Votive Candles

Votive candles are a great beginner project for anyone getting started in candle making. Since they're small, they don’t take a lot of time to make. They're also great to have in the house or for quick gifts for just about anyone.

Making votive candles takes many of the same supplies as larger candles, including:

• wax
• votive candle wick (you’ll often find it called E-wire)
• wick tabs (if you don’t buy pre-wicked tabs)
• votive candle molds
• melting pot
• dye chips
• fragrance oil if desired
• wooden skewer

Prepare your wicks if you don’t have pre-tabbed wicks. Slide a length of wick through the tab and crimp the tab around the wick, making sure that the base of the tab will sit flat on the bottom of the votive mold cup.

Make the wick as straight as you can, whether you are using pre-tabbed or self-tabbed wicks. The way you place the wick in the cup is the way it will stand in the candle.

Melt your wax in a melting pot on the stove or on a hot plate (my preferred method because of the limited mess involved when you cover the counter with newspaper and place the hot plate on top). Add a small amount of color chips or dye when the wax is almost melted, and a small amount of fragrance if desired.

I prefer to make votive candles that are not scented because I like to light a whole bunch of them at once. That many scented candles in the same place might overpower the room.

Turn off the heat when the wax is melted and pour the wax into the votive cups one at a time until they are almost full. Save a little wax to pour over the cooled candles, since the wax will shrink as it cools. Place the wooden skewer across the top of the cups to hold your wicks straight.

Allow the candles to cool for a couple hours. The wax will pull away from the wick as it cools, so you will need to melt the wax you saved and pour it to refill the molds. Don’t pour the new wax to a higher level than the old wax.

Allow it to cool again and then remove the candles from the molds. If they don’t come out easily, put the molds in the freezer for about 10 minutes. The candles should come out more easily.

Votive candles are a great way to decorate and set a mood. Put a bunch of candles together or an table or mantle, light them all, and enjoy.

Votive candles should be burned in cups. This keeps the wax contained, and also looks pretty when the light shines through the holder.

Votive candles make great gifts. Make three or four candles that are the same color, buy a cute votive candle holder (I buy all sorts of candle holders when they are on clearance at craft and discount stores), put them in a cute bag and you’re done. It’s a quick, cheap gift that almost anyone will love.

Make a big batch of votive candles whenever you start this project. Don’t worry, you’ll find a use for them all.