Introduction
The making of coconut candles has been an important part of many cultures and spiritual beliefs throughout history. Dating back to ancient times, this art form has been used to pay homage and create a sense of pleasantness in homes and places of worship. Today, creating unique candle creations out of coconuts is still a popular pastime with special symbolism.
In this blog post, we will explore the cultural, historical and spiritual significance behind coconut candles, as well as provide creative projects for those looking to make their own masterpiece. We will look at what materials are needed for these scented works of art, discuss the latest trends in candle-making from around the world, share step-by-step tutorials on how to craft your own soy wax coconut candles at home, and meet some inspiring candle makers from across the globe. Additionally, we will have resources available for those who would like to start selling their handmade pieces or are looking for new creative avenues.
The making of coconut candles can be an extremely rewarding project that you can enjoy all throughout the year! With the right materials, guidance and enthusiasm ” there’s nothing stopping you from crafting beautiful, unique creations that bring light into any room they are placed in!
Tools & Materials Needed
Tools & Materials Needed:
– Wax: Soy wax (such as NatureWax C-3 or EcoSoya CB-Advanced), beeswax, or paraffin block.
– Wicks: CD wick by Natural Candle Supply; cotton/paper core pre-tabbed wicks such as those made by BRA logo.
– Container: High Temp Wax Cup, Glass Jars, Ceramic Containers, etc. Note: If using glass jars and/or ceramic containers – ensure they can withstand heat up to 250 F without breaking.
– Coconut Oil : Spectrum Naturals Organic Coconut Oil (check for food grade too).
– Coconut Flesh : Freshly grated fresh coconut works best for this project; however frozen shredded coconut can also be used. Make sure to drain the excess liquid before using.
– Dye : Soy dye blocks to color the wax (as desired). It is recommended that you use 1 oz of chop dye per one pound of wax.
-Fragrance : Essential oils or custom scent blends if desired. If adding fragrance oils – make sure to mix them with a bit of a carrier oil. Fragrance load should not exceed 10% of total combined weight of oil + wax. Start with a lesser amount until you find your desired strength in fragrance (start at 4%).
-Pouring Pot (double boiler): Stainless steel pot that is placed on low heat on stove top and used for melting the wax before pouring into containers.
-Thermometer : Claire Burke Type Thermometer to help keep track of temperature during melting process as well as check pour temperature prior to pouring into containers/molds
Step-by-Step Directions
Making Coconut Candles – Step-by-Step Directions
1. Preparation: Before beginning, you will need some coconut shells, clean and ready for use.
2. Melt the Wax: Start by melting the wax in a double boiler or melter. Be sure to keep an eye on it throughout the process as it can easily burn. Once it is molten, add in essential oils of your choice and adjust levels accordingly to create your desired scent.
3. Wick the Wax: Choose two wicks at least 12 inches long and insert into the melted wax while stirring with a wooden spoon until they reach half way through the oil mixture. Make sure to center each wick before setting aside to cool slightly.
4. Adding Oil to Wax: Now, begin carefully meshing 4 drops of oil in a circular motion around each wick base until it is fully combined. This helps ensure that your candles are fragrant and last longer when lit! If desired, mix together additional colors of wax or glitter for added visual effect after adding oil has been finished.
5. Assemble Your Coconut Shells: Next, pour your blended mixture into prepared coconut shells making sure to fill them up only halfway so that there is room for air flow when lit later on down the line! Use caution when pouring and let sit for an hour or so before topping up with additional mixture if needed; this gives time for your poured layer(s) to have time cool down minimizing the risk of cracking when settling during curing process).
6. Color & Scent Adjustment: Once cooled to room temperature (~20 minutes), there will be some shrinkage along each side due to cooling & separation of oils from surrounding wax thus creating an untidy look (which actually adds character!). To fix this discoloration and unevenness ensure proper color & scent correction using 2 ozs of raw herbal ingredients such as verbena leaves, orange blossom petals etc., which now can be added around the perimeter of the coconut candle bowl using a spoon or brush ” viola! After ~ 30 minutes those pesky imperfections should be a thing of past adding finesse & unique flair that makes these simple items one-of-a-kind works of home décor art straight outta nature!
How to Finish and Embellish the Candles
When it comes to finishing and embellishing your coconut candles, there are many options available. For a rustic look, try using small pebbles, shells, or pieces of wood. These will not only add texture to the candle but also a bit of sparkle and color. You can also make use of large thick slices of coconut for an interesting finish. Additionally, small pieces of twine or wire could be used to embellish the candle as well as to tie it together securely with the cotton wick. Many people also love adding decorative beads that can be purchased at most craft stores in various colors and sizes. Be sure to use clear-drying adhesive glue so that you don’t accidentally melt the candle while attaching the decoration. Finally, colored wax crayons may also be used as a finishing touch by lightly shading around the edges with light colors like yellow or pink for a unique look. With all these options available your coconut candles will turn out looking amazing each and every time!
Tips and Tricks
1. Check that you have the correct materials: First, ensure that your toolkit is stocked with all items you will need. To make coconut candles, you will need premium wax (such as beeswax or soy), wicks (premade or DIY), glass containers small enough to fit in an empty coconut, a large pot and basic kitchen utensils (spatula and measuring jug).
2. Prepare your glass containers: If you haven’t bought premade wicks, cut and melt them so they measure from 1 to 2 inches long. Next, prepare your glass containers by cleaning them with rubbing alcohol and drying them thoroughly. Your wicks should go inside the jar before filling it with wax. Secure them at the bottom of the container using glue or tape ” this will help hold the wick in place once filled with wax.
3. Melting wax for the candle: Fill your large pot two-thirds full of water and bring it to a simmer on medium heat ” this is called a double boiler method and ensures that your wax doesn’t overheat while being melted down! Once heated, pour in desired amount of wax until it melts completely and stir occasionally until it reaches a uniform consistency before taking off heat and letting cool slightly ” don’t let it set!
4. Filling coconut shells: Carefully pour warm melted wax into pre-prepared coconut shells while making sure that each half has an even amount of liquid inside ” leave room for larger amounts according to the size of your container ” then quickly place a correctly sized pre-measured wick across each side of the shell before pouring more warm melted wax in to fill up remaining room if needed.. Use toothpicks to help hold wicking in center when necessary as well as keeping sides level throughout process ” also remember never submerge coconuts completely underwater!
5. Letting Coconut Candles Set: Allow candles to dry naturally or turn on fan if you want faster results; ideally wait a full 24 hours so both halves are equally dry before lighting . For safety purposes, never let burning candle unattended or exceed maximum burn time recommended by product manufacturer ” always read warning labels prior use! Additionally store away any unused candles in cool location out of direct sunlight for best storage practice preserve quality over wide range temperatures like hot summer days!
Conclusion
As you can see, making coconut candles is a simple and enjoyable project to do. The final product is a unique candle that is perfect for any home and will make a great conversation piece at parties. Plus, not only are these candles beautiful, but they don’t take much skill or expensive supplies to make. Whether you are an experienced candlemaker or exploring the craft for the first time, making coconut shell candles is an easy, fun way to get creative with scent and design. If you’re wanting to explore more projects that use some of nature’s resources, why not look into creating jewelry, bowls or decorations from coconuts as well? No matter what type of project you decide on, one thing’s for sure; when it comes to natural materials such as coconuts, the possibilities are endless.
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.
