Sweet Scents – Make Scented Candles For Any Mood

Need something to soothe your tired bones after a long hard day? Are you feeling fearful or stressed about something and just need to relax? Or how about spicing up that romantic dinner you planned by filling the air with the aroma of jasmine or rose. You can make scented candles a vital part of any mood setting requirement you may have.

An extra dimension is offered by scented candles, which are now immensely popular. They can create a romantic or festive atmosphere; they can also soothe and relax us or lift our spirits, depending on which essential oils are used. Lavender oil will induce sleep and help you to unwind, while bergamot or rosemary will revive you. Compliment the scent of the candle with a delicate candle collar of lavender or rosemary, to make an attractive decoration or gift. Burning a scented candle while you relax in the bath is wonderfully self-indulgent and your own form of aromatherapy.

Oil lamps are an original alternative to candles, and you can color and perfume the oil to suit your mood or the occasion. Another variation is to place your chosen essential fragrance, diluted in water, over a candlelit ceramic burner or vaporizer, which will gently warm the oil and release the fragrance. Scented potpourri can be used in the same way and many different kinds are now available, including citrus scents. During Christmas, rich, spicy scents are popular, and you can add extra spice oils to a candle decorated with sticks of cinnamon or studded with cloves. Sprinkle a few drops of oil on the candle before it is lit, being careful not to let the oil fall on any ribbon or fabric in the display. A vaporizer will create an immediate spicy, festive atmosphere if you use it to warm a mixture of succulent orange and cinnamon smelling oils.

My particular favorite that I do often during the winter is using the spicy scent of cloves to press into the honeycomb sections of a beeswax candle in an attractive spiral pattern. I then use more cloves and rings of star anise to cover the base. The aroma that fills my house with these candles is so warm and wonderful and it reminds me a lot of my grandmother’s house at Christmas when I was a child.

If you’re looking to inspire romance while burning your scented candles, trying using jasmine, rose, sandalwood or yling ylang essential oils as this are useful as aphrodisiacs and so perfect for candles for your bedroom. Lemon oil and grapefruit can be used to reduce stress and uplift. Orange is particularly useful in relaxation and calming while bergamot is used in numerous cases including depression, fear, fatigue and loneliness.

As you can see essential oils are hugely beneficial when you make scented candles because you can predetermine the mood you’re going to set with them before you even begin the process of candle making.

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How to keep wicks straight in candle making

Keeping the wick straight when candle making is important for a good burn.  It really is not so difficult to do.

When you have your mold and you have attached the wick at the bottom, take the length of the wick up through the centre of the mold and wrap it around a flat pencil or chop stick until the wick is taught.  You can leave the wick like this while the candle sets, then cut it to length afterwards.

When you have a home candle making business it is important that these tricks are learnt so that your candles are of an exceptional quality all of the time.

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Excite That Light with Candles

Easy as it is, making candles only need you to follow a few steps and you could achieve the finished product that you pictured out in your mind. There are a lot of ways to make candles. It could be by using simple quick steps from the internet or some more complex methods recommended by your neighbor who is into candle making.

Whatever it is, injecting some dose of your own creative ideas would make a whole lot of difference. What then are some tools you could use in making gel candles with your own brand of style?

As you follow the conventional steps of making gel candles, it would add up the fun if you consider the following tips:

· Use other materials that would let you have fun explore your creativity while adding more elements of style. Non-flammable things like sand, shells, metal charms, beads, marbles, pebbles, glitters, aquarium gravel, artificial jewel or pearls, and the like are among the most attractive things to have in your gel candle.

· Add colors that suit the little things you add with your gel candle. If you want the touch of “beach”, you use aqua blue while you put some shells, aquarium pebbles or gravel and miniature star fish in your candle. You could also match the style you want to customize by mixing beads with glitters but consider color harmony as well.

· Place some of these little objects at the bottom part of the container before freely putting them in the other portions of the container. This would hide the wick tab.

· As you pour gel, add these tiny objects in layers. Take note that you need to place these objects away from the wick. The tip is- the closer these objects to the outside portion of the container, the more “visible” they could be.

As you make the candles, you would enjoy the fact that you are playing with colors and style. What makes the gel candles is that they were created out of pure pleasure and fun. Personalizing these gel candles is another great idea. You could try to use cut-outs of your name.

As you insert your own brand of style, do not forget to work safely and do not risk quality of the product over appearance only. There must be a balance of both. When you feel like you have been training your self well in making custom gel candles, why not try it out as a small business?

Candle Articles-Scented Candles

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How to use various candle moulds

Candle making is such fun and so inventive with all the colors scents and various shapes you can make.  Many people will use all sorts of candle moulds to make their candles even more interesting.   If you have a candle making home business you may be pushed for time to get too inventive with your candle making, but during times leading up to special occasions during the year it is fun to break out and make a few different ones.

As we know, melting your wax if items don’t sell is so easy.  So much better than cutting up a dress that doesn’t sell, isn’t it?!

There are just so many things you can use:

all sorts of moulds from the kitchenitems from the garageold tins and cartonsegg shells for egg shapes

You really can let your imagination go wild when it comes to creating candle shapes.

I really enjoyed making ice candles ( I haven’t for a while now) and I used various shapes.  Check out this post.

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Candle Making Projects, Products and Instructions updated Sat Aug 11 2007 1:40 pm CDT

Almost everyone enjoys candles and they're a very popular gift idea. According to the National Candle Association, seven out of ten households use candles, so there's an obvious demand for them which then increases the likelihood of your business succeeding. Even if you don't end up selling them, it's a fun creative hobby.

There are so many different types, sizes, scents and colors for candles that you are bound to find one that someone will like. The most popular sellers are containers, votives and pillars, although grubby and edible looking ones are gaining in popularity.

If you want to eventually sell your candles, it's important to do your research and learn how to price them so that you will make a profit. Other considerations are proper safety procedures and temperature control. Wax has a flash point and will basically explode when over heated. Different waxes have various flash points, so find out what yours is.

Most need to be kept under 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Colors are normally left to add at the end of the melt and scents not usually until just before pouring. Packaging makes a tremendous difference and it's amazing what a little decal or ribbon can do for sales when displayed attractively on a shelf or in a box.

Equipment you will need to start:

*Double boiler (A Dutch oven with a coffee pot will do)
*Wicks - Make sure they're the proper size for your needs. Most are labeled and smaller candles normally take smaller wicks. Most wicks are made out of paper or cotton or a combination of the two. Lead is now banned for obvious reasons.
*Wax - Decide whether you're going to use paraffin, soy, beeswax or even bayberry and then narrow it down further into either a softer wax for containers or harder for pillars. Many candle suppliers have their wax premixed, but if not you will need to know the amounts of what additives to add if any.
*Candle or candy thermometer- very important for temperature control.
*Molds or containers, depending on the shapes, sizes or styles required.
*Scale so that you can weigh your wax before melting and know how much dye or scent to add.
*Mold release spray or cooking spray to enable the candle to come out smoothly.
*Mechanical tape or mold sealer.
*Dyes and scents, if using- (buy only those made for candles)

Candle making is an excellent way to release your creativity, so create your one of a kind masterpiece and have fun!
(One of my first Ezine articles)

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Easter candles are fun to make

Make some egg shaped candles for Easter and let the kids decorate them and make a display.   Read Amy’s comments on how to make Easter egg candles.

Put some candle fragrance in the Easter egg candles and your display will make your room smell beautiful throughout the Easter period.

Easter egg candles do not take a lot of candle wax either so they are quite an economical way to occupy the children with craft hobbies.

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Do you run a home based candle making business – read this

Making sure that you can cash in on all that may come your way, keep in touch with what is happening out in the market place.  If you live where winter is going and summer is on its way you are probably heading into wedding season.

You might well ask, so what?

Votive Candles

Well  if you are selling candles now would be the time to market fragrant votive candles as they are just wonderful for wedding settings. If you have a good display of candles that suit the current craze in bridesmaids’  colors then I would be most surprised if you did not get some good orders for wedding candles.

Piller Candles

These as fragrant candles are also great for center pieces for wedding tables.  A nice 8-10 inch pillar candles surrounded by flowers makes a lovely table center piece.

If you are going to make candles for weddings do display them nicely and I am sure you will be pleased with your sales.  It would probably be a good idea to approach wedding oganizers too and see if you can provide them with your wares.

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Candle Making – Paraffin Wax vs. Natural Waxes

If you are a connoisseur of candles, then no doubt you have heard the great debate: paraffin wax vs. natural wax. While some candle makers choose to offer two separate candle lines, most crafters choose to focus their efforts on one type of wax or the other.

Although each wax offers its own benefits and drawbacks, one wax is not necessarily better than the other. It is up to you to decide which wax appeals to you and which you would prefer to work with. If you plan to sell your candles, you may also wish to keep in mind the types of shoppers you will be selling to when making your wax decision.

Paraffin candle wax has been around for centuries, and is most likely the wax that the majority of candle purchasers are familiar with. Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct, and therefore it indirectly supports the petroleum industry. In today’s marketplace, this fact alone has caused some long time candle makers to abandon their previous affinity for paraffin wax. As petroleum is a major component of paraffin wax, it also tends to emit more smoke and potentially hazardous toxins than its natural wax counterparts.

While there may be drawbacks to using paraffin, there are also many benefits. On the whole, paraffin tends to hold fragrance better, longer and easier than natural waxes. Typically, the scent throw (or strength of the scent emitted) from paraffin candles is stronger and can fill larger spaces more effectively. It is also typically easier for a candle maker to get fragrance to hold in the wax, avoiding fragrance ‘seeping’ issues. Overall, paraffin waxes tend to be less finicky than natural waxes, and require fewer additives and adjustments.

As an alternative to paraffin, natural waxes, such as soy, beeswax and palm wax, have become readily available to candle makers, and many are gravitating to these waxes for their natural and beneficial properties. While natural waxes may be slightly more expensive than paraffin, they are still an affordable option.

Because the scent throw of natural waxes is typically softer than paraffin, sometimes attaining a strong scent throw, or getting heavier amounts of fragrance oil to blend well with the wax, can be a challenge. Esthetic concerns are also usually more of an issue with natural waxes. Soy wax, for example, is prone to ‘frosting’, a white residue that can form on the tops and sides of the candle. Natural waxes may also have a tendency to form bubbles which make the candles less attractive to the eye.

On the flipside, there are many benefits to natural waxes. Overall, they do burn cleaner with less soot than paraffin candles, avoiding sooty build-up on walls. They also clean up with just soap and water in the event of a spill. Finally, they tend to appeal to many people because of their agricultural origins. Rather than support the petroleum industry as paraffin does, natural wax candles support agriculture.

Consider who you are selling your candles to, and what your own personal preferences are, when selecting the best wax for you. Regardless of which you choose, either type of wax is capable of producing excellent candles that you and your customers will enjoy.

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Floating Candles

There is this different mood being set by candles. When the lights are dimmed or totally out, there will still be that unexplainable effect when candles are being lit. Just like all other people who believe in what candles could offer, we would be very glad if you too, could try the difference. Floating candles are really “in”, and you would not regret it if you buy floating candles of your choice.

Floating candles could really bring that different twist in what you knew or believed about candles. They define elegance, romance and creativity. For really tested and proven quality floating candles is what you need. They could really be a mood setter and they could really stay up for a long time. Set that mood you wanted, save much and celebrate.

There could be nothing more romantic than floating candles freely moving on water. These things would mean a lot to some people and some occasions. You could never know how wonderful the effects are unless you try it out for yourself. These could really be the one you have been looking for as that great addition to your preparations for any ordinary day or special occasion.

When you want to create a very romantic mood in any part of your house or other places, you may need candles. For more dramatic effect, the use of floating candles would be a very wonderful idea. You can just have a container of water, let the candles freely float. They could be great messengers of the expression you want to tell.

There is this unique effect when one uses candle in a certain occasion. For the added effect, floating candles could really be your secret weapon. When you are interested about the idea of having them as your way of creating a really rare but special mood, we have something for you to try out and enjoy. They would define to you what the real worth of floating candles is.

Are you running out of gift ideas? What do you think could be a creative way of preparing a gift that is uniquely great? Are floating candles in your mind? If not, we are now telling you that you should think about it. It is the best idea we could share to you. When you want to give out the best floating candles, choose those that are certified water resistant and artistic, you would have the best pick if you choose it.
Candle Wax

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Find Information About Creating Awesome Candles

Candlemaking is a great hobby. It’s fun, and fairly easy to learn. Supplies are not super-expensive, and are easily available. The best thing is that the variety you can create is infinite. There is no limit to what your imagination, and different candle making techniques, can do.

There are a variety of different supplies and ingredients you can choose from. There is your traditional candle wax, made of paraffin usually, which you can do so many things with. If you want to get away from that, consider making soy candles or gel candles, all of which have their own unique characteristics.

With colors, scents, shapes, sizes, number and kind of wicks, containers, and more, you can learn how to make any kind of candle you can dream of.

Candles make a great gift, and can be sold at excellent profit margins. That is because the perceived value of a candle far exceeds the cost of making one.

The real cost is in some initial supplies, then in ongoing replenishment to supplies. When I started, I bought about $300 worth of stuff: double boiler, multiple molds, some small tins, wicks, big blocks of three different waxes, scents, colors, some tools for holding wicks, thermometer, chemicals to make the wax do cool stuff, uh, I don’t remember what else.

With what I have, I can make probably 40 or 50 candles. Not a lot of huge ones, but some. Really, it’s so much fun creating new candles and learning new techniques.

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Soap Making Dictionary of Terms

If you have ever wondered what a humectant is, you will find the answer here! We have compiled a complete list of soap terminology and definitions, including the most commonly used acronyms.  It is a wonderful source of reference to use while you are creating homemade works of art.

Click here to see the complete dictionary from A-Z!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Industry News, Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Making Deliciously Scented Candles

By adding scented candles to any room you can set the mood for people in the room.  Scented candles can stimulate, relax, and help to bring back memories of good times.  A very subtle scented candle is more attractive to many people. They can bring about a change in mood without bringing awareness to the reason for the change. 

Using Scents in Your Homemade Candles

It is important that when adding scents to your candles that you add those scents specifically made for candles or pure essential oils.  Other types of scents have additives that can affect how your candle burns or how the scent smells once heated with paraffin. 

It is recommended that when you first start making scented candles that you use only one scent.  By doing so you are able to experiment with the amount of oil that you will need to use to obtain the scent that you desire. 

The usual ratio of wax to scent is one pound of wax to ½ -1 oz. of essential oil or candle scent.  If you want a stronger scented candle you will need to find a special wax that doesn’t sweat the oil. 

Scents are added after the wax has been melted but before pouring the wax into your mold, container, or free form candle.  This allows the scent to mix evenly throughout your candle.  Remember to have a small amount of the scented wax to use for topping off your candle. Paraffin candles do tend to shrink some in the middle after hardening.

Experimenting to Find Your own Personal Scent

Don’t be afraid to experiment with creating scents.  When creating your own scents you will need a medicine dropper, small glass dish, toothpicks, cotton swabs, small brown bottle or bottles, different essential oils and some ground coffee. 

Remember these are for candles so you don’t want to mix these oils with bases. Note that good essential oils can be a little expensive but they go a long way.  There are many places to buy essential oils such as your local craft store. 

Once you have everything assembled, place paper under your working area; old newspapers work well for these projects. In the small glass dish place two drops of the main essential oil that you want to use.  Put a small drop of another essential oil that you have chosen to blend with the first oil into the glass dish. Mix both oils in the dish with a toothpick.  Walk away from the oils and smell the coffee to clear the mingling fragrances from nose.  Once you return to the dish, smell the oils from a distance, rather than placing your nose too close, to get a better idea of how the fragrance you have created smells. You can mix any combination of oils using this technique to determine your likes and dislikes. 

Once you have achieved the fragrance you love, mix the oils in the same manner or ratio that you used when creating it. For example if you used 2 drops of bergamot and 1 drop of rose, you may mix 2 oz of bergamot with 1 oz of rose to create enough scent for your candle. 

Remember that you only use ½ – 1 oz of oil to a pound of wax. Use caution and never use more than this amount unless you are using a special wax that allows more oil to be added.  This is because essential oils are flammable.

Once you have created your fragrance, store the oil in a small glass brown bottle in a cool area to protect the oils from the light and extreme temperatures.  Let the oil infuse for approximately three days prior to use.  Test the oil on a cotton swab to see how much, if any, the fragrance has changed since storing it.  Some change usually occurs.

Well you have done it! You have created a special fragrance that is of your own design to be used in your candles.  There will be no stopping you now.  Remember, as with any project, safety first! 

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Soy Candle Parties

Consider Soy Candle Parties With You as the Candle Maker

Dale Hertfeld has written a very good Ezine article about throwing soy candle parties using your own products. I had just mentioned doing something like this last week with my wife. This is a great way to take your soy candle making to the next level and start earning profits from it. PartyLite has made a fortune from this business model. Why wouldn’t it work for the small entrepreneurs out there? Dale gives some great pointers on how to go about doing it.

So if you’ve been trying to find a way to start earning profits from soy candle making, or just want another outlet for selling your candles, this is a great way to go!

Read the article here

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7 Standard Type Candle Making Molds vs. 13 Homemade Candle Molds

Candle making molds come in many shapes and imagines. There are the standard molds, which will create various sizes of circular or square candles, or small trays that make a set of small tea light candles or votives. There are many specialty molds that can be ordered online or found in craft stores in holiday shapes, birthday shapes, and shapes of animals, nature, and foods, among many others. Candle molds are use to give candles the shape. There are many different ways to use candle molds, from rigid glass, plastics ones to metal and latex molds.

Standard Types of Candle molds

Glass molds cool down quickly and offer a smooth finish and rarely stick, but are delicate and prone to scratching and cracking, which will lead to breakage.

Metal molds are known for their longevity. Because metal molds do tend to stick, however, it is recommended you lightly spray metal candle molds with a store-bought silicone mold release spray, designed for just this purpose. To prevent the metal molds from rusting and eventually leaking or cracking, spray a light coating of the same silicone on the inside and outside of the mold before storing.

Aluminum molds are extremely durable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What most candle maker’s love about aluminum candle molds is that they do not have seams like some other molds have, so you don’t have to worry about trimming your candles once they are cooled.

Rubber candle molds are more flexible and offer you the added benefit of more intricate designs. As the candle cools it is advisable to keep a close eye on these types of molds. During this timeframe, candles may distort due to the flexibility of the mold. While rubber molds begin to break down over time, they create a nice matte finish on the candle and are sought after for both the different designs they offer and the ease in which the candle comes out of the mold.

Plastic mold is rigid, will not bend and is the least expensive of the candle molds available today. Intricate designs will not work well with this type of mold. However, since plastic molds can be reused many times without worry of damage or cracks, they are also the perfect mold for the beginning candle maker to use. Plastic molds offer a unique chance for the crafter to perfect his or her craft before moving on to the next type of mold or to a large candle.

Rigid molds can be made from glass, metal or plastic. Rigid molds are used to make unusual shapes such as bold geometrical shapes. Plastic molds are often used as they are the cheapest. However you cannot use rigid plastic molds with candle scents or fill them with wax heated to over 80 degrees Celsius (175 deg Fahrenheit) as this can cause damage to the mould.

Latex molds are very popular as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are quite versatile. Latex is very stretchable and is often used to create more complex shapes such as animals, fruits and flowers.

If you decide to create your own candle molds, here are 13 items you probably already have at home that can be used as molds:

Yogurt pots

Milk cartons

Drinking glasses

Cake tins

Bowls

Strong cardboard are fantastic as candle molds.

Plastic cup

Pringles can

Chinese take-out containers

Frozen juice cans

Oatmeal boxes

Egg containers not the Styrofoam type

Larger tomato cans

Regardless of what type of candle making molds you use just have fun making your candles.

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Basic Ingredients of Candle Making

Candles are manufactured by using different substances, supplied by different kind of manufacturers and dealers. There are various kinds of material used for the production of candles. Wax is a fundamental ingredient of candle making which is available in different categories to make different kind of candles e.g. votives, gel candles, taper, jar candles, pillers. There is a different kind of wax, presented in the market e.g. beeswax, soy wax, vegetable wax, paraffin wax and all other kind of waxes. Mostly all kinds of candles are made of paraffin wax.

Wick is very significant part of candle and there are various kinds of wicking stuff are found in the market to make flame more stable. Wicks are available in different size and shape as some are thicker and weaker. The size of flame of candle depends upon the thickness of wick, thicker the wick, greater or stronger flame of candle. The candles s’ flames are flickering and give a dim light if there is thin wick is used. If there is thick wick, the size of candle too be big and stronger the flame of candle.

Candles are found in variegated colors, giving very beautiful and charming look. Different kinds of colorants are used to give different shade to the candles. The colors of candles are presented in the market and can easily be purchased with reasonable prices. The various colorants are made of different material, including oil and chemicals. To give very pretty thing, you need to dye the candle making substance by melting the wax and mix up these colorants of various shades in it.

To make fragrant candles with sweet scents, the different kind of fragrances is used in it. There are different kind of flavors, scents and fragrant, used in the candle making. The use of different kind of scents helps a lot in making more sweet fragrant candles. The different kind of molds is used to give a perfect and nice shape. There is a diverse form of molds, available in the market e.g. stars, hearts, dragons, dinosaurs, Santas, roses, moons, pyramids, ovals etc.

All these molds are designed in different shapes and signs to mold the melting wax through these molds and there become the very obvious shape of candle when the melting wax again comes in solid state.

All kinds of materials are used to make candles and every kind of supplies of candle making is available in the market. The variety of candle making substances and supplies with all other essential accessories are accessible in the market for the candle making manufacturers who need such substances to enhance the productivity on large scale.

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Candle Making – How to Select the Best Natural Wax

Selecting the ideal natural wax to use in your candles depends on several key factors.

For one, you need to determine what type of candles you are going to make. For example, the type of natural wax you would use for container candles is very different from the type of natural wax you would use for taper candles.

Next, you need to determine what the most important wax traits are to you. Is it important that the wax is easy to work with, requires very little to no additives, or offers a stellar scent throw? Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference.

The first and most common form of natural wax is soy wax. As the name implies, soy wax is made from soybeans, and is an all-natural vegetable wax. Soy wax, because of its composition, burns cleaner and cooler than paraffin wax. It contains fewer toxins and carcinogens than paraffin wax, but also tends to be a little bit more expensive.

Because soy wax is made from an agricultural product, many people like the fact that soy wax supports the agricultural economy versus the petroleum industry, of which paraffin is a byproduct.

Soy wax is most often used in container candles and votives, and very often requires the addition of additives to eliminate some esthetic concerns and to increase fragrance retention and scent throw. Although soy wax offers many environmental and health benefits, it can be tricky to work with.

Another natural wax to consider is beeswax. While beeswax is the longest burning of any candle wax available, it is also one of the most expensive. Beeswax is most commonly used to make taper candles, and while it can be used in other types of candle making, most people find it simply too expensive to use in most applications.

A common way that beeswax is often used is to blend it with other waxes. Because of the burn life of beeswax, many candle makers choose to experiment and develop a unique wax blend that includes beeswax, giving them the results they wish to achieve without significantly driving up costs.

There are other types of natural wax that you may encounter from time to time.

Two of these are palm wax and bayberry wax. Because of how they are derived, both of these waxes are considered to be vegetable waxes. Bayberry wax is derived from the berries of bayberry bushes. It is known as a very hard wax and has a natural bayberry scent. Palm wax is a wax derived from palm trees.

Both of these waxes are slightly more expensive than paraffin wax, and are most often used as additives or in blends with other types of waxes.

When considering using natural wax in your candles it is important to consider your personal preferences as well as your target market. If you feel strongly about supporting the agricultural industry and about offering a vegetable based product, then soy or other natural waxes may be a great option for you. If you plan to sell your candles at farmer’s markets or to natural food stores, than you probably want to choose a natural wax as opposed to a paraffin wax.

While natural waxes do tend to cost slightly more upfront, if you market your candles to the right clientele and plan to take the time to educate people about their benefits, then most consumers are also willing to pay a little more for your product. The choice all boils down to your sales goals, your buyers and your personal preferences.

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The Easy Way for Beginning Candle Making With Candle Kits

One of the easiest ways to start candle making is with a candle making kit. These kits are set up in a variety of ways, from totally complete kits to ones that just contain wax, scents, coloring agents and instructions. They vary in cost from around $25 to over $200, depending on what materials and equipment they contain.

If you are just beginning candle making, it may be best to start with a kit that contains the essential equipment, such as a good thermometer and a melting pot as well as the necessary wax and wicks. Most kits are designed to include everything required to make a certain type of candle, so will also supply a choice of  fragrance oils and dye chips, and candle molds for that type of candle.

For example, if you want to make soy container candles, then you can easily find a selection of soy candle making kits. The kit may contain the soy wax, a pouring pitcher, thermometer, containers for the candles, tabbed wicks, a selection of fragrance oils and liquid dyes, along with complete instructions. You will just need to supply a melting pot or double boiler for melting the wax, and a stir stick. No need for you to research wick types, or locate sources for the materials on your own. What an easy way to have instant results!

Perhaps you want to make tealights, votive candles or pillar candles. Candle making kits can easily be found for each of these candle types. These kits will include the correct molds, the correct types of wicks, and of course, the wax, scent and dye materials. Each one will give you step-by-step instructions for making that particular type of candle. Once you have purchased a kit, and now have the essential equipment, you will just need to buy more of the expendable supplies such as waxes, dyes, essential fragrance oils and wicks.

You may wonder whether candle making kits are cost-effective, compared to buying your supplies separately. Having done a cost comparison, I can tell you that buying a candle making kit will not only save you hours of research, it will probably not cost you more than buying the individual items you require to make a particular type of candle. You will need to know just what each kit contains, and what else you may need in the way of equipment to be able to use it. Remember that any equipment the kit contains, such as pouring or melting containers and thermometer are reusable supplies.

Candle making supplies are becoming more popular and are easy to find these days. Many sources can be found on the internet, or you can visit any large craft store to find what you need. Many people want eco-friendly candles, so waxes derived from plant materials such as soy, and essential oil fragrances are becoming very easy to find. There is an expanding market for these supplies as well as unique candles.

Candle making can become a wonderful do-it-yourself hobby, or even a creative and profitable new business venture for you.

Caffeinated Content

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Candle Making Classes: The Pro’s And Con’s

 Surely, candle making classes are a great medium for learning. By enrolling in short courses in candle making, you are somewhat ensured that information and details are presented personally. However, enrolling in candle making classes proves to be difficult for others. Besides, not all people have the luxury of time to go to workshops or attend short courses.

Online learning, meanwhile, presents us with a great opportunity. Learning and researching for relative details is also easier. With just a few clicks, you can find a number of sites offering information and details regarding candles. It is like enrolling in a virtual school and enjoying all those candle making classes instantly.

Hobbyist and home-based mothers usually have the time but on a limited basis. Either they are too busy at daytime or have so many responsibilities after work. With candle making classes online, they can easily turn on their lap tops and learn how to create impressive looking candles. At the same time, they can still take care of their families and kids.

By referring to sites and online resources, information regarding candles is presented in detail. You can post questions and seek additional references. You can meet up with other enthusiasts online and share relative stories. You can also try various sites and learn the best candle making tips and tricks.

While candle making classes are seemingly great, you have to realize that enrolling in one requires expense. On the other hand, getting your information online is much cheaper. So, instead of investing your hard-earned cash in tutorials, you can very well allocate them for your materials and candle making kits.

It is not necessarily true that candle making classes have the best of minds in terms of candle making. Pundits and long-time candle makers have managed to put up websites for information sharing. Bloggers and hobbyist do the same thing as well. In the long run, what you acquire online is equal if not greater as compared to mediocre candle making classes.

There is no such thing as perfect medium for learning. The only thing that keeps a student apart is his ability to seek other tools and ways. While candle making classes provide much help, you have to be receptive in accepting other information sources.

Learning how to make great candles does not depend on method but skill. Creativity and the impressive use of imagination count as well. Knowing a thing or two about candle making is definitely your prerogative and it is your persistence that will give you the best tips and techniques.

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Candle Making – Selling Your Candles – Consignment

While some candle makers learn and perfect the craft for personal enjoyment, chances are that most of them have thought about selling their candles to generate some supplemental income. Some even choose to replace their income entirely at one point or another. And with so many ways to sell your candles, where is the best place to focus your attention? While no one can answer that question for you, there are benefits to each way that may affect your decision.

Here we present an overview of consignment, showing you some of the benefits of consigning your candles and providing you with information to make a decision about whether or not this method may work for you.

The basic concept of consignment is placing your candles for sale in an already established business where the business owner agrees to sell your candles for you in return for a percentage of the selling price. Some business owners will charge you a fee for shelf or booth space as well.

An example of a consignment situation would be a Store Owner charging the Candle Maker $50.00 a month for a certain amount of consignment space in the Store Owner’s store. In addition, for each candle that is sold in the store that month, the Store Owner keeps 15% of the retail price as a consignment fee and pays the remaining money to the Candle Maker.

If the store is selling a large number of candles, this arrangement can be lucrative. If not, you can end up owing the Store Owner more money each month than money you have earned.

Another situation may have the Store Owner charging the Candle Maker a higher percentage of the sale as their consignment fee (likely 25 – 40%), but with no fee charged for consignment space within the store. Each consignment situation is different, so you will need to be fully aware of your obligations, as well as the costs involved.

When considering consignment there are several things you must consider. First, how much will the Store Owner take in fees each month? How many candles would have to sell each month in order to break even? How much traffic does the store get? Is it likely that the store has enough patrons that would be interested in hand poured candles? What other products does the store offer? All of these questions are important to consider prior to making a commitment.

One option that offers a great possibility is to sell your candles through ‘craft malls’. A craft mall is a retail store that sells the vast majority of its merchandise using a consignment situation. Craft malls are mainly comprised of many small, independent sellers all looking to sell their wares.

Many craft malls are willing to limit the number of crafters selling a particular type of item. For example, one craft mall may allow only one or two candle makers to rent space. Again, you have to do your homework to see if a craft mall situation makes sense for you. Keep in mind that most craft malls will require you to sign a contract for renting space for a specified period of time, so be sure to research thoroughly before making a commitment.

If there are no craft malls available in your area and you are still interested in consignment, consider asking a complementary local business if they would be willing to consign your candles. Home decor and furnishing stores and gift shops are excellent possibilities. You might be surprised who will be willing to work with you, and you may be able to negotiate a great deal.

There are many ways to create a successful candle business, and consignment is only one of the many ways it may be possible. Explore your options and decide what the best fit is for you and your ultimate goals.

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Life assessment leads to career in soy candle making

I found this article about, Mary Wisniewski, a woman who decided to evaluate her life when her sister became ill. She decided that instead of working as a physician assistant for the rest of her life, she wanted something more. So she started her own soy candle making business, even though she had never made a candle in her life! Talk about a leap of faith!

She now has 72 scents in her repertoire, and has even invented a pet and kid friendly Halo heat lamp that warms candles enough to give off a fragrance without requiring an open flame!

“None of us are promised tomorrow,” she says. “Just cherish everything that you have for today.” Good words to live by.

Read Mary’s full story here.

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February Candle Making

Hello candlemakers,

We had an accident lately that saw us lose all of our ECO8 and ECO10 candle wick which has left us with a huge pile of invoices that have the wicks to follow. All those concerned were notified and the wicks will be sent out tomorrow (14th).

CandleShack have now let us have their citronella essential oil that is absolutely brilliant fo use as an insect repellant, and all it needs is a few drops per candle. More US fragrance oils are also to be added this month.

Square and Octogan seamless aluminium candle moulds are being added to the website and will be available within the next week or so.

Due to a big demand we are also adding wax and additives that will enable the making of hurricane candle shells, as well as CandleShacks Vybar that can be added to wax to eliminate the sweating of fragrance oils in highly scented candles.

The CandleShack Soya+ wax will soon be packaged in plastic drums in a solid form and it will no longer be available in the beaded form.

Lastly i would like to mention that we now get our outer packaging boxes from RePack which supply us with used recycled boxes; your orders still arrive safely and well packed but the boxes will generally have print or markings on that ar from other companies. This helps us to keep the P&P costs down and has the obvious benefits associated with recycling.

Happy Candle Making

Gentil

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Making Pillar Candles

 

When we launched MakingYourOwnCandles in 2009, we chose to include moulds for making votive candles as this meant that you could get lots of practice creating the candles most often used in the home. However, since then we’ve added Beeswax candles and, most recently, Christmas Advent Candles and Dinner Candle Kit.

We’d decided not to include pillar candles because the moulds were so expensive that we couldn’t see any way of creating a kit for an economical price. However, we’ve now sourced good quality plastic moulds and we’re testing whether they can be used for creating consistently professional results. So far, the signs are good: this mould uses 200g of wax to create a lovely candle which we’re currently test burning. You can see an example on this page.

We’re aiming to launch in the next few weeks so make sure you’re on our list (signup on the right) as we’ll let our list members know first and we’ll include a limited time launch voucher.

Peta

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Candle Making – How to Select the Best Paraffin Wax

Selecting the ideal paraffin wax to use in your candles requires an analysis of several key factors.

First, you need to determine what type of candles you are going to make. For example, the type of paraffin one would use for container candles is very different from the type of paraffin one would use for pillar candles.

Next, you need to determine what wax traits are most important to you. Is it important that your wax is easy to work with? Do you want one that requires little or no additives? Are you looking for the strongest scent throw possible? Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preferences and finding the best wax to match your desires.

Paraffin comes in many varieties. Some are soft and scoopable, while others are harder and must be cut from slabs. Typically, the softer the wax, the lower its specific melting point will be.

The melting point is the term used to describe the temperature at which the wax will begin to melt. Melting points of paraffin wax range from approximately 127 degrees Fahrenheit (53 degrees Celsius) on the low end to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius) on the high end. The higher the melting point, the harder the wax.

One of the benefits of lower melting point paraffin waxes is that the softer wax helps to retain the fragrance of the candle until it is burned. This trait makes lower melting point paraffin waxes ideal for container candles. In addition to their wonderful ability to retain scent, these low melting point waxes are extremely malleable and almost never requires the use of additives.

While some candle makers may love the benefits of these softer waxes, they can be sticky to work with, and they tend to emit more soot than some other waxes. While the stellar scent throw may be a benefit, some may not feel that the drawbacks are worth it. Again, it comes down to personal preference.

Medium melting point paraffin waxes are most commonly used for votives and sometimes containers. A medium melting point paraffin will be harder to the touch and will keep its shape better than the lower melting point paraffin waxes.

It still manages to hold scent fairly well, but this type of wax often requires use of additives, thus resulting in more experimentation in making your candles. The medium melting point paraffins typically come in blocks, and can either be chipped off or cut off in chunks for use.

The higher melting point paraffins are usually reserved for making pillars, hand-dipped tapers, molded, and shaped or carved candles. These waxes are used for making such candles because of their extreme firmness, and because these types of candles do not often require the stronger scent throw of other types of candles.

The firmness of the wax makes them ideal for molded and shaped candles because they will not cave in on themselves while cooling. High melting point paraffin waxes will almost always require the use of additives, and they do not retain fragrance as well as the softer paraffin waxes.

Many craft stores have begun carrying a small range of paraffin waxes. However, these waxes are typically of mediocre quality and are not intended to meet the needs of more serious candle makers. For a wide array of quality choices, visit one of the many specialty online candle making supply websites.

Not only do they offer a wide variety of waxes, but they also offer detailed instructions on how to work with each one. You’ll also find the other supplies you may need, making these websites excellent one stop shops for purchasing all your candle making supplies.

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Making Halloween Candles for Free: Pumpkin

 

Making candles at home using food containers is one of the simplest and most fun methods of candle making. Since candles are synonymous with Halloween, I had a go at creating a pumpkin-themed candle using the minimum of candle making equipment.

A Dole fruit pot – cleaned and dried100g blended paraffin wax (or 100g of old, remelted, candles)A little LX10 wick (ok, you’re going to have to buy some but it’s very cheap)2g orange dye (or orange food colouring)2ml candle scent (or essential oils)A wick pin or long matchstickA little blutackDrill a small hole in the end of the pot: I used a 3mm drill bitPass the wick through the hold and plug the hole with blutack to prevent the wax pouring throughTurn the pot over onto its base and place the wick pin or matchstick centrally across itPull the wick over the matchstick, centrally and fairly tight, and secure it to the side of the pot with blutackThe end result should be of a straight wick coming out of the hole, across the centre of the matchstick and then secured to the outsidePut the assembled mould on some old newspaper or similar to protect your work surfaceHeat your wax by placing an old saucepan inside another one. The outer saucepan should be about a third full of water. Put it on the heat and place the wax in the inner saucepan until it melts. Note, these saucepans must never be used for food afterwardsOnce it’s melted, add your dye and stirOnce the colour has spread, add your scent: do this last so that it doesn’t evaporatePour carefully into the mould- fill to just below the matchstick

Now, leave the mould somewhere where it won’t be disturbed until it has set (at least 2 hours). Once it’s set, transfer to the fridge, preferably overnight. To remove it from the mould, take the matchstick away, turn the pot upside down and shake it or knock it carefully against your palm. Do not pull the wick as it’ll just come out in your hand! You should find it comes away easily having been in the fridge.

And that’s it! Feel free to decorate your candle or simply burn it as it is!

If you don’t have the ingredients lying around and want the best possible results, take a look at our Wax Wick and Dye product which provides the ingredients for making FOUR of these candles – just supply your own mould!

If you're new here, we'd love it if you would subscribe to our mailing list using the signup box on the right. You'll then qualify for a free candle making kit, free tips emails and a big discount off your first order. Thanks for visiting!

Related posts:

Candle Making Equipment: What do you need?Witches’ Hat Candles for HalloweenChristmas Advent Candle Making Kits Now In Stock!Pillar Candle Experiment #1Making Pillar Candles

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Candle Making – Selecting Dyes for Beautiful Candle Color

More often than not, candle makers choose to enhance their craftsmanship by adding dye to their candles. While some candle makers choose to leave their candles naturally colored, most crafters want to enhance the decorative aspect of their products by creating vibrant colors. In today’s market there are a number of ways to achieve these results. Let’s cover the basics of beautiful candle color.

The main thing to keep in mind when dying your candles is that one dye never looks the same in different waxes. Each wax binds with and reacts to dye differently, so experimentation is almost always necessary. If you have used additives to make your candles, this will also affect how the dye appears. As you begin to experiment with dye, keep in mind that it is always better to add too little than too much. You can always go back and add more if need be.

One technique you may find particularly helpful as you begin dying your candles is to keep detailed notes of the amounts of dye and color combinations as you try them. That way, if you achieve a result you are happy with, you know exactly how you achieved it. For example, if you use three drops of navy blue and one drop of purple liquid dye to make the perfect blueberry muffin colored candle, then when you go to replicate the exact same color later, you know exactly what dyes to add and in what proportion.

Visiting any of the candle making supply websites, you will quickly become aware of all of the different varieties of dye available. While you may be able to purchase dye elsewhere, these specialty candle supply sites are the best source for quality products designed specifically for candle making, dyes included.

Keep in mind that no matter what type of dye product you use, each product offers its own unique benefits and it’s up to you to determine what type appeals most to your own preferences and needs. Remember that all dyes can be blended to create your own unique color combinations. If you are not familiar with how to blend colors to achieve color variations, you can purchase color charts that will help familiarize you with color blending.

Liquid candle dyes are the most common type of dye used. They are highly concentrated and offer the benefit of being able to adjust the tint one drop at a time. This makes for a controlled process that can be easily duplicated.

Dye flakes are another option. Also highly concentrated, it is best to use a digital gram scale for precise measuring, as the size of the flakes will vary. Dye flakes produce a rich color that is resistant to fading and bleeding.

Pigment chips are another option. Chips are also less prone to fading and bleeding. However, pigments do not actually dissolve in the wax and any color particles not suspended in the wax should not be poured. This can make them a bit tricky to work with for beginners.

Powdered candle dyes are yet another dye option. Powdered dye is the purest form of dye as this is what the other dyes are made from. If you choose to use a powdered dye, keep in mind that they are extremely concentrated, and a little bit goes a very long way.

Because of the highly concentrated nature of candle dyes, they will dye anything they come into contact with. It’s a good idea to keep a liquid dye remover handy in case you have an accident.

There is no ‘best’ dye. Rather, it’s a matter of personal preference. Get input from other candle makers to narrow down your options. Then just experiment to find the best option for you.

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Candle Making - Make Your Own Gel Candle

Gel candle supplies needed to make your new project.  I just finished 3 of these, and they are unbelievable.  I wish you could smell them. I choose some of the new autumn scents available.

Here are a list of the gel candle making supplies you will need to make a gel candle -

1. Gel.  Duhh! That's the most important thing you will need. But how will you know which gel to use? Gels are pretty much the same, except for the densities. Gels come in low, medium and high density.

Low density gel is known as CLP grade. It flows and melts the easiest but the consistency is not thick enough to sustain your embed materials. And it can only hold approximately 3% fragrance oil. That don't mean that CLP grade is useless. If you are making a gel candle with little or no scent then the CLP will work just fine.

Next is the medium density, known as the CMP grade. Medium density gels are probably the most widely used. It can hold up to 4% fragrance and can hold embedded materials well because it has medium polymer quantity. If you have light embeds then this is a good gel to use.

You have different density gels to work with now, you just need to choose one of them when you are making your candles by deciding which qualities you want your candle to have.

Next, you will need a candle wick-

2. Zinc wicks. Zinc wicks are used in making gel candles because cotton wicks are known to absorb more gel.

Then you may choose dye for excitement-

3. Liquid color dye. It is boring if your gel candle is just white. To bring life and creativity to your creation,  add some liquid color dyes. But, make sure that it is not flammable.

Maybe add a little scent to spice it up-

4. Fragrance oils. Add some fragrance oils that are relaxing, stress free and can give a soothing sensation when you light your candle.

Embedding objects in your candle to make it unique-

5. Embeds. Embeds are decorative materials usually placed at the bottom of the gel candle. There are different kinds of embeds you can use when you are making your gel candle.


There you go, candle making tips for your shopping, and making your gel candles. Good luck on your new project.

Secret Candle Making History - You Can Become An Expert Too!

First of all I will fill you in a little on the history of making candles. Many candle making secrets have been uncovered, since candlemaking began; that offer lots of shortcuts, tips, and secret techniques for making professional looking candles. 

The art of making candles has been around for many centuries. In early days, candles were a necessity for heat and light. The actual art part came a little later.

In our society today candles mostly serve as decorations, permeating the rooms with sweet smells as well as offering lighted romantic dinners and luxurious bathing environments.

Candles have been used since ancient times. These candles were made of wax that was extracted from seeds, and insects. Taper candles were made from wax extract from cinnamon boiled in a pot.

Settlers in New England used techniques to extract wax from bayberries. Many candle makers still use that process to make bayberry candles.

In the 1600’s and 1700’s a byproduct from animal fat called tallow was used to make candle wax. It worked well but had a stinky smell when it was burning.  Later in the 1800's, bees wax and paraffin wax took the place of the tallow.

Through the 1900's it became much easier and faster to make candles from easily acquired materials.  Today, candle making is a well known art form.

There are many companies who manufacture candles. There are also small businesses that still make their candles at home in their kitchen. Candle making is a great activity for the whole family to do together.

The art of making candles has changed tremendously over time. If you are interested in trying it, choose a candle that is fairly easy to make like the container candle. There are several good candle making books to give you tips and assistance along the way.

I found a candle making secrets book online that has r-e-a-l-l-y improved my candle making business.
The site also has a free newsletter that has unbelievable candle making tips being given away for free.