A lot of people who make their own candles are choosing to use essential oil in their candle recipes. This is a great way to create a more natural product and also to give the fragrances you use in your candles a much stronger scent throw. Essential oils are natural, highly concentrated extracts that can be found in the roots, leaves, stems, flowers, or fruits of a plant. They are usually extracted using a process called distillation and come in a variety of different scents. Some popular ones include lavender, orange peel, eucalyptus, rose, ylang-ylang, and cedarwood.
When it comes to scented candles, most people believe that essential oils are better than synthetic fragrances. This is because the natural fragrances of the essential oils are thought to have more therapeutic properties than the synthetic ones. For instance, lavender is believed to have a soothing effect on the nervous system. Peppermint has been known to reduce stress and boost moods. Tea tree has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Eucalyptus is used for its calming and decongesting effects on the respiratory system. These are just a few examples of the different qualities that each oil has to offer.
However, the disadvantage of using essential oils in a candle is that they can be quite expensive. This is because the scents of the natural oils are very strong and they tend to evaporate at a much faster rate than the chemicals in synthetic fragrances. This is why it is important to use a soft wax when making essential oil candles. This will ensure that the middle and top notes of your fragrances will not burn off before they have had a chance to disperse into the air.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you are using high quality essential oils for your candles. It is best to use them in a diluted form because undiluted essential oils can be too potent and cause your candle to smoke too much when it is burning. This is why it is important to dilute them with a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil.
Once you have decided on the fragrance of your candle, you will need to add the oils into the melted wax. It is recommended to start with a ratio of 1 ounce of essential oil per 1 pound of wax. This will provide a 6% dilution, which is generally considered to be the optimal amount for scented candles. However, feel free to adjust the amount based on your personal preferences and how strong you would like your fragrances to be.
When adding the oils, be sure to stir them into the wax very well. Then, let the wax cool until it reaches the ideal temperature for pouring, which is around 185 degrees. It is a good idea to use a candy or infrared thermometer for this purpose. Once the wax has cooled, you can then pour it into your container of choice and allow it to cure completely before lighting.
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