Once you have your supplies in order, create a working space that will allow you to heat and transport warm or hot wax without too much difficulty. It’s good to clear off a fairly large amount of table space so that your containers and candles can sit freely, without fear of tipping or being knocked over.

Never leave melting wax unattended.

Always use a double boiler to heat wax. Never place wax directly into a saucepan or heating device on its own.

Never put water on a wax fire.

Never overheat wax. Fumes from overheated wax can cause severe illness.

As an added rule of safety, be certain to use a thermometer when working with wax and familiarise yourself with the term "flashpoint." Flashpoint is the temperature at which wax will combust. The flashpoint is the absolute maximum that a given wax can be heated to. If you’re using Paraffin or simple canning wax, the Flashpoint is 375-degrees. That means you should keep the temperature well below 375-degree for safety reasons.

Once you’ve assembled your raw material, it’s time to give shape to your imagination.

• Heat your double boiler slowly to the proper temperature, placing the unmelted wax into your carrier. Heating the wax to a temperature of 140-degrees is generally sufficient for all forms of paraffin.

• As the wax is in the beginning stages of melting, spray the inside of your moulds with the almond oil and set them aside in an area where it’s safe to pour the wax.

• Stir your melting wax gently with a wooden spoon.

• Once the wax has completely melted, you can add to it anything that you’d like. This is the proper time to add scents (a little goes a long way! No more than one teaspoon of oil or herbs is usually necessary.) and colouring. Gently stir the wax for a few moments, allowing the colour to blend and the scent to mix.

• Tie the wick to the piston or clasp at both ends of the mould.

• Now lift your wax carrier out of the water and pour slowly into your moulds. Do not fill to the top. Leave at least a one-inch margin on the top of each mould. Be careful not to get too many bubbles in the wax.

It will take several hours for your wax to harden to the proper consistency. Many experts recommended allowing your wax to harden overnight before attempting to remove your candles from their moulds, but this may not always be necessary, depending on the size of your candle. Once the wax has hardened, you should be able to tip your mould upside down, allowing your new candle to slide out freely.

At this stage you can add decorations such as ribbons or flowers to the outside of your candle for gift giving, or place it in a decorative tray or box. Give a free rein to your imagination and dress up your candles for the festival of lights.

— Chetna Banerjee