Candle making instructions are really quite simple, which is what makes this ideal for someone who doesnt want a complicated hobby. Candle making essentially includes wax, wicks, molds and, if you choose, fragrance and color. Thats all there is to it, in a nutshell. While candle making instructions are not complicated, it does take a bit of practice to master, as there is an artistic component to candle making that can only be obtained through practice.

Candle making instructions are much like baking instructions in that there is a particular ratio of wax to dye to fragrance. Each type of wax will require a different ratio of dye and fragrance for that type of wax. Because of this, its important to keep a log of the type of wax, dye and fragrance and the amounts of each as well as notes about how the candle turned out, how strong the scent is, etc. If you deviate from the candle making instructions, your candle may not set well or may not burn well.

Another tip for beginning candle makers that candle making instructions dont always tell you, is that you need to be very careful how you melt your wax. Candle wax, whatever variety it is, is extremely sensitive to heat and, much like chocolate, it needs to be melted in a very gentle way to keep it from breaking down and crystallizing. When you melt your wax you should use a double boiler type set up. While it doesnt have to specifically be a double boiler, melting the wax in a separate vessel over a pot of steaming water will allow the wax to melt evenly and gently.

Wick placement is crucial and it is often overlooked or glossed over in candle making instructions. Wicks should be centered within the candle, and many of the widely available candle molds have a special indention in the bottom to hold the wick tab, which is the small metal disk that is embedded at the bottom of the candle and holds the wick. Wicks are available with these already attached, or you can buy them separately.

Centering the wick is then as simple as making sure that the disk is sitting inside that indention and then comes straight up. One of the best ways to ensure that the wick stays positioned correctly is to place a tongue depressor or popsicle stick over the top of the mold and rest the wick against it. This is one of those tips that candle making instructions just dont tell you, but this simple trick can save you a lot of hassle later.

Should you need to reposition a wick for some reason, you can reheat the wax with a hair dryer on low heat, re-position the wick and then use the blow dryer to smooth out the wax. This takes a bit of finesse, but its not impossible.