At least one pound (a half kilogram) of paraffin (available in many grocery stores and craft stores for about US$1 per pound)

A medium-sized cooking pot (3-4 quarts/liters)

An empty coffee can or stewed tomato can

An old spoon or a clean, smooth stick

Vegetable oil (One teaspoon per mould)

A selection of clean, sturdy containers (a milk container, orange juice concentrate container, drinking glass, gelatin mold--be creative!)

Store-bought pre-dipped wicks (available at craft stores for about $1 per 6), or use thick cotton string to make your own wicks

Optional:

A selection of wax crayons in colors that you like

Perfume or fragrant oil (such as sandalwood, patchouli, jasmine, etc.)

An ice pick (or a 12-inch length of thick metal wire)

Perfume or fragrant oil (such as sandalwood, purchasing paraffin, you can melt down old, stubby candles from around the house)

A 1/12 or 2-gallon bucket, or large bowl

Sand--enough to fill that bucket mostly full

Candle dye

For the simplest candle (one color) figure about 20-30 minutes, including heating the wax. The most complicated candles (such as a striped rainbow candle) can take quite a long time, with a day in between colors to wait for them to harden--at least an hour total for such a candle.

2torial #0481: Learn2 Make Candles What a little candlelight can do! There's nothing like candlelight to create a tranquil atmosphere, whether you're having a dinner party for eight, a cup of tea for two, or some quiet time by yourself. Although store-bought candles are expensive, you can make your own with minimal expense. It's an opportunity to express yourself creatively, and you get a useful and gratifying craftwork to use at the end. Just imagine basking in the glow of a candle you made yourself. And candle-making is simple--an absolute beginner can create great candles on the first try.You simply melt paraffin (the basic material of candles) and pour it into whatever mold pleases your eye. Putting in the wick takes a bit of care, but after that, you're done. Best of all, the necessary materials are inexpensive--you probably have some at home already. It's a good idea to cover your work area with newspaper or waxed paper--dried wax can be difficult to remove from some surfaces. And don't plan on pouring wax over your kitchen sink--if you spill the wax, it'll stop up the drain. Be aware that wax is flammable at high temperatures. Wax while it is heating should never be left unattended. It should also never be heated to the point that it sputters or smokes. If it should catch fire, cover it with a lid and turn off the stove. Never pour water on a wax fire. Step 1