Trim, label, and burn test. Trim a cotton wick to ยผ inch and add a warning label. Test the complete candle through repeated supervised burns, following the container and wick supplierโs limits. Record flame behavior, soot, melt pool, and container condition. Test every wax, scent, wick, color, and container combination before gifting or selling it.
Give testing its own time. A candle that looks beautiful can still need a different wick. Use the full burn-testing walkthrough to plan your test and keep useful notes.
03 / The supplier directory
Find what your next pour needs.
Begin with wax, a suitable container, a wick, and basic measuring tools. Larger equipment and personalization tools can come later. Supplier links in this section are affiliate links; availability, prices, and offers are set by each supplier.
Wax, fragrance & everyday essentials
General Wax
A place to compare core candle-making ingredients and tools. Choose container wax for jars and a suitable pillar wax for freestanding candles.
Sculptural & dessert designs
Nicole Moulds
Explore silicone molds for shaped candles and decorative projects. Match the mold to a suitable wax, and check its dimensions and intended use before ordering.
A sculptural candle uses a different formula and testing process from the container-candle practice batch above.
For a growing workspace
ToAuto wax melters
A dedicated wax melter is an optional upgrade when you begin pouring larger batches. Compare working capacity, temperature controls, cleaning needs, and space on your workbench.
The link opens a larger-capacity model. Check its current specifications to choose the right size for your studio.
Branding & personalization
xTool
I use xTool for engraving and personalized projects. If you want to add custom lids, tags, or gifts to your collection, explore a machine suited to your materials.
An optional studio upgrade. Check the exact machineโs material compatibility, ventilation, and operating instructions before choosing it.
Labels & packaging
NIIMBOT label printer
I use NIIMBOT to print candle labels and stickers for my products and packaging. It is a compact option for creating clean, consistent branding in a small studio.
Compare printer models, compatible label sizes, and label materials to find the best fit for your packaging.
04 / A few things worth knowing
Before your next batch.
Can I use the same wax for jars and molds?
Choose wax for the project. Container wax is designed to stay in a vessel; freestanding candles generally need a suitable pillar or mold wax. Follow the wax supplierโs intended applications.
Is a cooled candle ready to burn?
Cooling means the wax has set. Curing gives the finished candle time before testing and scent evaluation. The 464 example above uses a two-week cure for fragrance performance; other waxes have different instructions.
Why canโt I choose a wick by the jarโs ounce size?
The inside diameter, wax, fragrance, color, and container shape all affect burning. Start with the supplierโs chart, then test the complete combination. Change one variable at a time and keep notes.
Can I add flowers, glitter, or real fruit?
Keep the beginner batch free of decorative additions. Dried botanicals and other combustible decorations can ignite. Dessert-style wax pieces and gel designs need a separate suitable formula and full testing; they are not covered by this recipe.
What should I record when testing?
Record the date, wax and fragrance names, weights, fragrance percentage, wick, vessel dimensions, pouring temperature, cure time, and observations during every burn cycle. If you change an ingredient or container, test again.
Make something with me.
Want to learn in person? Explore Velvetโs candle-making workshops and private parties, or find inspiration in the finished candle collection.
Technical references: General Waxโs 464 specifications (affiliate link), CandleScienceโs 464 instructions, and burn-testing guidance. Follow the current instructions for the exact materials you purchase.
Written for the Velvet Candle community ยท Updated September 2026