Advent has a special gift of slowing down even the busiest days. The smell of cinnamon is everywhere, we are baking our first cookies and lighting candles at home, which can conjure up a cozy atmosphere in a few minutes. It is the home-made, handmade ones that have a completely different charm than the purchased ones.
Advent has a special atmosphere that does not appear at any other time of the year. The world outside slows down, darkens, and at home we start looking for light. And that’s where homemade Christmas candles have incredible power. Not only does it smell good in the apartment but at the same time they will bring the calm to the space, which we all need before the holidays. Whether you give them as gifts or keep them for yourself, making candles at home is surprisingly easy and the results look like they were created in a small, fragrant workshop in the countryside.
Check out the video from Mezi nami girls with instructions for making Advent candles on YouTube:
What you will need to make
The basis is high-quality wax. It can be soy, bee or paraffin, each smells and burns a little differently, but all of them can be combined well with essential oils. Then you just need wicks, glasses or molds and a few scents that you like . Orange with cloves, fir needles, cinnamon or light vanilla is ideal. Many people also add dried citrus slices or small twigs to their candles, which have a beautifully rustic effect in the wax, but you just have to be careful that they don’t burn.
“When I make Advent candles from pure wax, I always add a small teaspoon of coconut oil to the hot mixture. It’s not because of the smell, but because the candle burns more evenly and doesn’t form a deep crater,” advises decorator Eliška Procházková.
How to create a pure Christmas scent at home
There is a simple rule of thumb when it comes to home cooking: less is more. Strong perfumes can feel heavy, while a combination of two or three soft notes will create a fragrance that develops gradually. If you love a traditional Christmas atmosphere, try combining orange, cinnamon and a drop of cloves. If you prefer fresh forest scents, reach for pine, cedar or eucalyptus. An Advent candle doesn’t have to smell sweet, it can also remind you of a snowy forest.
Simple step by step procedure
It’s not a science, it’s more of a pleasant ritual. Just heat the wax in a water bath, stir slowly and add fragrance. You put the wick into the prepared glass, fix it with a stick and carefully pour the hot wax. After solidification, a small dimple may appear on the surface, which is completely normal. Just add a thin layer of extra wax and the surface will even out beautifully.
Homemade candles have one big advantage, not only that you know exactly what is in them, but at the same time you can create scents that cannot be bought anywhere. And when you light the first one and the light falls on the table, you will feel that Advent has really begun. This small tradition can turn an ordinary evening into beautiful quiet moments.
