Richly Scented Candles: Making a Triple Scent Candle

By Sirena Van Schaik

When Glade advertised their triple colored candles, I was not only surprised but completely interested. It seemed like such a great idea and the scents that they offered were ones that I enjoyed. I didn’t really think much upon how they managed to make a triple colored candle but eventually, the crafter in me came out and I looked into making not only multi-colored candles but also multi-scented candles.

Before we actually look at how to do this, I should mention that this is not the easiest candle to make and it can take a bit of time. If you are not a patient person, then I would strongly suggest avoiding this project since it does involve a significant amount of waiting in between layers.

What you need:

• Paraffin Wax: You can purchase wax in most craft stores in the candle making section. I would recommend the block of wax for this craft instead of flakes.
• Wicks: Cotton braided wicks are fine for these candles and you can purchase wicks at any craft store in the same section as the wax.
• Essential Oils: Since we are making a triple scented candle, you will want to have at least three different essential oils for the fragrances. Use fragrances that work well together, which means you will not want to blend pine needles with cinnamon. You could make a berry delight candle with three different types of berry fragrances in the candle.
• Wax Dye: This is only if you want to color the wax, which adds more depth to a layered candle. It is important to use a wax dye and not food coloring or any other type of dye and use colors that compliment the fragrances you are using.
• Candle Mold: The best type of mold for this is one that creates a pillar candle.
• Double Boiler: This can be a double boiler that you purchase for the special reason of candle making or it can be a pot filled with about 2 or 3 inches of water with a coffee can placed in the center of it.
• Pencil: This is for keeping the wick from slipping into the hot wax.

Directions:

1. Before you start anything, it is important to figure out just how much wax you will need for the mold. Generally, if you purchased the mold, it will say how much wax to use to fill the mold. Wash the mold before you use it and make sure that it is completely dry before you use it.
2. Take the recommended wax amount and split it into 3 equal measurements. If you use a digital scale, you can be sure that your measurements are accurate.
3. Once you have separated the wax, place the double boiler on a medium-low temperature. Put in the first amount of wax and melt it to the temperature that is indicated on the package.
4. Add the dye to the wax and stir until it is well blended.
5. Remove the wax from the heat and allow it to cool slightly before adding your first essential oil. Stir until you are sure the scent is mixed through the wax.
6. Pour the hot wax into the mold, make sure you do not get any on the sides of the mold so you don’t have any bleed into other colors, and set to the side.
7. This is where you need the patience for this project. You will need to wait before you start the next layer. The key is to wait until the top feels rubbery and there is a thin skin on the surface of the wax. It should be well formed wax and there should be no melted wax on the surface of the skin.
8. At this point, you will want to repeat steps 3 to 7 with first the second layer and then the third layer. Make sure to add the scent and the dye to each layer while the wax is melting in the pot and you should use a different pan or clean the pan between each layer to keep the fragrance from seeping into the different layers.
9. When you get your third layer on the candle, it is important to place the mold into a bowl of water. Make sure no water spills inside the mold and also make sure that the water is cold.

Once the candle sets, remove from the mold and you should have a beautiful multi-layered and multi-scented candle that everyone would love.