How Are Candles Made?

You’re curled up in your comfiest chair, with a great book, a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and your favourite scented candle flickering beside you. Bliss, right? You’d be forgiven for not giving a second thought to how that candle came to be. Candles are meant to help us unwind, not spark a deep dive into their origins! But, if your curiosity is piqued and you’d like a peek behind the scenes, read on to discover the magic of candle making from start to finish.

Ingredient Selection

It all begins with the basics: choosing the right ingredients. But trust us, this step is far more intricate than it sounds!

The biggest part of a candle is, of course, the wax, into which the scent and wick are added. For luxury candles, premium waxes like natural soy, beeswax, and coconut are favoured. Sometimes highly refined paraffin or a blend of these waxes is used too. Each wax brings its own unique properties to the table, and we’ll delve deeper into those in another article - so keep an eye out!

Now, onto the star of the show: the scent. Only premium fragrance oils or essential oils make the cut. Finding the perfect fragrance balance is an art, and getting those scent notes just right takes skill. Some top brands even work with master perfumers to create complex, long-lasting scents with layered notes that evolve as the candle burns.

And the wick? It’s more important than you might think, especially for high-end candles. Jo Malone, for example, has 400 wicks to choose from to make sure each candle burns perfectly. The right wick is carefully chosen based on the wax and fragrance, ensuring a smooth, even burn and an amazing experience. Wooden wicks are sometimes used to create a relaxing crackle, while cotton wicks, the most popular choice, give a steady, clean flame.

Every element is selected with purpose, bringing together a candle that’s designed to be as luxurious as it is relaxing.

Melting the Wax with Precision

Getting the temperature spot-on is key to crafting luxury candles that look gorgeous and burn beautifully. Each wax type has its perfect melting point - too hot, and you risk losing that smooth texture and flawless finish. Soy wax, for instance, melts best at around 85°C to keep its silky look, while natural beeswax prefers a slightly lower temperature, thanks to its unique makeup. By fine-tuning each wax’s heat level, candle makers make sure every ingredient performs at its absolute best, bringing out the candle’s natural beauty and perfect burn.

Adding Fragrance and Colour

Once the wax reaches its ideal melting point, it’s time to add the fragrance - at just the right temperature to lock in its full potency. The amount of fragrance oil added depends on both the wax and the oil type. For instance, refined paraffin wax is excellent at holding scent, so it generally requires less fragrance than other waxes like beeswax. Typically, the fragrance-to-wax ratio falls between 6-12% of the candle’s weight, a balance that’s carefully tested by candle experts to achieve a scent that’s perfectly layered - not too subtle, not too strong.

If colour is desired, this is also the stage where it’s added. Most luxury brands keep their candles lightly coloured, letting the wax’s natural beauty shine through. The richness of colour depends on the wax used, with certain waxes allowing for deeper shades than others. 

Preparing and Placing the Wick for a Perfect Burn

Placing the wick with precision is key to a candle that burns beautifully from start to finish. Wicks are anchored right in the centre of the candle’s base to ensure an even burn that uses every bit of wax, maximising enjoyment and minimising waste. If a wick is off-centre, it can lead to tunnelling or an uneven melt pool, both of which can impact the candle’s look and longevity. Perfectly centred wicks mean a steady, satisfying burn and a candle that gives its best every time you light it.

Pouring the Wax

The wax is poured into vessels at precisely calculated temperatures, usually when it’s slightly cooler than its melting point to prevent issues like air bubbles, cracking, or sinkholes. Some candles, particularly those with layered designs, are poured in stages, while others - especially luxury candles - undergo a double-pour process. The first pour fills most of the container, and after it cools, a second pour is added for that flawless, smooth finish on top. Luxury brands like Baobab take this to the next level, with some of their candles requiring up to six layers to achieve their signature look and scent experience. As the wax begins to solidify, candle makers often adjust the wicks to keep them perfectly centred, ensuring a beautiful, even burn.

Curing for a Refined Finish

Once poured, luxury candles are left to set - or cure - for anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on the type of wax and complexity of the fragrance. 

Soy wax, for example, benefits from a longer cure to reach its full potential. This resting period allows the wax to settle and fully bond with the fragrance, creating a smooth, even burn. Patience during curing can make all the difference, enhancing the scent throw so that the fragrance develops beautifully. Jo Malone cure their candles for 72 hours, then flash them with intense heat to create a perfectly smooth top, while Trudon candles are “surfaced” - with the top gently melted to achieve a flawless, glass-like finish.

Trimming, Testing, and Quality Assurance

Once the candles have fully cured, it’s time for a bit of fine-tuning! The wicks are trimmed down to around 6mm - just right to keep the burn clean and smoke-free. Then comes quality assurance: each candle is carefully inspected, sometimes more than once, and many are even test-burned by artisans to ensure everything is spot-on. From scent throw to burn time and an even melt, every detail is checked to make sure the candle is absolutely perfect before it reaches you.

Labelling and Premium Packaging

In the final stage, the candles are dressed up with the brand’s signature label (if needed) and then carefully placed in premium packaging. Think gorgeous decorative boxes, soft pouches, and those little extra touches like satin ribbons. This high-end packaging doesn’t just look beautiful - it keeps the candle’s scent fresh and makes the experience feel luxurious from the moment you open the box, even before you light it.

Final Thoughts

The candle-making process is so much more intricate than most people realise, especially in the world of luxury candles. All the meticulous work, precision, and patience that goes into crafting just one candle really helps explain why some come with a higher price tag! But wouldn’t you agree? Every bit of that effort is worth it when you light your favourite luxury candle and let its captivating scent and warm glow transform your space. ✨