CONTAINER CANDLE

In this lesson, we’ll cover the process of making a scented container candle.

What you’ll need:

1) Container wax
2) Double boiler (one pot for water, one for wax) or a thermostatic wax melter.
3) Candle vessel
4) Kitchen thermometer
5) Scale
6) Heat gun
7) Wick
8) Wick centering tool
9) Scissors
10) Water
11) Paper towels; silicone mat/heat-resistant surface; gloves (optional)
12) Fragrance oil for wax
13) Pipette / dropper
14) Spoon

LET’S START MAKING:

Step 1. Preparation — Open
Step 2. Melting the wax — Open
Step 3. Adding fragrance — Open
Step 4. Preparing the container — Open
Step 5. Pouring the wax — Open
Step 6. Leveling the top — Open

Step 1. Preparation

1. Calculate the required amount of wax and additives for the candle.

a) If you’re using this container for the first time, measure how much wax it will take.
Place the container on the scale and tare it, fill the container with water up to the desired fill level of the future candle (allowing for the wick and a lid, if applicable).
Multiply the resulting water weight by 0.9 (average wax density).
Add a few extra grams of wax (3–10%) because some wax will remain on the walls of the pouring pot.

b) To calculate the fragrance, use any candle calculator online or do the math yourself:
multiply the wax mass by the fragrance load (%) and divide by 100.
This gives you the fragrance mass.

c) Then subtract the fragrance mass from the wax mass.
This gives you the wax mass accounting for the fragrance.

Example calculation:
Water mass in the container: 70 g
Fragrance load: 8%

Wax mass = 70 × 0.9 = 63 g
Fragrance mass = 63 × 8 / 100 = 5 g
Wax mass (net of fragrance) = 63 – 5 = 58 g

If you are making more than one candle at a time, multiply both the fragrance mass and the wax mass (net of fragrance) by the number of candles.

2. Place your pouring pots on the scale and tare them, then add the required amount of wax.

Step 2. Melting the wax

1. Place a double boiler with wax on the stove over medium heat.

2. Stir the wax periodically until it is completely melted.

3. Use a thermometer to monitor the wax temperature and do not exceed the manufacturer’s maximum heating temperature (e.g., 90–95 °C).

Step 3. Adding fragrance

1. Heat the wax to the recommended mixing temperature (e.g., 60–70 °C).

2. On the scale, measure the pre-calculated amount of fragrance.

3. Add the fragrance to the wax without removing it from the double boiler; stir it in with a spoon for about 2–3 minutes, not too vigorously. (Sometimes it takes longer to incorporate the fragrance, but remember: the longer the fragrance stays in hot wax, the more it evaporates.)

Step 4. Preparing the container

1. Make sure the vessel is completely clean and dry.

2. Fix the wick in the center of the container using wick stickers or a hot-glue gun.

Step 5. Pouring the wax

Step 6. Leveling the top

1. Leveling methods:

Method 1 — After the candle has completely set, pour a little more wax into the container; let it fully set again.

Method 2 — Use a heat gun from above at a distance of at least 20–30 cm until only the top layer (2–3 mm) melts; let it fully set again.

2. Carefully trim the wick to 3–5 mm.