So you’ve decided you want to learn how to make candles — or perhaps you’re shopping for a gift for someone you know who wants to learn how to make candles. If you’re in need of candle making instructions, this page will provide you with suggestions for the best candle making how-to books I’m aware of.

There are zillions of excellent books on candle making — and some mediocre ones in the bunch, too. We haven’t reviewed, or even looked at, every last possible book on the topic of candle making. The books that are included on this list are here because a real, experienced, nit-picky crafter (that’s me!) has actually read, worked from and reviewed the books on the list — and I honestly think they’re the best choices out of all the candle making how-to books I’ve looked at. I typically read every word of the craft books I review.

Right about now, I should disclose that I am NOT a candle-making expert. In fact, I had never made a candle before I acquired the books mentioned on this list to try making my own candles. So, I make these suggestions from the point of view of a novice candle maker who is still in the process of learning. If you are a beginner to candle making, I think you’ll find these insights helpful — but if you are an experienced candle maker, perhaps these reviews will be less helpful to you. You might already know a lot of things about candle making that are brand new to me. (And if that’s the case, please feel free to comment with additional book suggestions — I welcome your insights, and I am sure other readers will find them helpful, too).

Anyway, so far, the following books are the ones I’ve found to be most useful on the topic of candle making:

Candle Making Basics by Eric Ebeling

If you want to buy just one book that will teach you all the most important details about candle making, you can’t go wrong choosing Eric Ebeling’s simple guide to making basic candles. It’s called Candle Making Basics. This book gives you step-by-step color photos, complete detailed shopping lists, outstanding project ideas and helpful insights that will teach you what you need to know to get up and running with candle making. There’s an emphasis in the book on candle making safety — so if you’re worried about how to deal with all the pitfalls that can arise in candle making, this is exactly the book you’d want to start out with as a beginner. I highly recommend this book.

Learn More About Candle Making Basics:

• Click here to get more insights in my detailed book review.
• Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.

Home Candle Making: Easy Ideas for Making & Gifting Artisan-Inspired Candles

If you’re interested in giving handmade candles as gifts, this book is likely to be of interest to you. Both gift-giving and candle making are central focuses of this book. You’ll learn how to make chic, on-trend candles — but not only that, you’ll learn how to present them beautifully for gift giving. If you want your gifts to look like you shopped for them at some little upscale boutique hidden away in the high-end district of your city, this is a book you’ll definitely want to have in your library.

• Click here to see my detailed book review of Home Candle Making by Stephanie Rose.
• Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.

So there you have it: That’s my short but sweet list of the best candle making how-to books for beginners. I hope you’ll consider picking up copies of these books, and that you’ll enjoy owning them as much as I do.

About Your Book Reviewer: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile design. She has been crocheting and crafting since childhood, but candle making is a relatively new pastime for her. You can find her craft project ideas posted at KnittingCrochetCrafts.com and scattered around other websites across the internet.

This page was last updated on 6-22-2023.