Setting the mood with candles for Diwali

‘Tis the season when schools and colleges break for Dussehra! Hope you’re having the best holiday week. As for me, I’m definitely looking for ways to overcome boredom. Are you also looking for some fun activities over the break for you or even your kids? We might have a great activity you’d like to try.

Candle making is an art rarely unknown nowadays. Candle making was developed independently in many places throughout history. It is an art that emerged over centuries of experiments. Today on The Clean Slate, we teach you to make candles from scratch- at the comfort of your home. 

Gifting Candles this Festive Season

Candles are a beautiful and thoughtful gift- especially if you make them from scratch. They bring light, warmth and an amazing fragrance to the home. If you’re hoping to gift more sustainably this season- the candles may be the way to go!

How to make DIY Candles?

You only need a few ingredients that are easily available in the market. Here is your shopping list:

Wax

The ingredient you cannot mix in a candle! Paraffin wax is what is widely used by commercial candle makers, but we recommend you to do away with them since they are not sustainable nor eco-friendly. Paraffin Wax is made from crude oil so it’s not biodegradable. Since we’re all about giving nature a chance, we recommend you try beeswax or pure soy wax. Both of them are completely natural and just as effective as paraffin wax. Beeswax is a great option if you’re making a slow-burning candle.

Wick

Choosing the right kind of wick is essential to the whole candle experience. According to Martha Stewart, thinner wicks are for small candles and thicker wicks are for larger candles. This is because if a wick is too thin, the flame will be small and maybe snuffed out while burning. If a wick is too thick, the flame will melt the wax too quickly. Square-­braided cotton wicks are sturdier and good for larger candles. Make sure to use wicks with metal tabs on one end so that the wicks can stand up easily.

Essential Oils or Colors

I don’t know about you but I love candles that look pretty, elegant, and also smell amazing! While this is completely optional, we recommend you not skip this. Essential Oils are a great substitute for engineered fragrances that commercial makers use. There are so many benefits to using essential oils, not only do they smell amazing but they can also help you relieve stress! 

If you have a kid at home, adding colours to your candle-making might be a great idea. Keeping in mind the colourant ratio, you can custom make your shades with so many colours!

Best Essential Oils for Candles

• Lavender
• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Thyme
• Bergamot

Mould

Moulds come in many shapes and sizes and it’s important to choose the mould which will justify the shape of the candle. Please choose a mould of good quality that can handle the heat. 

Candle-making Process

Place the Wick

The very first step is to place the wick in the container. Make sure that you leave some extra wick for the end of the candle. Use an empty candle container that was previously used up—it's both eco-friendly and budget-friendly!

Heat your Wax

This is the most important step and please supervise your kids when they heat the wax. Add the wax to a pot and set it up over a heat source, such as a hot plate or electric stove. Allow the wax to melt. Mix in your colourants and essential oils at this point. 

Add it in the Mold

When the wax is about 85 degrees, add the hot wax into the mould or container of your choice. Please make sure that the wick is in place by holding it with skewers. Cut the extra wick out of the candle. Let the candle cool for 24 hours

After 24 hours you will see your self-made candle which is ready to be lit! If you make these DIY candles make sure to send some pictures! 

Hope this blog 'enlightened' you and gave you some insights about candle making. If you’re looking for more sustainable gifting ideas, make sure to check our blog. You can also check out our products that are completely powered by nature and totally eco-friendly! Give them a try: