Candle Making – Selling Your Candles – Fundraising

While many candle makers learn and perfect the craft as a hobby, there are others with goals to make money from the craft. Of the many ways to sell your candles, setting up fundraising programs is one option that you may wish to consider.

Establishing a fundraising program featuring your candles is a great way to multiply your sales force in an economical manner. While hiring and managing a sales force may not be possible, fundraising can be a great way to have many people selling on your behalf. It also allows you to leverage your ability to sell without you doing most of the work.

Here’s how a typical fundraiser works. You find organizations that need to raise money and make an arrangement with them to sell your candles for you for a portion of the profit. You agree to supply each candle to them for a discounted price, and when they sell each candle at a pre-determined retail price that is higher, the organization keeps the difference for their cause.

The percentage of the discount can vary, but is usually somewhere between 20-50% below the pre-determined retail price. The greater the percentage the organization gets to keep, the more they will get excited and promote your product, so be as generous as possible when establishing the profit-sharing arrangement.

Typically, no money exchanges hands between you and the organization until they have collected all of the candle orders. This way, the organization does not need to come up with money out of pocket to give to you. They simply take orders, collect money for the products ordered, and turn one combined order in to you. You then collect your negotiated price for each candle, and they keep the difference. Fundraising is a win-win situation for both parties, and is a great way to get your product out into circulation.

The types of organizations looking to conduct a fundraiser are seemingly limitless. Churches, schools, sports groups, charitable organizations, awareness programs and more are all excellent candidates. All you need to do is seek them out and be willing to work with them.

Not only do you have the opportunity to make good profit yourself, but you are helping an organization in need as well. And while there are many fundraising programs out there for them to choose from, many organizations are tired of the traditional candy and cookie dough sales, and are looking to do something more unique. Candles are an attractive option.

While it is true that fundraising can be a huge help in growing your business, it is not without work on your end. You need to be sure that you have the production capacity to fill the organization’s order in a timely manner (3-4 weeks at most).

You also need to be sure that you can offer them a simple process with easy-to-follow instructions, and fundraising materials to help them collect orders. Be prepared to provide the organizations with samples of your candles as they will want to be able to test your product before agreeing to sell it. Assuming that you make a quality product, this is usually a great thing because the more they love your candles, the more excited they will be to sell them.

There are many ways to create a successful candle business, and fundraising 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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Soy Wax Candle Making Secrets from Home

Many people agree that soy candles are the best types of candles to work with. In fact, as compared to other types of candles, soy wax candle making is regarded as the easiest. Basically, soy candles are manufactured by means of combining fragrance, dye and wax. Meaning, you do not need to become an expert just to produce your own soy candles.

As compared to candles made of paraffin, soy wax candle making proves to be low-maintenance. For one thing, clean-up is a breeze. You do not have to worry over clog dishwashers or basins. Second, materials are easy to get and they are not costly or too expensive. Money-wise, soy candles are in-demand and are very easy to make.

In making soy candles, all you need is one pound of wax, an ounce of fragrance oil, wax dye, cotton wick and one Mason jar. Remember that soy wax comes in two forms, which is in flake and in block. Comparatively, it is suggested that you use the block soy wax in making your first batch.

Soy wax candle making also bears a number of secrets and must-haves. For example, you have to learn how to create the right scent or fragrance. Try combining one or two known scents for a more personalized touch. It is also important to buy sets of fragrances that are compatible with your base, which is soy wax.

Remember to use wax dyes in soy wax candle making. This item comes in three forms namely block, powder or liquid. Use the one that is most appropriate. Choose one that will best complement your work. Take note of possible candle wicks. For soy candles, what works best are thicker wicks or pre-tabbed wicks. It is also important to take note of candle size and diameter. For large soy candles, the best choice would be thicker wicks. As for small soy candles, it is best to choose corresponding small-sized wicks.

Candle containers are a must in soy wax candle making. There are basically different types of containers. You can choose mason jars, glass jars even plastic. However, it is always necessary to keep all containers clean. Each container should be dry and kept properly. They should be washed and dust-free.

In making your soy candles, make sure to cook or melt your wax at medium heat. Once everything has melted, try adding the oil and stir. You can then proceed by simply adding color or dye. After which, you can pour the mixture into the container and let it set for a couple of minutes.

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Candle Making – Container Candles

When you first begin making candles, the most important question you must ask yourself is what type of candles do you want to make? With all the different candle types to choose from, knowing where to start can be difficult.

Most people begin candle making because they want to be able to make their own candles to fragrance their homes. With that goal in mind, learning to make container candles is probably the best and easiest way to get started.

Container candles are considered one of the easiest types of candles to make. The whole purpose of a container candle is to scent the air. While they may not always turn out looking the best to begin with, it is almost impossible to truly mess them up. As long as you start with all of the necessary supplies and a good set of directions, you will soon be on your way to creating awesome container candles.

Before you get started, you will need to answer a few simple questions. What type of wax are you going to use? What type of container are you going to pour into? What fragrance do you want to use in your candle? Do you want to dye your candle with color or not? Once you know the answers to these questions, you can begin buying your supplies.

To make a basic, single pour container candle you are going to need the following:

* Jar – most people begin with 16 oz. jars because they are to make a 16 ounce candle, making it easy to calculate proportions
* Wax – a ‘one pour’ paraffin or soy wax is recommended
* Wicks – use a wick that is appropriate for your container diameter and type of wax
* Fragrance – select a fragrance you like and that is appropriate for your type of wax
* Dye – use a dye that works well with the scent and type of wax you are using
* Double boiler – to heat your wax to the ideal temperature for pouring
* Pouring pitcher – to pour your melted wax into the prepared container
* Thermometer – to ensure that your wax is the ideal temperature for adding ingredients and pouring melted wax into your container

While there are many other supplies you could use, these supplies are the essential ones to make a container candle. When choosing your wax, keep in mind that you will want a wax specifically recommended for container candles. Most candle supply retailers will describe their waxes by sharing when and how they are best used. Sometimes you will even find the word ‘container’ in the actual name of the wax.

Next, you will need good, easy-to-follow instructions.

Typically, the best place to go for candle making instructions is the supplier where you purchased your candle wax. For example, if you purchase your wax from an online candle supply retailer, they will have detailed instructions for each and every wax they sell. Simply look up the specific instructions for the wax you have decided to work with. Many of these sites also offer message boards and instructions on how to select appropriate jars and wicks, and can be a wealth of information.

If you choose not to research or buy online, there are a number of books available on the subject of candle making as well that can guide you step by step in making the perfect container candle.

Making container candles is a great way to introduce yourself to the art of candle making. While you will run into challenges, and may need to make adjustments as you strive to make perfect candles, you’ll get better as you continue perfecting your craft. The more experience you gain as you pour container candles, the better equipped you will be to expand your candle making skills into different types of candles in the future.

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Making Your Own Gel Candles

 

Gel candles are growing in popularity.  They work the same as regular wax candles in the respect that they will burn in the same way that wax candles burn but they are made a little differently.

Wax candles are made from oil.  The same is true with gel candles but they are made of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin.  The resin starts out as a powder but when it is mixed with the mineral oil it is transformed into a solid state.  Gel wax comes in three different states: high density, medium density, and low density.  The higher the density, the more fragrance the oil can hold.  Plus, the thicker gel will hold the suspended decorations with in the candle.  But, keep in mind that the thicker gel takes longer to meld and it is harder to pour.

The steps that go into making a candle out of regular wax such as melting the wax and pouring it in a mold to dry are the same steps you need to do in making gel candles.  But, the equipment you use and the techniques are slightly different.  With other types of candle wax most people use a double boiler to melt the wax.  But, trying to melt gel wax in a double boiler would take way too long.  Some gel candle makers have turned to multi-cookers to get the job done.  A multi-cooker is kind of like a deep fryer.  They typically are metal with a non-stick coating.  They have a separate heating element with a temperature dial so you can get the proper temperature to melt the gel wax.  Rather then using two separate pots one with water and one to melt the wax in, the gel wax is placed directly in the multi-cooker to melt.  Although the multi-cooker comes with a temperature dial, it is still a good idea to use a separate thermometer to make sure that the gel is melted at the proper temperature.  Use something metal or hard plastic to stir the gel wax.  Wooden spoons can sometimes add bubbles to the gel.  The most important thing to remember is that gel candle wax can catch fire.  Make sure you have a chemical fire extinguisher near by.

It is also possible to change the color of the gel candle wax by using dyes.  Liquid candle dyes are perfect for gel candles because they can maintain the translucency of the gel.  It only takes a very small amount of the dye to actually change the color of the wax.  Sometimes even a drop of dye is too much.  You should never use crayons, clothing dye, food coloring, or soap dyes in gel candle wax.  They will no burn right because they are not made specifically for candles.

Learning how to make gel candles is fast and easy.  There are so many possibilities when it comes to creating wonderful candles with gel wax.  The best thing about gel candles is that you can add decorations directly to the wax so that they float within the candle.  This is a clever and unique way to personalize a gift if you are making the candle for someone else.  Plus, gel candles burn slower then regular wax candles so they will last a little longer.

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Candle Making – How to Get Started Making Candles

Making the decision to try your hand at candle making is easy. Figuring out where to go from there is a bit harder. While many of the big, national craft stores sell candle making supplies, their offerings are not always of the best quality, and their selections tend to be extremely limited. To obtain your supplies, it’s advisable to visit one of the many internet sites devoted to the craft of candle making.

On these specialty websites you will find not only a wide variety of waxes, fragrances, wicks, containers and accessories, but many will also contain message boards full of valuable information for newcomers as well. The best way to learn how to make candles is to communicate with and learn from those who have already done it.

You will not only gain valuable knowledge, but you will very likely save yourself time and money by not replicating the many mistakes they have most likely made. A large part of learning the craft is trial and error, and you may be surprised by how willing others are to share their experiences.

Once you have done some research, decided what kind of candles you are going to make, and have an idea as to how you are going to go about making them, it is time to buy your supplies. The most important thing to keep in mind is to buy only what you need. With as many supplies as there are available, it’s tempting to want to buy anything and everything that looks appealing.

Keep in mind that you are most likely going to make adjustments in your supplies and techniques as you get going. While bulk buying may offer significant cost savings, it is advisable to purchase in smaller quantities when you’re getting started until you know that you are pleased with your end result. It doesn’t make much sense to purchase fifty pounds of something that ends up not working to your satisfaction.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most of the online candle supply retailers do not require a minimum purchase. Because of this, you do not have to be limited to just one supplier. Shop around. You may find better prices or widely different offerings from one supplier to another. Suppliers closer to you may save you substantial money on shipping so see what you can buy close to home when possible.

Finally, as holds true in so many areas, cheaper is not always better. When it comes to candle making, you pay for quality. As you will quickly learn, you do get what you pay for. This becomes very apparent as you start working with your waxes and fragrances.

While getting started making candles can be intimidating, just keep in mind that many others have conquered the task before you. Listen to those willing to share and learn from their triumphs and mistakes.

You may even want to consider purchasing a book on the subject. However you choose to go about learning, just keep in mind that even the most experienced candle makers can always learn something new as well. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and most of all, have fun in your new endeavor.

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Candle Making 2008

I hope you had a good Christmas and look forward to helping you have a fantastic candle making new year, many thanks to you if you sent a card or email to us at xmas time. I realise that i have missed a few months of posting on the blog and i apologise as i always do with the same excuse which is that we have been so busy the blog tends to become forgotten. Anyway i will try to keep up to date again.

The site is still slowly being redone with wider web pages and i think it looks much better as a lot of others who have sent in emails think as well. We still have a lot of new items to add to the site and Steve is now beginning to get back to testing so you should start to see new items appearing monthly. Any new candle making items will be announced using the RSS feed

I have been amazed at the amount of candle making hexagonal jars that where sold in the run up to Christmas and i must apologise to those who missed out when they went out of stock but we just could not keep up with demand. We have now added a smaller jar that is just bigger than a tea light and i think they could well be the best sellers as they are a really nice looking candle when made.

The CandleShack fragrances can also be added to now and i expect 25 new fragrances to be added during February as well as the dyes which the Inpex guys are going to produce some new colours. The dye flakes have been very well received and if you have a colour you would like to see added just contact us via the 4Candles contact page.

I will continue with another post soon as i start to put up the monthly candle making newsletters again.

Gentil

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Before Starting A Candle Making Business, Test The Waters To Be Sure Of Success

It may come as a complete surprise for many people to learn about how much money is spent each year just on lighting up the nights in a romantic way, and then again it may not be quite such big news because with festivals and important occasions constantly coming round year in year out, it would not be such a big surprise to learn that Americans spend about two billion dollars annually in such pursuits.

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Since candles can be made in different sizes, shapes and with various scents, there is a lot to be said regarding starting a candle making business, and since candles are without a doubt a very popular item used to decorate homes and give a softer glow to the interiors and lending them well in creating a special atmosphere, they will always be in demand. Anytime is a good time for starting a candle making business and you can pursue such a venture just to earn a little extra on the side, or take it up full time because there is a lot of potential in this line of business.

However, you would need to research the business well before starting a candle making business and know the exact sales statistics in your neck of the woods and also on the national level as you will then be able to know the level of demand for candles both locally and also nationally, and also can assess the feasibility of your business proving to be a success. Furthermore, before starting a candle making business, you need to assess whether to do business on a local level or on the national level, and whether to also have an online presence in order to further boost sales. In any case, you must be committed and spend as much time as is required and know for sure that you are capable enough to handle it before proceeding any further.

It would certainly boost your chances of success when you start a candle making business if you can also make the candles on your own, and you could advertise through fliers and posters as well as spread the word by mouth that you are giving demonstrations to show the quality of your candle making abilities. However, more important than starting a candle making business is the ability to balance it and thus you must be able to commit your time to this venture full time, and also have the finances to buy the supplies and then set a decent price for the products.

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Candle Making – Troubleshooting Tips – Container Candles

With any worthy craft there are bound to be minor troubles. If you spend any amount of time pouring candles, you will eventually spend some time troubleshooting. Here are the most common concerns and complaints about container candles and tips to alleviate some of the frustration all candle makers undoubtedly feel at one point or another.

While container candles can be made with a variety of waxes, here we’re going to primarily address common issues that arise with the use of paraffin wax as natural waxes sometimes have their own troubleshooting issues to address.

One issue is the presence of lines on the inside of the glass. Most often, this problem occurs for one of two reasons. Either the container was not preheated before the wax was poured into it, or the wax was too cool when it was poured. To avoid this issue, try preheating your containers using a heat gun, or your oven on the lowest setting, before pouring into them. Also, try to pour your candles when the wax temperature is between 155 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit (68 to 79 degrees Celsius).

Another common container candle issue is when the flame burns a tunnel down the middle of the candle. Typically, this is caused by one of two reasons. Most often either the wick used in the candle is too small, or the candle was not burned for a long enough period of time. If you are experiencing tunneling, try using a larger wick size or consider double wicking.

If this alone does not appear to be the problem, pay attention to the length of time you are burning the candle. The ideal burn time is long enough for the melt pool to form completely across the top of the candle before extinguishing. When wicked properly, this should occur in one to two hours.

Another common issue is the formation of discolored splotches on the sides of the candle. Usually, these splotches are the result of either having too much fragrance oil in the wax mixture or from having too much of the wrong type of additive in the wax.

If you believe that fragrance may be the issue, try reducing the amount of fragrance or adding vybar to the mixture to help the wax retain the oil. If you believe that additives are the issue, just remember to always use the least amount of additives necessary to achieve your desired result.

If you experience problems with the wick smoking too much when the candle is burning, you may have one of the following issues. The wick you are using may be too large, the wick needs to be trimmed, or the candle is in an area with too much draft. Try using a smaller wick, keep your wick trimmed to about one quarter of an inch, and make sure that there are no drafts where you are burning the candle. Also keep in mind that some waxes do tend to smoke more than others.

If your wick will not stay lit, your wick may be too small or you may have used too much dye and/or fragrance oil. If the wick is too small, it cannot consume wax fast enough to keep it above the wax level. Try using a larger wick to correct this. If you believe you used too much dye or fragrance oil, reduce the quantity and try again.

When container candles cool, sometimes the tops appear bumpy or rough. If this happens to you, consider placing the candle in the oven on the lowest setting to re-heat the wax. Let it cool again and see if the problem persists. Another technique is to use a heat gun along the top layer of the candle to re-heat it. Again, let it re-cool and see if this corrects the issue.

If you are still experiencing the problem, consider doing a top pour on the candle. A top pour uses leftover wax from the candle by re-heating it and pouring it over the already cooled candle creating a new, smooth top layer. If you use this technique, be sure to use leftover wax otherwise you’ll have a top layer of a different color.

If your problem is that the top layer of the candle keeps cracking as it cools, then it’s likely that your candles are drying too quickly. Try placing them in a warmer place to cool more slowly, or consider wrapping the containers in aluminum foil so they are insulated and slower to cool.

There are numerous issues that may arise when pouring container candles. If you have other issues not covered here, try searching online candle making message boards to find solutions. Just keep in mind that other candle makers have probably experienced them too, and there is almost always a way to correct the issue if you seek help.

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How to choose the right candle making kit

 

MakingYourOwnCandles offers a range of candle making kits – how do you choose which one to buy?

Here are a few questions that might help you decide:

If so, our Professional Candle Making kits are a good choice. With these kits you can make 10 “votive” sized candles with a 15 hour burn time. What’s a “votive” – it’s a candle often used in churches (hence the name), somewhat similar to 4-5 tealights stacked on top of each other. Looked at another way, they’re like mini-pillar candles. By using a Pro kit, you get 10 scented, coloured candles and you get to develop your skills using moulds.

We have a range of container candle making kits: including mini jam-jars, plain glass and “supply your own” kits where you can use any heat-proof and non-flammable container. Container candles are a little simpler than moulded candles and the containers can be reused. Container candles can include scent and dye.

Then choose our Beeswax candle kit. This kit includes pure beeswax sheets made in the UK which you simply roll up tightly around a wick and decorate.

We have a range of Christmas kits including our new Advent Candle kit. You can also use that kit to make dinner candles!

Our Deluxe Candle Making Kits are the ultimate candle making experience. They include everything from the professional kit plus extra bits and pieces including a thermometer, extra scent and dye and containers. It doesn’t get better than that!

If you want to have a go at making your own candles either using home-made moulds (for example our pumpkin recipe) or by pouring into your own containers, we have a range of wax and wick kits to suit.

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New Blog - August Candle Making

Hello all,

During the transfer to our new server we lost all the log in information for the existing blogs which has left me unable to add to my news letters.

We have now given up trying to retrieve the blogs and have instead decided to start new ones.

Several people have left us feedback on the blogs and unfortunately we have been unable to add it as it needed approving and this could not be done without the sign in details. Sorry if you were one of those who left feedback we have not ignored it and when we have a new form system up for feedback we will email you to see if you would still like to leave your comments.

All at Gentil & Sayre Group had their annual summer holiday this month and every one would like to thank those who wished us well and a great holiday was 'just' about had by all.

All the candle making supplies listed on the website are in stock at the moment which is how i like to see it. The website upgrade has been hampered a little but it is now back in full flow and you should start to see a lot of new candle wicks appearing over the next month, plus we are having a sale of a lot of candle making supplies that we have accumulated in our warehouse (more news soon on that one)

I will post news shortly when i do a September newsletter.

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Candle Making Equipment: What do you need?

 

At MakingYourOwnCandles.co.uk, we’re often asked about the equipment you need to make candles. Of course, it depends on what sort of candles you want to make but the ingredients of all candles are pretty much the same:

…that’s it! Most candles also have:

The simplest candles to make are rolled Beeswax candles. With these, all you do is roll beeswax sheets around a wick and you’re done.

Container candles are also easy to make as the wax is simply melted and poured into a container which has a wick in it and a metal tab at the bottom to fix it in place.

Votive and Pillar candles require a mould. With Votives, the procedure is much the same as with a container except that you pop the finished candle out at the end. With pillar and dinner candles, the bottom of the mould has a hold through which you pass the wick – so the candle is poured upside down.

One thing to bear in mind is that the wax for moulded candles is completely different to that used in container candles. Moulded candle wax shrinks after cooling so that the edges of the candle shrink away from the candle mould, allowing it to be released easily. The downside of this is that you will usually need to pour twice into your mould since the first pouring will shrink away from the wick. For container candles, use (surprise) candle making container wax which doesn’t shrink and requires only one pouring.

The candle making equipment you’ll need for making candles (container or moulded) is:

A double boiler (or one smaller saucepan sitting within a bigger saucepan 1/3rd filled with water)A source of heatA mould (for moulded candles)

The simplest candle making equipment can be found in the kitchen – just make sure that if you’re using a pair of saucepans you never use them for food afterwards.

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!

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Candle Making – Votives, Pillars and Molded Candles

Most people choose to begin their candle making experience by making container candles, but a select few choose to begin with molded candles. Most often molded candles, such as votives and pillars, are a next step for somewhat experienced candle makers.

While making molded candles is not necessarily more difficult than making container candles, they do demand a bit more technique, a few more supplies and most often require a greater time investment in determining the best use of additives and learning the molded candle craft.

The main difference between container candles and molded candles is the use of molds.

Instead of pouring melted wax directly into a container where the candle will set up permanently, molds are used to cool the candle into a desired shape and are then released from the mold. Using molds requires the use of a release agent to make sure the mold comes off the candle once it is done cooling.

Although candle molds can be purchased at most craft and hobby stores, you will find a much wider selection at one of the many specialty candle supply retailers online. Depending on the volume of molded candles you are making, you will want to be sure that you purchase enough molds to keep you continually pouring, keeping in mind that the molds will have to remain on the candles until the candles are hard enough to remove the mold.

Another difference between container and molded candles is the type of wax used in their production.

Molded candles use medium to high melting point wax. The waxes are typically much harder than those used for containers. When purchasing your wax, be sure to read the wax descriptions to see if it is made for use in the type of candles you are planning to pour. For example, many wax suppliers even go so far as to name their waxes with descriptors such as ‘votive blend’ or ‘pillar blend’. The more time you spend choosing your wax, the better the likelihood you will produce candles you are happy with.

Votive candles are one of the easiest molded candles you can make. They also require less wax to make than pillar candles, so they are ideal for the beginner. If you are unhappy with your initial results and need to make adjustments, it will require less wax to experiment with votives than it will with pillars.

Pillar candles are the other common type of molded candles. While votives tend to be offered in a few standard sizes, the size and shape options for pillars are far more varied. Not only do they vary in height, but also in diameter and shape.

The best resource for detailed instructions on how to make molded candles is the retailer where you purchased your wax. If you chose to purchase wax and supplies from one of the many online, specialty candle making retailers, they typically offer detailed instructions for each type of wax they sell. Simply look up the wax you choose to work with and go from there.

Many of these sites also offer message boards where you can pick up some valuable tips from experienced molded candle makers to help you save time and money on troubleshooting. If you choose to buy your supplies elsewhere, there are many books available on the subject of candle making that are sure to take you in the right direction.

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Christmas Advent Candle Making Kits Now In Stock!

 

A couple of weeks ago I announced that we were working on a Candle Making Kit that would allow you to make Advent Candles. The product development process is now finished, the kits have been tested and we’ve written easy to follow illustrated instructions so that you can achieve consistent results every time.

The standard kit allows you to make 8 candles in total: 4 white Christmas Advent Candles and 4 red dinner candles. If you want to make 8 Advent Candles, there’s an option to buy an extra 4 water-slide transfers.

The kit contains:

450g Blended Paraffin WaxWickA reusable mouldA metal wick pinred dye for the dinner candlesblutack

It’s supplied in a jiffy bag to keep the postage cost down.

And the price? Just £9.99 to make 8 candles! And remember, the mould can be reused time and time again!

Click the link for full details: Christmas Advent Candle And Dinner Candle Kit

And if you want to produce these candles in bulk, we’re putting together a commercial kit: in the meantime email peta@makingyourowncandles.co.uk for more information.

Kev

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!

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Why soy candle making?

Not only is soy candle making an exciting hobby that provides hours of fun, there are tremendous benefits to using soy wax over the traditional paraffin wax.

Soy wax is easier to manage because it comes in a flake form, unlike paraffin wax which comes in a block. Would you rather use a measuring cup and scoop what you need, or have to saw chunks off a block and weigh it, then saw some more?

When making candles with paraffin wax, cleanup can be a chore. You must heat up the utensils to melt the wax off, or use special cleaners on other surfaces. With soy candle making, cleanup is a breeze. You can just wash everything with soap and water!

Soy candles burn longer!

Soy candle making is better for the environment and your health! Paraffin wax is made from petroleum. We all know that burning petroleum releases toxic fumes that are harmful to humans, and the planet. Do you really want that stuff burning inside your home? Soy wax is a renewable resource that burns clean and is a byproduct of soy beans which are harvested in the United States, thus helping to reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Whether you’re new to making candles or have been doing it for some time with paraffin wax and are thinking about making the switch, you can’t go wrong with soy candle making. It’s better for you, your health, and the planet!

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Candle Making May Newsletter

Well maybe its a little late being June and all but we had a real scare during May.

As a lot of you already know Steve was taken to hospital at the beginning of May with a suspected heart attack which turned out to be a little bit more serious, fortunately he has made a good recovery and is on the mend. All cards and good wishes have been given to Steve and i know he wants to thank all those who sent them. He has taken to turning up in the office and does answer the phone on occasions which as he is the technical guy when it comes to candle making means we can now operate the helpline properly again (just leave a message if you get the answer machine and he will return your call).

I would like to apologise again to any of our customers who had a few problems at the beginning of May which was caused by Steve suddenly disappearing from our ranks; now we know how much we still need him!.

Any way we are now looking to build up the CandleShack fragrance range and we welcome any suggestions for scents that you would like to see added. We have our own scent maker now and he has a catalogue of fragrances that you would not believe and we have been testing them as fast as we can so we can make them available. The CandleShack fragrances are still going to be made on the idea that they will be single fragrances that can be used as a stand alone fragrance or mixed to make your own candle making scent.

We continue to add to the US candle making fragrance list with six or more new scent's each month and we accept any suggestions for new fragrances.

The Soya+ wax was found to have a problem and we are still investigating the problem to see if it was a particular batch or if there is a problem with the new formula and the wax as a whole. Hopefully i will have the answers for you next newsletter.

A whole new range is coming soon and I'm afraid that is all i can say i am not even allowed to tell you what it is a range of. A lot of people have asked and it will be on the site before Xmas.

I can tell you we are testing another wick for natural wax and hope to be able to offer more detailed help with wicking natural wax next month.

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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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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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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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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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