How is a handmade candle made?
Behind every handmade candle lies real know-how, made of patience, precision and attention to detail. Unlike mass-produced industrial candles, a handmade candle is designed, poured and finished by hand. Here are the main steps in making one.
1. Choosing the wax
The wax is the heart of the candle. While industry often uses paraffin (a petroleum derivative), artisans favour plant-based waxes such as soy, rapeseed or coconut. These waxes are renewable, burn more cleanly and release fragrance better.
2. Selecting the fragrance
A handmade candle doesn't just smell good, it tells a story. Artisans choose their fragrances carefully, often from perfumers in Grasse. More and more of them work with fragrances guaranteed free from CMR substances and phthalates, to respect health and indoor air quality.
3. Preparing the wick
The wick must be perfectly suited to the size of the container and the type of wax. Too thin, and it goes out; too thick, and it produces too much smoke. Artisans usually opt for natural cotton wicks or untreated wood, for an even burn.
4. Pouring by hand
Once the wax has been melted and fragranced, it is poured carefully into the containers. This step demands precision: the temperature must be just right for the wax and fragrance to bind harmoniously. This is where the difference with automated industrial production really shows.
5. Curing time
After pouring, the candle must rest for several days. During this stage, the wax stabilises and the fragrance sets. This patience guarantees an even burn and a subtle release of fragrance.
6. Handmade finishing touches
Each candle is then checked, the wick trimmed, and sometimes dressed with a seed paper label, like the ones used at OALI. Once the candle has burnt down, this paper can be planted to grow pretty flowers, and the ceramic pot becomes a new everyday object.
Making a handmade candle means combining technique and sensitivity. It means turning simple materials into a flame that warms, soothes and scents the home.
To discover this craft, explore our shop of handmade candles, made by hand in Belgium and France with plant-based waxes and fragrances from Grasse free from CMR substances and phthalates.
