It always feels great when you create something yourself and use it as well, rather than just buying it from the market. Candles have always signified elegance and beauty, and the best part about them is that they can be very easily created by you at your own home in any shape, size, color, and design you choose. You can even add your favorite fragrance by using scented aromatic oils during preparation.

There are many varieties of candle making wax available in the market, each with different features, you will first need to evaluate the features of each of these waxes and choose the one which completely suits your needs. Paraffin wax is generally used for most homemade candles.

By following these simple steps, your very own scented candle will be ready in a couple of hours:

• Fill a pan slightly with water and let it heat on a low flame. Take a container, put the wax in it, and keep it in the middle of this pan filled with water. Allow the water to boil.

Note: Do not boil the water on high until it starts bubbling as this may cause the water bubbles to splatter in the wax.

• As soon as the water starts to heat, the wax will slowly start melting. When this happens, dip a thermometer into the melted wax to measure if the temperature reaches 175 degrees. As soon as it reaches 175 degrees, pour the melted wax in a dry bowl or a coffee mug.

Note: While dipping the thermometer in the container, make sure that it doesn't touch the sides or bottom of the container.

• Now you can add the color chips into the melted wax. It is always recommended that you add a few color chips at first, because if the wax color becomes too dark, it will be very difficult to bring it back to a lighter shade, but if the wax color is too light then there is always the option for you to add some more color chips later.

• Add your favorite fragrance to the colored wax, in the form of aromatic scented oils which are readily available. Always use only half a teaspoon of scented oil while candle making, because using any more can create problems in your candle burning efficiently. Make sure that you continuously keep mixing the wax as you add the scented oil so that it mixes evenly. Transfer the mixture into your wax mould slowly and keep the remaining wax in the hot water pan so that it remains hot.

• Just as the mixture cools, the wax will begin to reduce. Keep adding more of liquid wax to it till you are sure that the desired candle size has been achieved. Simultaneously, keep poking the candle gently with a skewer several times at ten to twenty minute intervals, as doing this will add air into the candle that will help it keep its shape when removing it from the mold.

• After about 4 to 5 hours you can try removing the candle from the mold and if it still sticks to the mold then place it in your refrigerator

Note: Do not place the mixture in to the freezer as it will lead in cracks to your candle

• In order to put in a wick, poke the skewer again into the center of the cup as the wax begins to glide. Every time you insert the skewer, turn it several times so that you prevent it from sticking to the wax.

• Normally it is very easy to insert a wick, but in case you are unable to, then dip the wick's bottom a little bit into the melted hot wax and then try fixing it to the center of the candle, this will ensure that it is straight at the end that has to be shaped. You can trim it depending on the length of the entire wick.

Note: If you want your candle to burn longer and not put out black smoke in the air, then always remember to keep the wick short.