Aromatherapy candles are wonderful additions to a home, and make fantastic gifts. They are usually bought for a price between $5 and $20, and many consider them well worth the price. But you can have homemade aromatherapy candles for a much smaller price, and even customize all of your own scents and colors. In this article, let me help you take a lot of the guesswork out of candle making.

What oils should I use?

There are literally thousands of ingredients that can be used for homemade aromatherapy candles, and each scent has a job to do. Here are a few of my favorites and what they are used for.

Lavender - Lavender is probably the most well-known aromatherapy scent out there. It is used to promote relaxation and to calm you.

Sandalwood - This is also used to calm anxiety and help you relax, making it a great combination with Lavender. The rich wooden-spice scent is not for everyone, but works really well in candles made for men.

Bergamot - Bergamot is used to help lift spirits out of depression, or even help pull you into wakefulness. It has a very citrus and wood scent, but is not very strong in smell.

Ginger - Ginger is another scent used to help alleviate exhaustion and revitalize you. The slightly spicy smell goes really well with citrus scents.

Chamomile - Chamomile is also a vey well known aromatherapy scent, and is also used for relaxation. It goes well with sandalwood or even just on its own.

Frankincense - Frankincense is used mostly to calm anger and promote peace. The light fruity-wooden smell does this very well without being a strong scent.

Cedarwood - Cedarwood is often used to help alleviate fears and anxieties. The heavy and sweet wood smell is a bit strong, so use this oil sparingly.

Grapefruit - Used to promote energy and confidence, grapefruit is a great scent to use with morning candles of citrus or ginger, or even in a candle all its own.

Orange - Orange is my favorite citrus scent to use for energy and happy spirits. The smell is light and fruity and doesn't over power the senses at all.

Rose - Rose is a great scent to use to promote general peace and happiness. To use it with other scents that alleviate anxiety, depression, or anger is a great idea.

As far as making the candles themselves, I love using soy wax. This will make the candles all-natural and easy to burn and use. You may wish to make container candles which are contained in a decorative jar, or you may make free-standing candles or even floating candles. I love container candles as they look expensive, but are really cheap, especially if you can score the jars at the local superstore or thrift stores for really cheap. Other options include using candle molds to make interesting shapes, so simply play with whatever ideas appeal to you.

Many use paraffin wax to make their candles.  this will set harder than soy candles so it's ideal for commercially sold candles, but it not natural.

Others use beeswax.  These candles are very soft when they set and burn down easily and quickly, but they are also very easy to make.

Two Soy Candle Recipes

Cedarwood Rose Candle
Great for lifting your spirits up on those "blue days".
1 6 oz jar
1 C Soy Wax Flakes
3-6 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
2-4 drops Rose Essential Oil
1 Wick

OR
Orange Ginger Candle
Good for energy or as a candle for men.
1 8 oz jar
1 1/4 C Soy Wax Flakes
4-6 drops Orange Essential Oil
2-4 drops Ginger Essential Oil
1 Wick

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Directions:
After setting up your work area, warm the wax using either a pan on the stove or a bowl in the microwave. Soy wax has a lower melting point than other waxes, so keep the heat on medium-low and watch it closely. While it is melting, measure your wick. Dip the wick in the wax to thinly coat it, and then tab the end (add a metal tab so the wick will stand up. Once the wax has melted, take it off the heat and let sit for 30 seconds or so. Do not let it cool to the point of hardening, only to thickening. Drop the essential oils in and stir thoroughly. The amount of oils to use depends on how strong you'd like the scent to be, but do not use too much. Place the wick in the middle of your jar and hold it in place. Pour the wax in the container slowly to avoid air bubbles, and stop just slightly lower than the lip of your container. Hold the wick in place for a few moments while the wax solidifies more. Once it stands on its own, place your candle somewhere and let it set for 3-5 hours in order to completely cool and harden.

Note: If you'd like to add color to the candles, I recommend using a flake or powder candle dye. I've actually used just a pinch of colored gelatin to color my candles for years. It adds a pastel color and is dirt cheap. Add the "dye" to the candle at the same time as the scents.

I believe there is a true art to honing aromatherapy candles. These candles are not just made to look and smell pretty, they are made to invoke emotions and a certain energy within the person using them. The person burning a bedtime candle wants the candle to help them relax and sleep well, and if all it does is smell nice, it is failing. So consider what candles you decide to make and what you'd like them to be used for. Once you've decided on that, then you can go about optimizing the candle's potential and overall effectiveness, and you are a true artist.