Making candles is a great way to add some extra warmth and light to your home, and using a double boiler is the best way to make sure your candles come out looking beautiful. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about making candles with a double boiler.
Want to know more about what supplies you need for candle craft? Check out The Ultimate Candle Making Supplies Guide.
Lets answer a couple of important questions first.
What Is A Double Boiler?
A double boiler is simply two pots – one that sits on top of the other. The bottom pot is filled with water, and the upper pot rests on top of it. The upper pot is where you’ll place your candle wax, which will melt as the water in the bottom pot boils.
We have made this comparison table so you can easily see the pros and cons of using a double boiler for melting wax.
| Pros | Cons |
| A double boiler doesn’t get much hotter than the boiling point of water, so there is less risk of burning or scorching your wax. | A double boiler melts wax slower, as your waiting for the water to boil. |
| Easy to use, set up and store. A double boiler can be used on the stove top in your kitchen. | Harder to control the exact temperature as it is all down to the water temperature. |
| Doesn’t cost much and you can even make your own! | You are limited to the amount of wax you can melt in one batch by the size of your measuring pot. |
Why Use A Double Boiler?
Using a double boiler is the best way to melt your candle wax evenly. When you melt wax directly on a stovetop, there’s a risk of it burning or becoming too hot in spots, which can cause your candles to look uneven when they’re finished.
Haven’t got your double boiler yet? More information on double boilers and where to buy on The Ultimate Candle Making Supplies Guide.
How Do You Use A Double Boiler For Candle Making?
Using a double boiler for candle making is simple. First, fill the bottom pot of your double boiler with water and set it on the stove. Place your candle wax in the upper pot, and put the pot on top of the lower one. Turn the heat to medium-low, and wait for the wax to melt. Once it’s melted, you can add your fragrance oil and colorant, if desired.
Now you know what a double boiler is and how to use it, we have a simple 6 step beautiful candle guide that you can follow to make your first double boiler candles!
Step 1. Gather Your Supplies
For this project, you’ll need:
- Candle Wax Of Choice (We recommend paraffin or soy for this one)
- A Double Boiler
- A Silicone Spatula Or Spoon
- Fragrance Oil
- Candle Dye (optional)
- Cotton Wicks
- A Jar Or Container Of Your Choosing
Useful extras:
- Kitchen Scales
- Paper Towels
- Hot Glue
- Wick Holder
Step 2. Prepare Your Wax
Use your kitchen scales to way out around 350g of wax, and 25g of fragrance oil.
Don’t add the fragrance to the wax just yet, set it aside for now.
Place the wax into you double boiler and fill the bottom pot with water (around three quarters full).
Put the pot on your stove and turn up the heat to bring the water to a boil.
Step 3. Preparing Your Container
While the wax is melting, prepare your candle container. Place a wick into the centre of your container, making sure that it’s long enough to reach the bottom of the jar. You can use a skewer or chopstick to help keep the wick in place if you don’t have a wick holder.
Top Tip: Glue your wick to the bottom of the container to help keep it cantered.
Remember to gently stir your wax occasionally as it melts, don’t over stir as this can cause bubbles which might impact the end result.
Step 4. Add Colour And Fragrance
Once your wax has melted its time to add your fragrance and colour if you desire. do this slowly and gently stir it in. After around 2 minutes of stirring your wax should be smelling beautiful and looking great!
See out Favourite Fragrance oils here.
Step 5. Pouring Your Wax
Your so close now to having your first beautiful candle made with a double boiler!
While using a wick holder or chopsticks to help you keep the wick cantered, pour your wax into the container at a steady pace. Try your best not to make bubbles, but don’t worry too much about a few small ones they should go as the candle cures.
Step 6. Curing
For us this is the worst bit! now you have to wait for your candles to cure before you can give them as gifts or use them yourself.
Depending on the wax you used curing may take a while.
- Paraffin Wax Typically cures in around 48 hours
- Soy Wax can take 3 to 4 days
That’s it you have made a beautiful candle you can be proud of!
Top Tips For Using Your Double Boiler
Here’s some tips to make using your double boiler super easy!
- Use a wooden or silicone spoon to stir your wax mixture, as metal can cause it to seize up.
- You don’t need the water to be rapidly boiling to melt wax, always melt your wax at the lowest possible temperature for best results.
- Its a good idea to use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your wax, this further reduces the chance of scorching it.
Double Boiler Safety Tips
As with any type of candle making, there are a few safety precautions you should take when using a double boiler. First, be sure to use caution when handling hot wax. It can cause serious burns if it comes into contact with your skin. Second, be sure to keep an eye on the water level in the bottom pot of your double boiler. If it starts to boil dry, it could damage your pots.
With these tips in mind, candle making with a double boiler is a simple and safe process that anyone can do.
In Conclusion
making candles with a double boiler is simple, safe, and results in beautiful candles. Be sure to use caution when handling hot wax and always keep the safety tips in mind. We hope you found this article useful and enjoy making your first candle with a double boiler!
Leave us a comment and let us know how your candle craft is going, We love hearing from you!
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