DIY The Perfect Valentine’s Gift with Charles of Aether Candles

I hear all the time how cliché Valentine’s Day is — how people should feel love every single day. While I do agree with the sentiment, “you should show love daily,” what’s wrong with a little celebration? Whether it’s romantic love, self-love, or the now famous “Galentine’s Day,” there’s all sorts of love to celebrate. I also just love the aesthetic for the holiday! Reds, golds, sparkle, with the Champagne flowing… It’s just so chic.

Gifting for Valentine’s Day can be tough. Whether you buy a chocolate heart (now THAT’S cliché) or flowers, you’re always looking for a special gift for your someone, or even to celebrate yourself. Instead of purchasing something from the stores this year, why not make your own gift? Why not change it up a bit and give something that was thoughtfully handmade, like a candle? I may be biased here since I create candles for my shop Aether Candles, but I have just the candle that would make a perfect Valentine’s gift and it’s personal since you’re the one who created it!

For these candles I used a 6oz gold and a 6oz black tin. You can find these either on Amazon or at your local craft store. You can also use any kind of tin or jar of your preference (make it your own!) just keep in mind something that can hold 6oz when choosing a vessel.

For the two candles displayed, I chose dried roses and dried lavender to embellish the tops of the candles. These can also be found on Amazon or at your location craft store. It just adds a gorgeous flare instead of just having a plain candle. For the scent, I blended “Peony” and “Blush Suede” fragrance oils for the candle with Rose petals and used “Lavender” fragrance for the candle with Lavender petals. Below you’ll find a breakdown of materials needed as well as detailed directions so you can create your very own candles!

What you’ll need for one 6oz candle:
• 6oz candle tin
• 4oz of soy wax
• ¼ oz of fragrance oil
• Cotton wick
• Glue Dots (to secure wick to tin)
• Wick centering device or popsicle sticks
• 1 melting pot
• Glass thermometer
• A hot plate or double boiler
• Stirring utensil
• Dried flowers (any flower you choose will be great — get creative!)

Directions:
Step 1: Attach the wick to the bottom of the candle jar with glue dots so that the wick rests in the center of the jar. Some kits come with these dots included if you choose to purchase a kit. After securing your wick, use the centering device to hold the wick in the middle of the tin.
**If you do not have centering devices, that’s fine! I’ve seen people center the wick with two popsicle sticks or something similar.

Step 2: Place the 4oz of soy wax into the melting pot or double boiler. Heat until the thermometer reads 185° F.

Step 3: Measure out your fragrance oil in advance while the wax is melting. Make sure your single or combined scents come to a combined volume of ¼ oz. When the thermometer hits 185° F, pour your fragrance oil into the melting pot. Make sure you stir well!

Step 4: Remove the wax from heat. Once it cools to 135° F, carefully pour the wax evenly into your 6oz vessel.

Step 5: Just before the wax completely hardens, place your dry flowers or crystals on top.

Step 6: Let the candles sit for 24 hours, then trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.


If you’d like to stray away from the Valentine’s Day theme, my next candle is perfect for you. To those who don’t celebrate, or would just prefer a different kind of candle, I’ve created a candle that you can burn for prosperity in the New Year! Let’s start this year off right and set our intentions for success.

I chose to include Citrine and Tiger’s Eye, but this candle can work with any crystal you choose, depending on the intention you’d like to burn it for. Rose Quartz for love, etc. To make this candle I used 6oz of wax and an 8oz jar. I chose a clear jar that I found at my local dollar store. When in doubt, head to the dollar store first. You can find some great items there! The step-by-step directions will be the same as above for this candle, except you’ll increase your fragrance oil to ½ oz of fragrance oil instead of the ¼ oz since we’re using more wax for this candle.

I hope you enjoy this project and come up with gorgeous and unique gifts to share with the loved ones in your life!

Much love,
Charles with Aether Candles