## Making Hop Candles
Making hop candles can be a great way to bring the aromas of your favorite brewery into your own home. Not only are they a fun craft project, but they’re a great way of displaying your love and appreciation of the craft beer that you or others diligently homebrew or sample from various pubs.
### Step 1: Gather your materials
Before you start your hop candle making journey, you’ll need the right materials. You’ll need:
* Candle Wax – Soy wax flakes or paraffin wax
* Fragrance Oil – Choose a scent that pairs with hops.
* Wicks – Choose lead-free wooden wicks or metal core wicks
* Container – Choose a container that is both heat-proof and non-flammable
* Hop Cones – Choose your favorite hops species
* Tools – Don’t forget your glue gun, scissors, and thermometer
### Step 2: Heat the wax
You’ll want to heat the wax in a double boiler, then add in your choice of fragrance oil. We suggest using a ratio of 8 ounces of wax for every 1/4 ounce of fragrance oil.
It is important to make sure that you heat the wax until it’s completely melted (around 180-185 degrees Fahrenheit) and that it is kept at a steady temperature while working on it. Also, remember to stir the wax as it melts— this will help it become a more even consistency.
### Step 3: Arrange the Hops
Once the wax has softened up, it’s time to arrange the hops in the container. You’ll want to make sure the hop cones are centered and evenly distributed on the container’s sides.
If you need to, use a hot glue gun to secure the hop cones onto the container. Now would also be a good time to insert your wick through the hop cones, making sure that it is firmly centered in the wax.
### Step 4: Pour the Wax
When the wax has reached the right temperature and consistency, you can start to pour it into the container. Make sure you do it slowly and evenly, so the hop cones don’t move out of place.
You’ll want to always keep an eye on the thermometer while doing this in order to keep the wax at the right temperature–180-185 degrees Fahrenheit.
### Step 5: Allow to Cool
Finally, after you have poured the wax into the container and it has cooled down to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, you can pull the wick tight and trim it to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the wax.
Now comes the hard part—all you have to do is wait for the candle to completely cool down and harden. This could take up to 24 hours, but it will be worth the wait.
## Enjoy
Now you can enjoy the unique smell of your handmade hop candle! Display it proudly on the mantle, unplug and kickback, and may your hop candle spark some good conversations and fond memories.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
