You Only Need One Kitchen Appliance To Make Your Own Soy Candles

If you're a huge candle fan and have been wanting to make your own for a while, it could be easier than you think. This crafty hack to making homemade soy candles involves a kitchen appliance many already own — a slow cooker. Just as a slow cooker is the perfect way to do dinner for those days when you only have the energy to throw a bunch of ingredients in, this candle hack is an equally easy, effective, and nearly mess-free candle-making solution. At the end of the process, you'll be left with a bunch of scented candles that you can gift to friends and family or keep for yourself.

To pull off this hack, you'll need a slow cooker (duh), soy wax, water, glass containers or jars, clothespins, and a corresponding amount of wicks. To make different candle scents, essential oils work well. However, if you want to ensure your candles are strongly scented, use fragrance oils instead.

The first step to making your own soy candles is to fill your slow cooker with 2 to 3  inches of hot water. Then, fill your jars with soy wax and place them in the slow cooker. Turn the heat setting to high, and cover the pot with the lid. Take the lid off occasionally to stir the wax. Note that the wax will shrink in the jars as it melts, so add in extra as you go (leaving approximately an inch of space at the top for the lid). It can take up to one to two hours for the wax to fully melt, though this will depend on your specific slow cooker model. 

When the wax is completely melted, carefully remove your candles from the slow cooker and let them sit for five to ten minutes before adding in the essential oils. Depending on the size of your candles, you'll need to add around ½ to one teaspoon of essential oil to each candle so that the scent really shines. Next, add the wick to the center. You'll need to hold this in place with a wooden clothespin. Finally, wait for the wax to harden, trim each wick to a ¼ inch, and enjoy your beautifully-scented homemade slow cooker candles!