There is just something so relaxing about using a lotion candle. For me, it really take a massage up to the next level by setting the mood. And, it prevents that shock to the system when you get cold oils poured on your back. By using a lotion candle, the waxes are heated up before they get poured onto your back. I have formulated this lotion candle to extend the longevity of the massage oils and so that it does not leave you with any greasy residue after the massage.
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How to use a lotion candle
To use the lotion candle, you will want to leave your candle lit until a pool forms on the top, this will normally take about 15 minutes. Blow out the flame and pour the wax directly on your hand and use for massage. Never pour directly on anyone’s back, always pour on your hand or a container first.
Note on cooling time
Unlike a normal soy wax candle, these candles seem to take forever to cool all the way. You are going to want to give them at least a few hours to set up.
Lotion Candle Ingredients
Soy Wax – We use soy wax for a few different reasons. The first reason why we use it is to harden up the candle. We need the butters and oils to stay in solid form. The second reason why we use it is it has a low melting point. That means that when we light the candle and it melts, it’s not going to be too hot. Be sure that the soy wax you are using is skin safe.
Shea Butter – Shea butter also has a super low melting point. If you pick it up and hold it in your hand for a minute or so, it will start to melt. Shea butter has a slow absorption speed (for extending the massage) and it gives you a nice slip.
Kokum Butter – Much like shea butter, if you hold the kokum butter in your hand it is going to start melting. Kokum butter absorbs pretty fast into our skin and leaves behind a dry feeling. I like to use it in the lotion candle because at the end of a massage, I personally do not like my back to feel all oily.
Caster Oil – Caster oil has a slow absorption speed. It can leave behind a bit of a sticky feeling on its own, but we are using at such a low percent, I have not noticed any stickyness left behind from it.
Fragrance Oil – I am using Pink Grapefruit and Citrus fragrance oil in my lotion candles. If you are using a different fragrance oil, make sure that it is both skin safe and candle safe. To figure out how much fragrance oil to use, you want to use the percent that you would use in a leave on lotion. For example, a fragrance might be able to be used at 8% in a candle and 4% on your skin. For this candle, you would use the 4%, because you are going to use it on your skin.
Candle Wick – Just be sure that the wick you are using is suitable for the diameter of your container.
Candle container – I tend to go with smaller containers for lotion candles. Unlike a normal candle that you are going to light and leave going for a few hours, a massage candle is lit for a few minutes. Then you pour out the pool of hot oils. I found if you get too big of a container, you wind up with a big hole down the center of the candle and end up wasting a lot of the lotion candle.
Making Lotion Candles
1. Weigh out all of your ingredients.
2. Put a small amount of hot glue on the wick tab and place your candle wick in the center of your candle jar.
3. Put the soy wax, shea butter, kokum butter and caster oil into a heat safe container.
4. Pop the heat safe container on a double boiler until it is completely melted. You will want to stir the ingredients occasionally while they are melting.
5. Remove from heat once all your oils are melted and wipe any water off the side of your container.
6. Add Pink Grapefruit and Citrus fragrance oil and mix well.
7. Pour your hot oils / wax into your candle container.
8. Use a marker to hold the wick in the very center of the candle.
9. Allow the candle to cool completely. (Please note that this is going to take a lot longer than a normal candle takes to cool).
10. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch.
Lotion Candle Recipe
Equipment
- Scale
- Double boiler
Ingredients
- 2.20 ounce | 43% Soy Wax
- 1.24 ounce | 25% Kokum Butter
- 1.28 ounce | 25% Shea Butter
- 0.20 ounce | 4% Caster Oil
- 0.16 ounce | 3% Pink Grapefruit and Citrus Fragrance Oil
Instructions
- Weigh out all of your ingredients.
- Put a small amount of hot glue on the wick tab and place your candle wick in the center of your candle jar.
- Put the soy wax, shea butter, kokum butter and caster oil into a heat safe container.
- Pop the heat safe container on a double boiler until it is completely melted. You will want to stir the ingredients occasionally while they are melting.
- Remove from heat once all your oils are melted and wipe any water off the side of your container.
- Add Pink Grapefruit and Citrus fragrance oil and mix well.
- Pour your hot oils / wax into your candle container.
- Use a marker to hold the wick in the very center of the candle.
- Allow the candle to cool completely. (Please note that this is going to take a lot longer than a normal candle takes to cool).
- Trim the wick to 1/4 inch.