BEGINNER CANDLE MAKING EQUIPMENT MUST HAVES

Are you a beginner candle maker or are you trying candle making as a hobby? Great! This  blog was created with you in mind. I will break down all the basic tools and equipment you need to embark on a successful candle making journey. 

1.Used Pot

When making candles, the double boiler method is the most common beginner method. In fact, this is the method I used when I first started making candles. Thus, you will need a used pot. I recommend buying an inexpensive pot at a thrift store or yard sale and exclusively use it for candle making. Find a pot that is deep, not shallow, and has a little width to it.  Please keep it separately from your cooking pots. Simply place your used pot on the burner and pour about 1-3 inches of water in it and turn the burner on. Next, place the pouring pitcher inside the pot. Watch the wax slowly melt inside the pouring pitcher. The pouring pitcher should have your desired amount of wax needed for the amount of candles you will be pouring. Watch the wax slowly melt inside the pouring pitcher. 

Pro tip: If you don’t want to make candles in your kitchen, you can also use a portable electric burner. This will allow you to make candles anywhere!

2. Wax

There are many different types of candle waxes. Paraffin, soy, palm, coconut, bees, just to name a few. Because I have small children, I prefer working with virgin coconut soy wax. This last one  is vegan, gluten free, non-toxic, paraben free, phthalate free, biodegradable, and it has a clean even burn with excellent adhesion. 

Pro tip: Take your time testing different candle waxes. Make sure to find something that works for your brand and budget. Head over to www.nancydianne.com to purchase your candle making kit at home.  Our step-by-step instructions will guide you when blending fragrance oils and pouring your own candle. 

3. Candle vessel 

You can use a variety of candle vessels. It really depends on your personal preference. I personally enjoy using these tins because they are unique looking and reusable. My clients really like repurposing my candle vessels to store things around the house. 

4. Stirring spoon

Some candle makers use wooden sticks, spatulas (yes! What bakers use to spread their icing) or any other stirring utensil. I like using these long stirring spoons. They are easy to clean and store. 

Pro tip: I recommend getting at least two stirring spoons if you are just starting making candles. One spoon can be used to stir the wax. The other one can be used to mix different fragrance oils when creating your unique blends.

5. Pouring pitcher

You need a pouring pitcher to put the wax you are planning on melting. Pouring pitchers come in different sizes and shapes. They usually hold two, four or sixteen ounces. If I am making a small batch of candles, I usually use a pitcher. However, if I am making candles for a wholesale order, I am using a large electric wax melting pot with a quick pour spout that has temperature control. 

Pro tip: When working with larger pouring pitchers, it's important that you only fill them up halfway. The reason is because the higher you fill it up with melted wax, the heavier it gets and you have less control when pouring the hot wax into your candle vessels.

Bonus pro tip: As your candle business grows, I recommend switching to an electric wax melting pot or presto pot with a spout to help you mass produce your candles in a faster manner. 

6. Thermometer

You need a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the melting wax. All waxes need to reach a desired pouring temperature. Typically the wax vendor will include this information on the label. You can buy a commercial grade thermometer. You simply clip it to the side of the pouring pitcher and this is how you can monitor the temperature of the wax. You can also use a laser thermometer. With this last one you simply point to the pouring pitcher and it immediately tells you the temperature of your melted wax. 

Pro tip: Although both thermometers work great, I prefer the laser one because the commercial thermometers are much heavier. If you are making a small batch of candles and your pouring pitcher doesn’t have a lot of wax, you will find that the commercial thermometer will tip over the side of the pitcher. 

7. Fragrance Oil

When it comes to choosing fragrance oils I have the highest standards. My priority is to make non-toxic candles that are safe to burn around your loved ones including your pets. For this reason, I ONLY use Clean Scents that are 100% phthalate-free and don’t harm you when burning. In other words, the fragrance oils that I use to make my candles are not carcinogenic and align with California Prop 65 list. Furthermore, the type of wax you choose to work with will determine the fragrance oil load in your candles. Your vendor will display this information on their label. 

Pro tip: When you are first starting candle making it is an excellent idea to invest on a wide variety of fragrance oil samples. I recommend testing different fragrance oils to help you narrow down the scents that you enjoy the most. This way you can create unique fragrance oil blends for your candles. 

8. Scale

When it comes to candle making, everything is in weight. You not only have to weigh the wax, but also the fragrance oil. For this reason, my recommendation is to get a gram scale.

Gram scales are great when it comes to measuring fragrance oils because you get a decimal point. For example, let's say you need to measure 0.9 grams. The gram scale will give you the most accurate measure when it comes to small amounts. Please don’t think that because it's called the gram scale you can only measure in grams. This scale also measures in ounces and milliliters. 

Pro tip: In my experience, I don’t recommend measuring out the fragrance oil on something like a kitchen or shipping scale because these were not designed to measure out really light items or small amounts of liquid. 

9. Wick clips 

I love using wick clips. These are easy to work with and hold my favorite wooden wicks in place. I bought mine from the same vendor I buy my wooden wicks from. 

Pro tip: Some candle makers use wax to “glue down” the wick holders. I prefer using wick holder stickers. 

10. Wicks

There are different wicks out there. You can find cotton, paper, zinc, tin, wooden, eco, etc. I personally prefer using crackling wooden wicks because they produce a relaxing ambiance similar to a fireplace. Moreover, they provide a beautiful horizontal flame shape. I recommend taking your time testing different wicks before you buy in bulk. Wicks tend to perform differently depending on the type of wax, fragrance oil load, size of vessel, etc. 

Pro tip: I always test different size wooden wicks when I am first developing a candle collection. I usually burn a few sample candles to record and observe the performance of each wooden wick. 

And there you have it! Ten beginner candle making basic supplies and equipment that you’ll need to start your candle making journey. We hope you found this information useful.

-NANCY DIANNE/FOUNDER

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