Candle Making

Whether you love the look of candlelight illuminating your home or the fragrant aroma is your idea of the perfect home fragrance, candle making might be right up your alley. With a few basic supplies and a little creativity, you can make endless numbers of beautiful candles suited to your tastes.

Here's what you need:

A stove or hot plate. This is where you will heat the wax.

A double boiler with a pouring pot or a large pot or pan to fill with water and an empty coffee can to set inside the larger pan.

Wax that will melt inside the coffee can.

A thermometer to test the temperature of the wax before pouring.

As many wicks as you need for the number of candles you will make.

A candle mold in which the wax will harden. Metal molds are used for votives and pillars, but beginners may opt for Dixie cups.

Glass or earthenware containers to use for container candles.

Fragrance and coloring to give your candles the finishing touch.

Mold-release agent could be useful for making votives. Spray it into the molds before pouring and they will pop out easily once hardened.

How to Choose Wax and Wicks

There are many different types of wax, all of which are good choices for making different candles. The real difficulty is choosing the wick to match the wax type. The wick is the part you burn, but there is more to the wick than what meets the eye. It absorbs the oil in the candle and it keeps the wick burning. However, fragrance, coloring, and the type of wax used will affect the way the wick burns, resulting in everything from mushrooming (carbon build-up) to drowning.

Wick Types

Pre-tabbed votive wicks are a good idea for the beginner who is starting with votive candle projects. Pre-tabbed wicks can also be used for container candles.

Braided Wicks

Flat braided wicks are best for taper and pillar candles. They are not suitable for votives, tea lights, or container candles.

Square braided wicks are good for just about every type of candle, but especially for beeswax candles.

Both types will burn on a slight curve so that they burn more evenly. They are also less likely to mushroom.

Make sure to pick the right size wick:

Choose 18 ply (#1) for pillars with a one to two inch diameter.

Choose 24 ply (#2) for pillars with up to a three inch diameter.

Choose 32 ply (#3) for pillars up to four inches in diameter.

Cored Wicks

Zinc Core -- This is by far the most common cored wick type. It is the slowest and coolest burning of all, making it ideal for votives, container candles, and tea lights.

Paper Core -- These burn the hottest and are typically employed in container candles.

Hemp Core -- These are strong and rigid wicks that can be used with almost any type of candle.

HTP Coreless

Coreless Cotton -- Often referred to as "self-cleaning" wicks, these are ideal for container candles.

Wax Types

Beginners interested in making votives and container candles can start with paraffin wax. It is inexpensive and easy to find, plus it comes in a wide variety of melting points, typically low to medium. For a higher grade wax, refined paraffin wax produces less smoke (because it contains less oil) and it burns slower. Both types are perfect for adding color and fragrance.

Beeswax is a popular type of wax that is slow burning and more expensive. When burned, a faint honey aroma is released. For super simple candles, you can buy beeswax sheets that you roll up instead of melting.

Soybean wax is clean burning and it comes in a variety of melt points suitable for a variety of applications, from votives to container candles to pillars. The only complaint about this type of wax is that it doesn't always burn evenly.

Palm wax is typically hard and has a high melting point (around 140). When hardened it looks crystalline.

Bayberry wax is hard, and somewhat brittle, but it has a melting point of around 120. It has a greenish color and a faint scent to it when burned.

Gel wax is one of the newest types of wax that are totally clear and easy to pour.

Some people purchase additives to blend into their waxes in order to slow the burn, especially in container candles. Additives include petroleum jelly, vegetable shortening, and mineral oil. These shouldn't be used when making pillar candles or other standing candles. Most waxes will state whether they require additives or not.

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Start a Candle Making Business - Part 1

Candles have been used for centuries and as a business candle-making has enjoyed a long and varied history. Despite decades of technological improvements in most industries, the very best candles and the most expensive are still made by hand. Candle-making represents a very profitable and enjoyable opening for modern day craftworkers, especially as Christmas approaches and candles are purchased for decorative and functional purposes.

The best candles are made from beeswax, sometimes in their entirety, sometimes with beeswax added to man-made ingredients. Beeswax is compulsory in church candles, the amount varying between churches and their ruling bodies. Though it gives a better end result, beeswax is generally too expensive for candles designed for home use. Less costly designs such as those you see selling at craft fairs and fleamarkets can be created from synthetic waxes available from craftshops and specialist suppliers. A tiny amount of beeswax added to artificial wax improves the appearance and fragrance of your candle. Beeswax can be obtained from most local beekeepers' associations and from specialist suppliers. Candlemaking equipment and synthetic materials are available in most craft shops where you will also find a wide selection of useful instruction books.

MAKING YOUR CANDLES

Simple designs are easy to make and only when you begin to experiment with texture, colour and shape does the task become more difficult. Popular marketable designs including unusual shapes, layers of different colours, odd textures, chunky designs, candles decorated with sequins and beads, hand-painted types and novelty shapes like Santas at Christmas, eggs at Easter, witches at Halloween. The real secret of success in this business is to make your designs different, hopefully unique. This blueprint is designed for the newcomer, who should supplement his knowledge by careful market research, noting what the competition is doing, and what new designs and marketing methods can be incorporated into his own business.

A FEW SIMPLE DESIGNS

* Simple Dipped Candle

Depending on the size you want your candle to be, take a piece of beeswax and melt it in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Take a piece of wick and dip it in the wax up to the required length. Remove the wick and dip it again. Do this repeatedly, allowing the wax to build up in layers until it reaches the desired thickness. When complete, hang the candle by the wick in a cool place to harden. Coloured candles can be made from pre-dyed wax or by giving a white candle a final dip in coloured wax. If beeswax is too expensive or hard to find, use synthetic wax instead.

* Rolled Craftwax Candle

Prepare a large clean workspace without bumps or ridges. Cover with craft paper. Have all the necessary equipment at hand ruler, scissors, pins, decorations, wicks, cutters (biscuit cutters are useful), craftwax sheets. Lay out the craftwax sheets and leave to warm to room temperature.

For a really simple candle, cut a piece of wick an inch longer than you want your candle to be and lay it along one side of the wax sheet, about 1/8th inch from the edge. Leave the extra inch of wick protruding at the top of the 'finished' candle. Very carefully, fold the edge of the wax over the wick. Smooth into place and give a gentle tug to make sure the wick is properly in place. Keep rolling the wax around the wick until you reach the desired thickness. Cut the wax and smooth out the edges and joins. Store somewhere cool, not cold, and out of direct sunlight.

* Moulded Candle Using Blocks of Wax

Boil some water in a double boiler, adding blocks of wax to the upper pan. Simmer constantly until the wax is melted. Stir in 3 tablespoons of stearin to every 450g of wax. After the stearin has dissolved stir in a dye or colouring of your choice. Prepare a mould. A simple container is best with a hole added to the bottom through which the wick is passed and knotted on the underside. Spray the inside of the mould with silicone spray to make the candle easier to remove. With the mould standing upright, wrap the wick around a pencil or rod so the wick remains taut and centred. Arrange the rod lengthwise across the mould. Pour the wax from the pan into a glass jug and fill the mould slowly to prevent bubbles forming in the mixture. Leave to stand in a bucket of cold water to the height of the wax and use a heavy object to keep the candle stable. After 30 minutes remove the weight and check the wax has set. Remove the candle from the mould and store somewhere safe.

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Candle Making Wax

Today, with the growing popularity of candle making, candle making wax has made strides to become better, more available, and with more diversity then before. People are constantly looking for the new thing and since wax is the main component in candle making, the changes have been there.

Most of the wax used in candles today is refined from petroleum like paraffin wax. This is the type of wax that is in most candles. Paraffin wax is readily available and inexpensive. Other types of waxes are natural and refined from vegetable or plant materials like soy, palm, or bayberry. A natural wax growing in popularity is soy based wax. It is processed by hydrogenating soybeans which makes them suitable for candles. Soy wax is a renewable resource that is eco-friendly. The best part about soy wax is that the majority of soybeans are grown in the United States primarily in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.

Palm wax is also natural and a renewable resource. Unfortunately with the growing popularity of palm wax, countries like Indonesia and Malaysia were clearing our vast areas of rainforest in order to plant palm plantations. This is devastating to ecosystems and compromises the populations of endangered animals like orangutans, rhinoceroses and the Sumatran tiger. Thankfully, the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) stepped in and founded RSPO. This organization was founded to develop and define the best practices for sustainable palm cultivation. They also help member organizations to implement and verify the procedures. So when you are shopping for palm wax make sure that they are obtaining wax in an eco-friendly way.

Some candles are made from animal based materials like beeswax. Candles made from beeswax, palm, and bayberry were offered by companies in the past. Recently there has been a new and growing interest in making candles out of these natural products. One of the more popular natural waxes is beeswax. It is available in yellow or white. Although the cost of beeswax can be expensive, candle makers are drawn to its pleasant fragrance, the burning characteristics it contains, and the hardiness of the product.

Gel candles are also a new kind of way to make candles. It is a clear, rubbery texture but works the same as wax. Gel wax is available in three different densities. The density of the gel that the candle requires depends upon the type of candle you are planning to make and how much fragrance you are planning to use. Low density gel wax is best for candles with a 0-3% fragrance load. Also, the low density can be poured at a lower temperature. The medium density gel wax works well with candles that have a 3-5% fragrance load. It is probably the most popular gel wax to work with. High density gel wax is better for candle with a heavier fragrance load.

With so many different kinds of wax available, candle maker are able to pick the type that works best for them. When a candle maker is able to understand each kind of wax, they are able to fully experience every inch of the candle making market and get double, triple or even quadruple the fulfillment.

Holly M Jordan is a candle making expert. For more great information on Candle making wax, visit http://www.how-to-make-candles.com.

Introduction to Candle Making Molds

If candle making is a particular hobby of yours, you are definitely not alone. You see, candle making is a very popular hobby, surely one of the most popular today. And since it's so popular, there's a ton of supplies and products available that will aide you in creating beautiful candles more quickly and easily. One product, and the second most important in my opinion, are candle making molds. Candle molds are amazing because no matter the shape or size of the candle you've decided to create, there's a mold for you. If there isn't for whatever reason, no sweat! You can always just create your own.

Candle making molds are a kind of container that you put your melted wax in to let it cool. Your wax, once cooled, will retain the shape and size of the mold you use, so choosing the proper mold for your project is essential. Molds can be made from a ton of unique materials and exist in all manners of shapes and sizes. They can be utilized for any number of purposes, too.

A type of mold that is particularly popular these days is the aluminum candle mold. Homemade candle makers appreciate aluminum molds for their durable and heat resistant qualities. They also cause the candle when finished to have a smooth, seamless finish, giving it the look of being made professionally. This kind of mold is used commonly in the creation of votive and pillar candles. Aluminum candle making molds are simple to clean and fairly inexpensive when compared to rubber molds.

There are, however, a few cons to using aluminum candle making molds. They are notoriously inflexible, so you have very little control over the size and shape of the candle made with an aluminum mold. If you would like flexibility in those aspects, you would be much better off with a rubber based mold.

There are various types of rubber making molds available. Polyurethane molds are just one example. They are flexible and less expensive than silicone candle making molds. But they also have some problems you will have to deal with when using them. For instance, they don't stretch well and they have a strong smell that could potentially be transferred to your candle. They also require you to use a releasing agent to remove your candle once it has finished hardening. These candle making molds, similar to aluminum molds, are used in the creation of pillar and votive candles.

Another material used in making rubber molds is silicone. These are expensive candle making molds, but their versatility and overall quality make up for the cost. This kind of mold does not leave seams in the candle, similar to aluminum molds, but unlike them, they are flexible and can be stretched, so you don't need a releasing agent to get your finished candle out of the mold.

If you are looking for something really inexpensive and simple to use while just starting out I would suggest plastic candle making molds. They don't really offer any flexibility and they don't stretch at all, but they're easy to clean, dirt cheap and relatively simple to use. Did I mention they were dirt cheap? The reason I said dirt cheap twice is because plastic candle molds tend to wear out really fast, so you'll actually have to buy them more often that the other kinds of mold.

I would not suggest using this kind of mold for anything but your initial projects. The ones where you're still learning and your candles are going to look kind of weird anyway. Once you get past that stage, please move on to one of the other kinds of candle making molds mentioned above. Your candles will appreciate it and so will the people who are receiving them.

Angelic is a homemade candle maker and an enthusiast of the craft. If you wish to learn more about candle making molds, please visit [http://candles.samuraiswordsonline.com]

More About Candle Making

Candles consist of solid blocks of petroleum, the source of its light and sometimes also the source of heat. Candle manufacturers are usually called chandlers. Numerous devices have created candle holders from elaborated chandeliers to simple tabletop candle containers.

In Christianity, candles are usually used for worship and for the ambience and decoration. It is also the symbol of the light of Christ, or the light of God. An altar candle is particularly located along the front part of the altar, and is commonly in pairs. Candles are carried during processions, particularly on the sides of the processional cross.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgical candle should be made of at least 51 percent beeswax while the remainder can be paraffin or several other substances. In Orthodox Church, a taper's offer must be 100 percent of beeswax. For this case, the base of flamed candles are commonly melted and saved in order to create new candles. In several Western Churches, a particular candle called the Paschal Candle exclusively represents the Resurrected Christ.

Making your own candle is not quite difficult. In fact this is also regarded as a craft or hobby. The first steps involved in making candles include steaming the block of wax. Then, the wax is boiled in a double boiler. Boiling wax through flames will create numerous problems. Wax has a flash point of 390 degrees Fahrenheit. In this temperature, it creates fumes or it even catches fire.

Significant candle making materials includes factors that affect the scent, color, wick and the wax. There are many kinds of waxes you can choose from, like a beeswax, candle and paraffin wax. Aside from this, there are several varieties that coincide with their MP values, depending on the values of steric and vybar contained in them.

The finest candle wax may burn or create fumes when it is heated to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to obtain the finest quality candle, it is essential that you choose excellent candle making crops. Candle making procedures can be turned into safer measures with the help of excellent candle making crops. These are widely available in the market and in some candle shops. If you want to try candle making using your hands, make sure you use the right materials that prevent accidental burns.

The most significant is the double boiler, aside from the candle making mechanisms. It is not safe to dissolve the wax directly onto the flame because it can produce or catch fire and fumes. The double boiler is the solution to this kind of problem. This is by letting the wax dissolve through the absorption of the heat from the water restrained in a smaller boiler.

Amateur wax makers can try an easier route. The different molds obtainable in some candle shops and markets can help make various kinds of candles. There are several flexible molds obtainable that can be handheld with so much ease. There are also innumerable varieties of molds that carry a lot of options for resourceful minds.

Numerous candle making equipments like dipping cans, pouring jugs are available in homes already. By recycling several of these used jugs or other containers; you can improvise and save more. Other candle making equipments like the mold stands and thermometers are also very significant in the process. These candle making molds can be obtained in glass, latex, metal, plastic and rubber. Thus, the molds used in making candles are also obtainable in various sizes and shapes. In fact, candle making molds can provide you with beautiful shapes for making candles.

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Candle Making Supplies

There are many different types of candle holders. Some types include a wall candle holder, wholesale candle holder, iron candle holder, modern candle holder, wedding candle holder, circle of friends candle holder, mosaic candle holder, and stained glass candle holder. And, a lot of us love to make candles. So how do you make candles? You need candle making supplies, and scents for scented candle making. Candle making business and the history of candle making goes way back in time. Candle making can be easy candle making, as easy as soap making. Candle making can be even more fun with candle molds and candle dipping.

A little about Hand Dipped Tapers. Tapers are one of the oldest forms of candles. These instructions will guide you through the process of making hand-dipped taper candles. Beeswax is often used for hand dipped tapers because it is a slow burning wax and the layers go on thicker, resulting in less dipping required to get a reasonably thick taper. Melted beeswax is thicker, or more viscous, than paraffin. Beeswax tapers may only require about 7-10 dips, while paraffin may require twice that many dips. And, while beeswax may cost a lot more than paraffin, the resulting tapers burn a bit longer than their paraffin counter parts. Paraffin can certainly be used to produce hand dipped tapers, and at a cost savings over beeswax. Paraffin will take a lot more dipping to achieve the desired thickness, but you can still get excellent results with paraffin. Straight paraffin of medium or high melting points is preferred.

Lower melting point paraffin's, such as those used to make container candles, should be avoided, as they just won't stand upt. Some medium melting point paraffins will also benefit from hardening additives to make the finished tapers more rigid. The most common hardener to achieve this is stearic acid, also called stearine. With paraffin, expect to dip about twice as many times as with beeswax, but you'll save a bit of money. Tapers made from beeswax will often develop something called "bloom" that gives them a bit of a rustic appearance. This is especially true of naturally colored beeswax (un-dyed). Adding fragrance to tapers is not effective in producing candles with scent throw while burning. For this reason, adding fragrance is discouraged. Beeswax tapers burn longer than paraffin. 100% Beeswax These burn a long time. They will require a larger wick, such as a #2/0 square braid. Beeswax is somewhat flexible, so it is best to leave these hanging in pairs to keep them straight. Likely to develop "bloom." Raw beeswax may give off a slight aroma. Layers build up quickly while dipping, meaning less work. 100% Paraffin High melting point paraffins can be used here to produce firm candles. Some medium melt point paraffins (around 140F melting point) will also work. Again, if the wax is a little flexible, try to keep them hung in pairs to keep them straight. Because straight paraffin is not that opaque, it is an excellent choice for achieving deep colors. A #4/0 square braid should work well for most tapers of 100% paraffin.

Candle Making Instructions: Set up a double boiler to melt and/or keep your wax heated. You'll want to station your dipping vat into a very large pot to act as a double boiler. Large stock pots work well as the outside vessel on a double boiler. If you have a dedicated wax melter, melt your wax before placing it into a double boiler. Use the double boiler to maintain the working temperature. The working temperature of the wax should be about 165 deg. F. Second, construct a rig to hold a length of wick. The length of wick will be about twice the length of a single taper. We'll be dipping the tapers in pairs. Do not try to make tapers taller than your dipping vat. We just used some coat hanger wire and a pair of pliers to make something that will hold the wick, and act as a handle while dipping. You can make a bunch of these and dip dozens of tapers in one setting. Third, each pair of tapers will need to be weighted with something initially. This keeps the wick straight or taught while dipping. We just used some handy nuts. You will cut the weights off of the wicks about midway through the process. Once the wicks have accumulated some wax on them, they'll stay straight on their own. Fourth, dip your tapers. Repeat as needed until you reach the desired thickness.

Allow minutes of cooling in between each layer of wax. Allow enough time between layers or the wax will begin to fall off the wick. The motion of dipping the tapers into the wax should be smooth and continuous. Do not pause while the tapers are submerged. Fifth, cut the weights off the bottom of the tapers, and continue to dip. When you've reached your desired thickness, simply hang your tapers up and allow them to cool. Notes: Your tapers will need to be to properly fit your taper holders, measure beforehand. Storage: It is best to leave your tapers hanging up in pairs for storage. It helps keep them straight until your ready to use them.

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Soy Candle Making - Two Simple Steps To Cut Through Your Competition

Making soy candles is a wonderful, creative hobby; in fact, it is so fun that it has become incredibly popular! There are so many people who make candles that the competition is getting tough, even for gifts. I certainly had gift competition this year - people gave Bluewick, Pacifica, and White Barn as gifts to the same people that were on my candle gift list. Luckily, I had a 'secret weapon,' which I'm going to teach you...

Whether you're making soy wax candles for personal use or to sell, you don't want to make the same thing as everybody else. You want candles that are unique and personal - the "you" brand! That's the secret weapon to making your candles stand out among all the rest.

If you don't know what your "you" brand is, don't worry. Chances are that you already have a unique take on candle making, but you just need some help bringing it to the surface. Here is a simple formula that can help you figure out what's unique about the candles you make.

Step One.

Ask yourself this: "What makes my candles different? Special? Unique?" Find as many possible answers to this question as you can, and write them down.

Any difference is fair game, no matter how small or slight. Do you use a special container? Special ingredients or dyes? Do you have something different about the process, such as making them without electricity? Perhaps your candles look the same as everyone else's, but that doesn't mean they *are* the same. After all, there is only one of you, and that means that there is definite potential for uniqueness.

If you've squeezed out every last drop of thought from your brain and still can't come up with anything, you're actually in a great position! It's an opportunity to use your innate creativity and start a new candle line. Give yourself permission to dream and experiment with different candle concepts - you will have a lot of fun and end up with a product that you are proud of.

Before going on to the next step, note that this process is *simple* but not *easy.* To answer the question "What makes my candles different from all the rest" requires looking at yourself, your existing products, and possibly your competition. The best unique points are those that no one can easily duplicate, because once someone starts doing what you're doing, it's no longer unique. It doesn't matter who got there first.

Step Two.

When you can say "I'm the only one who does ___," you are only halfway done. Next is a follow-up question that you must answer for each potential unique point: "Why does that matter? Why should people care about that?"

You'll find that some of your differences aren't really noteworthy. And you'll probably also find out that things that didn't seem important turned out to be your biggest asset! Distill your most important uniqueness and reason why it matters into a concise statement that goes like this example (which I obviously made up):

"Only my candles use Wild Mushroomika, a rare essence from the desert rainforests in China. This is significant because the scent of Wild Mushroomika is said to be 1000 times more relaxing than lavender and sends anyone to sleep within 7 seconds - even babies and insomniacs."

This step is especially important if you want to sell your candles. Unless your potential customers have been living in the wilderness for the past ten years, they are aware that they have choices. They know that you're not the only candle maker in the world, and they only have to go online (or even the grocery store!) to see possibilities.

Inside their heads, they'll be asking themselves, "Why should I buy these over any other option? What's so great about these particular candles? What makes this the best choice?" You have to respond with, "Because they're the only candles that ___, and you should care about that because ___."

Even if you don't sell candles, wouldn't it feel great to say, "I make candles myself because they're the only ones that ___, and that matters because ___"?

Of course, you can't please everyone. In the example above, only people who want to relax will be interested. Some people may avoid candles with Wild Mushroomika like the plague because they've just switched to decaf and are going around like zombies. Some may be violently allergic to herbal essences. Some may absolutely hate the scent and would rather smell old gym shoes than Wild Mushroomika.

Some people will be interested in your unique take on soy candles, and others will move on. Think of yourself as a lighthouse, and the people who could potentially want your candles as ships. Not everyone is going your way; you will never attract ships going in the opposite direction as you, but you can focus your beam so that the ships already headed in your direction can find you.

Katherine Durkes has written 4 ebooks on how to make bath & body, perfume, and home fragrance products. She is currently producing a home study course including a DVD about making soy container candles with your own unique twist. Learn more at [http://www.excellentlivingguide.com/make_soy_candles.html]

Essential Candle Making Tips to Make the Most Beautiful Candles!

There are several types of candles which are available. In fact if one does not want to buy them, they have an option of making them at home as well. The best part is that the materials are extremely easily available and the process is very simple too. There is a wide array of candles which one can make. All one needs to do is follow some simple candle making tips and steps along with a dash of creativity.

The first type of candles which one can try their hand at are gel candles. It consists of certain gelled mineral oils. The appearance of these candles are transparent and they look and feel very soft. Gel candles are usually placed inside a container. Apart from that there are container candles also which is a good option. Usually the latter is poured into a container like glass or heat which is heat resistant. One can burn the wick of the candle when one wants to use the candle.

Pillar candles are a variety that can be put into any kind of mold. After the formation of the candle, it is extracted from the container or mold. Usually the diameter can range from two to three inches with a single or multiple standing wicks. Votive candles are another attractive lot which are usually cylindrical and small. The diameter is usually 1 to 2 inches while the height is almost around 2.5 inches. The candle needs to be placed inside the votive candle holder for retention of the wax. This is undertaken for the liquefaction on lighting the candle.

One of the most common types of candle variety is taper candles. Thinner on the body, narrow at the top and wider along the base area are its main characteristics. The length is almost around six to eighteen inches in height and thus they are best utilized in a candle holder. Dinner candles are an alternative name for them.

Tea light candles are a popularly used candle for decoration and are small and cylindrical in size and shape. It is filled in a metal or plastic cup. While the diameter is approximately one to inches, the height is around 1- 1.5 inches. Floating candles is also a variety which is used for enhancing a bowl of water. The wax is poured into a mold which can be of any shape. The floating nature of these candles adds an elegant look.

Wick-less candles as the name suggests is without a wick. It is usually placed on top of a former, while the scent is emitted out of the same without a flame. It is normally poured into a heat resistant container.

These various types of candles can easily be made when one follows the below mentioned candle making tips. Some of them include the following:

The length and size of the wick is a function of the type of candle which one plans to make. Interestingly it has been noticed that the candle usually tends to melt faster with a larger wick. On the other hand the size of the wick should be in proportion to the size of the candle. In case of positioning of the wick, one would need to work with an approximate size initially. This is in accordance to the planned size of the diameter. Ensure that you use wicks which possibly have larger diameters and might not melt easily. Beeswax and paraffin wax are good examples. If you wish to have a straight candle in the central point of the candle, it is recommended that one can tie the end onto a stick which can be placed over the mold or container. In the event of using wax dye or color for the candles, one should avoid the colors which are utilized for soap or cosmetics. It leads to clogging of the wick. Use of concentrated solid or liquid colors is a good option. In the event of coloring melted wax, one should ascertain that the candle wax is basically opaque

These are some of the most essential candle making tips which one should bear in mind!

Lance is a candle making expert. For more great information on candle making, visit http://www.candlemakingtips.com.

Candle Making Business - Make it a Successful Business

Only experienced candle makers will tell you that there is a lot of fun in making candles. After perfecting your basic candle making technique, you can start to produce truly beautiful, high-quality candles. To have other appreciating your candle making techniques, you can give them away as gifts, or sell them for a profit. Now after perfecting your candle making techniques, remember not to quickly to turn your hobby of candle making into a candle making business.

Before you decide to give up your day job, you should take the time to learn about marketing, purchasing supplies at the lowest possible cost, customer service tactics (as your customers are your business), and learning how much you should charge for your candles. If you set your price too high, no one will buy them, if you don't charge enough, you won't be able to recoup your costs, and won't earn a profit. Candles are very popular everywhere, especially those decorative and scented candles which are widely marketable. Now you need to let people know that you have supplies of candles for sale.

Advertisement is the quickest way to let the market know that your candle making business exists. There are many ways on selling your candles such as treating it as a home business, from a brick and mortar store, mail order, online through a website, eBay, etc.

You have to decide which method work best for you to sell your candles. After that, it would be time to start advertising your business that suits your platform. If you are starting a home business, then you would want to advertise in the local newspapers, fliers with special offers. Consignments supplies in gift shops and convenient stores can bring a consistent demand for your candles. Make your presence in local trade shows and craft centers would certainly help. You can check out ongoing events in your area via the internet.

You probably need to consider selling your candles online as another avenue. To have your business online you need to learn online advertising which you can do yourself otherwise engage some experts to do it for you. Online advertisement can be expensive. Some of the upfront cost are website development service charges, payment options hosting fees etc.

Another avenue for selling your candles is on online auction sites such as eBay. You will need to take good pictures of your candles, and put up some good descriptions of them. Once you establish your reputation in candle making as a business, you will really start seeing the orders coming in. To be really successful in your candle making business, you need to know how to price your candles. Your sales of candles will have to cover all your outgoings such the cost of your supplies, internet fees, etc., plus turning some sort of profits for yourself. However, you need to try out, first making some errors then seeing what is right for you. There is no quick rule here.

Once you know about the pricing, advertising, etc., now you have to just provide high-quality products providing value to your customers. This will be the key to your candle making as a business , and once you master this, you stand to have a long-term candle making as a business that will make you a nice yearly income, all from doing something that you love.

K Amber
Candle Making great resources. You find valuable Candle Making Tips to put your candle making business onto a success road
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Candle Making Molds

The different types of candle making molds that are available to buy to make candles at home are almost as endless and the amount of different candles out there. It is realistic to think that with such a popular hobby like candle making and the popularity of people buying candles for their homes, there would be a lot of different types of candle making molds available on the market.

A candle mold is a container that the wax is poured into while it cools. The wax will hold the shape of the mold when it has cooled completely. Candle molds are made out of a variety of materials, sizes, shapes, and styles. They also offer a variety of different uses. Aluminum molds are a very popular type of mold candle makers use. They are durable and heat resistant. Plus, they leave a smooth finish without leaving any seams in the finished candle. This gives the candles the appearance of being professionally made. These types of metal molds are widely used in making votive and pillar candles. They are also inexpensive when compared to rubber molds. A plus about aluminum molds is that they are easy to clean. All you need to do is to put them on a baking sheet in your oven. By placing them upside down and heating them to about 150 degrees the leftover wax will milt and run out of the mold onto the cookie sheet. Just remember to line your cookie sheet. The down side to aluminum molds is that they are not flexible so there are very little choices when it comes to varying the shapes or textures of the candles and that they require a releasing agent to get the candle out of the mold.

On the other hand, rubber molds like polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are very flexible. Polyurethane molds are flexible but they do not stretch well. They are usually a little bit cheaper then silicone molds. Unfortunately, they have a strong odor that may be able to be passed along in your candle and they will need a releasing agent to get the candle out of it. Often times pillar and taper candles are made from these types of molds. Silicone molds are another type of rubber mold. They are the most expensive molds because of their outstanding qualities. They leave no parting lines, they are flexible but also stretchable to a point so getting the candles out of the molds is easier and requires no releasing agent. Although latex molds used to be used very often, with the advances in other types of rubber molds they are loosing their luster. But, it is very easy to make your own molds at home by using liquid latex and painting it onto a structure at home. This process requires a lot of coats of latex but, the options of different types of unique molds are endless.

Plastic candle molds are the cheapest but they are not always the best. They have a shorter lifespan then the rest because they are more brittle. On the plus side, plastic molds are easy to clean. All you need to use is some warm water and a little soap. Just make sure that the mold is completely dry before you use it again or you will get water bubbles in your candles. They are good molds for beginners but if you were to take your candle making hobby into the next level and turn it into a business you are probably going to have to invest in different types of molds.

Holly M Jordan is a candle making expert. For more great information on Candle making molds, visit http://www.how-to-make-candles.com

Let's Find A Candle Making Course

If you have never made candles at home before, it might be a good idea for you to take a candle making course. When you decide to make candles on your own, it can take a long time learning all the various facets of candle making and the many different techniques there are in the art of candlemaking. A candle making course can be very beneficial because it could be less complicated and speedier for you to pick up all the tips and information that you can learn rather than learning by trial and error.

There are a lot of kinds of candle making courses and you should be able to locate a class that will teach you the history of candle making, the different kinds of candles, the different waxes that are used in candle making, different types of wicks, and all about the equipment and supplies you will need. The teacher of the candle making course will be an knowledgeable candle maker and very happy to share all the tips and secrets that they have learned over their years of candle making.

It doesn't matter whether you are a novice at candlemaking or have moderate to experienced skills, you should be able to find a candlemaking course to fit your needs. Check out your local community colleges, your local library, community organizations and local newspapers for potential candle making courses. Even the craft stores that carry candlemaking supplies may conduct classes or know of someone that you can contact that conducts candlemaking courses. You might even be able to find someone that will teach you the craft of candlemaking on a one-to-one basis. It is likely that you will be able to locate a candle making course that accommodates your skills and budget.

It is possible to find candle making courses that concentrate on a particular type of wax in making your candles or there are courses that will show you the different types of waxes utilized in candle making. That way you can determine which type of wax suits your needs and the types of candles you are interested in creating. You can also find a candle making course that will instruct you on a particular method for producing different textures with candle wax. There are dipped, poured, sculpted or gel candles and you will want to learn the different methods of making these types of candles. You can learn how to create scented candles and use embeds to make decorative candles.

So, to make your candlemaking an enjoyable experience, it is wise to consider taking a candle making course [http://www.candles-supplies.net] to learn the basic skills or to become more proficient in your candle making [http://www.candles-supplies.net/candlemaking-kits.htm].

Soy Candle Making Supplies - Chandler Fun

Before the invention of electric lights, homemade candles provided light for the evening hours. Candles were made of tallow rather than wax. They did not burn as clean as today's candles, but were still better than the other lighting alternatives. Today, you can use soy candle making supplies to enjoy a hobby or to create beautiful and useful gifts for friends and family.

Soy wax is the major component of candles. It is economical and has a burn life that is longer that other candle waxes. Soy wax doesn't smoke and doesn't sputter and spit. Soy wax comes from the soybean, so it is environmentally friendly. A combination of soy wax and beeswax makes an even better product for the chandler who produces candles as a hobby.

The wick is the part of the candle that holds the flame. Environmentally friendly candle wicks are available in 100 percent cotton and in cotton with a core of hemp. These wicks are firm, so that they will stand up. The wicks with a core of cotton reduces the amount of carbon. A hot flame leaves very little ash or carbon residue. Some candles don't use a wick at all.

Color pigment can be added to the candle during the melted wax stage. The dyes can also be used during the dipping process. Choosing the amount of dye helps you to regulate the intensity of the color. Liquid dye and color blacks or buttons can be melted and mixed with the hot wax. Pigments are available in gels, liquids and solid wax. Larger amounts of pigment can be melted and used when you create dipped candles or layered candles for sculpting.

If you want your candles to release wonderful scents into the room, add them to the liquid wax. Use can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the candle. Floral, musk and spicy scents are popular choices to freshen up a room as the candle warms.

Some chandlers prefer to use jars for holding the candles. These jars can be purchased online. Other candle makers like to use household containers of various types. It's better to gain a little experience with making candles at home before you get too adventuresome with large candles. The candle jars that are available online come in attractive gift sizes and shapes. They only require imagination in choosing colors and scents for your candles.

A chandler with experience may enjoy creating imaginative candles in various shapes using unusual molds. Candle molds are available as flowers, animals, and whimsical creatures. You can use rectangular molds to create a base for a large sculpted candle. You are only limited by your imagination.

By choosing soy candle making supplies, you will not only have a clean and long-burning candle, but it will last much longer than a candle of equivalent size, but made of paraffin or beeswax. Imagination in mixing shapes, sizes, colors and scents make the variety of candle possibilities almost endless. You can make unusual gifts for all of your friends and never run out of ideas.

Chris Taylor is a candle making expert. For some more great information on soy candle making supplies, visit http://www.BestCandleMakingSecrets.com.

Candle Making Equipment

Aspiring candle makers have three candle making methods to choose from. You can make them from 'scratch', use wax crystals, or utilize the new gel candle method. This article describes the equipment needed to make candles.

The best quality candles are made from raw paraffin which comes in one or ten pound slabs. Color, luster, hardener, and scent are added to the wax before pouring.

Stearine, the ingredient which hardens the paraffin, comes in powder form, as do the luster crystals. Opaque crystals impart a glossy sheen to the candle. Clear crystals are used to make glow candles luminescence.

There are two types of wicks available in three sizes for candles one inch to six inches in diameter. Use the wick size suitable for the diameter of candle you are making. The two types of wick are braided and wire core. Use braided wicks for dipped and free standing candles and wire core for container candles.

Wick anchors are used to hold the wick secure to the bottom of container candles. The wick is inserted in to hole in the center of the anchor, and the tabs pressed down securely with a screwdriver. The tabs may be reused.

Raw paraffin is white. You must add dye to get colored candles. There are many colors to choose from, so you can make the candle just about any color you desire. Dye cakes are divided into six squares. Each square will dye about five pounds of wax.

Candle scents are also packaged in squares which are divided into six wafers. The individual wafers will perfume about five pounds of wax. More or less to your desire.

A newer and easier method of making candles is to use wax crystals. Wax crystals are packaged in twelve ounce bags, and are the consistency of sand. They can be melted, like paraffin, or poured into a heat resistant container and used as is for easy wax crystal candles. All ingredients have been added, so all you have to do is scent them.

To make molded and container candles melt the crystals in plastic boil bags, add fragrance, and pour into a container or mold of your choice.

Use the same wicks, wick anchors, scents, and molds for these candle as described for the paraffin candles.

Gel candles are the newest innovation in candle making. A heat resistant kitchen pan is used to melt the gel. The gel melts at a lower temperature and in less time than wax crystals or wax. Melt the gel and pour into a container. These candles cannot be used in a mold. Clean up the gel with ammonia.

Like any other hobby, candle making has its own specialized tools and equipment. To make molded and container candles, you will need something to melt the wax in. Use two metal sauce pans - one must be small enough to fit inside the other. Water is placed in the large pan, wax in the inner smaller one. Place on the kitchen range and boil the water in the large pan until the wax is melted. Boil bags may also be used to melt the wax. These are filled with wax and placed in a water filled sauce pan and boiled until the wax is melted.

Specialized molds for candle making are heat resistant plastic or metal material. There are many shapes and sizes available including cylinder, round, votive, and floaters. Containers for candles can be of any heat resistant material. You may use metal, glass, or ceramic containers for your candles.

You will also need a soft wooden strip, like balsa, and a pin. This is used to secure the wick at the top of the container or mold.

Candle making is a fun craft. Using wax crystals, wicks and an assortment of containers you can easily make your own candles. Or, use slabs of parafin wax to create unique candles of your own design.

© 2006 Paul Wonning is the owner of Gardens and Nature.com a web site about gardening, hiking and other nature related topics.

Our blog about gardening is located here =>Hoosier Hurricane - Blog about Gardening [http://hoosierhurricane.blogspot.com/index.html]

Making Candles at Home - Tips in Candle Making and Making Money Out of It

Putting up a candle making business can be a profitable home business, as you can make your own candles at home, make your own designs and of course, mix your own fragrance for a scented candle. If you are interested in making candles at home, read on for tips and useful things that you can use in your candle making.

Candle making can be easy but there are also little things that can make your candle making fail. Although you can do a little trial and error in making candles at home, it is a good advantage however to know some tips that will help you succeed in your candle making ventures. 

Here are some of them that you might find useful.

- Start small. You may have some big ideas in mind but it is wise to start small while you are still familiarizing with everything. You can also learn the tips and techniques little by little in making candles at home. Of course, the better you can become with the process, the easier it would be for you to make complex candle designs. You may also start from simple materials to save costs.

- Glue your wick to the bottom of your container. This will help keep your wick on the center while you pour out the wax on the mold. You can also tie the wick to a stick of pencil on top of the container to make it steady while the wax cools. It is important to make sure that your wick is straight so that you will also have a straight burn.

- Make sure that you choose a wick that is just right in size in proportion to your candle. Of course, the diameter of your light will depend on the size of your wick but the softness or hardness of your wax also matters, so make sure you make these factors into consideration in making your candles. If you have a wick that is not proportional to your candle size, it may lead to a large crater developing near the wick when your candles burn. 

- Cut your wick shorter if you don't want your candle to give off too much smoke. If you want a candle that gives off white smoke instead of black, you can also go for soy wax candles which are environmentally friendly ones. In stead of paraffin, you will be using soy wax for these types of candles but the candle making process is basically the same with the regular ones.

- Consider quality in your candle making materials. The materials for candle making may be generally affordable and inexpensive but if you settle with low quality materials such as your wax, you will most likely end up with a low quality candle as well.

Of course, you may not be able to perfect the candle making process the first time you work on it. It takes time indeed and with good practice and with some tips and great resources, you will eventually do good in making candles at home and make a good business out of it.

Carolyn Anderson makes money online in many ways. If you want to learn candle making from soy, check out Guide To Soy Candlemaking. Also check out Secrets To Successful Candle Making, where you find the best tips in making the great candles for your business.

Types of Candle Making Wax

Due to the inevitable demands of candle making, candle making wax paved the way for its betterment, availability and diversity than ever before. More and more people are experimenting and searching for the new things for their candle wax since it is the main constituent in candle making.

One of the most popular components that can be found in candle that we're using nowadays that's coming from petroleum is the paraffin wax. Paraffin wax can be commonly seen in most of the candles because of its accessibility and inexpensiveness. Waxes can be coming from vegetable or plant resources like bayberry, soy and palm which are refined naturally. Among the three natural wax, soy based wax has been astonishingly populous because hydrogenating soybeans were processed to make it appropriate for candles. Since it is naturally made, soy wax has eco-friendly renewable resources. It is the pride of the United States that majority of the soybeans which is the basic component in candle making are grown in its well-known states like Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. In line with other renewable and natural resources is the palm wax. One of the disadvantages of the increasing popularity of the palm wax in specific countries like Indonesia and Malaysia is that due to palm plantations they were reimbursing the huge part of rainforest. As we all know it is very demoralizing to our ecosystem because we are about to compromise the inhabitants in danger of its extinction like rhinoceroses, orangutans and Sumatran tiger. Luckily one of the organization was founded RSPO to define and develop the best practices in sustaining palm cultivation, which is the WWF or also known as the World Wide Fund of Nature. This organization helps its members in implementing and verifying the procedures. In buying palm wax, be sure that you are choosing the product that achieved through a very eco-friendly method.

Another material used for making candles is animal based wax or the beeswax. Different companies offered candles that are made from palm, bayberry and beeswax. Due to the mounting interest in creating candles out of these natural products, the demands of beeswax that is available in white and yellow gradually increase. Regardless of its price, because it is quite expensive compared with other natural products the pleasant fragrance it brought, the burning sensation that is truly magnificent and the durability of the product compensate its price.

Most people are trying to create new candles in a new-fangled. They introduce candles made from gel or also known as the gel candles. It is lucid and rubbery in texture but works exactly the same as wax. Gel wax comes in three different densities. Each density mainly depends on the amount of fragrance you wish to obtain. If you desire to use 0-3% fragrance low density gel which can be transferred at lower temperature suits best. If you choose to use 3-5% fragrance medium density gel fits perfectly. It is said to be the most well-liked gel wax to use. For the heavier amount of fragrance, using of high density gel wax is advisable.

The use of different types of wax mainly depends on the candle maker which they think will be the best for them. The basic understanding on each type of wax is necessary for them to be able to completely know-how every single details of candle making for them to achieve the satisfaction that they are looking for.

Karren Rounds is a researcher/writer and a nature lover. She loves writing articles in various topic regarding health, family, hobbies, pets and animals. Find out more by reading her newly informational articles regarding Candle Making [http://candlemakingsecrettips.com/candle-making-wax/] and know the Secret Tips of Candle Making [http://candlemakingsecrettips.com/candle-making-wax/].

The Art of Candle Making - All About Soy Candles

This article gives you an introduction into using soy wax for your candle making, some of the benefits, some disadvantages and how it isn't that different from any other wax that you may have used.

So if you are looking for a natural wax for your candle making, then soy wax is your choice.

Made from the soybean this wax is not only more cost effective than paraffin wax, it is a renewable resource and is environmentally friendly.

These days there are a lot of products being made out of the soy bean. The soybean has also been a source of protein for people for thousands of years.

You can find soy in a lot of cleaning products as well as body and skin care products. The soy bean definitely is versatile!

People are looking to use natural waxes in their candle making, but soy wax isn't the first natural wax that has been around. People have been using natural waxes such as beeswax as well as tallow since the colonial times.

Using beeswax is another great natural wax that you could use instead of paraffin wax, but to get the same results as soy would be very costly.

Soy candles can last up to three times longer than paraffin based candles, with the benefits of no black soot.

Some people claim that soy candles produce no soot, but no candle can be soot free, they do produce more of white looking soot, but natural candles do have less soot than petroleum based candles.

Making candles with soy wax is almost identical as using any other waxes. The main difference is the temperature that it takes to melt soy wax is lower than paraffin or beeswax.

You can use a double boiler to melt the wax. A double boiler is a large pot full of water that is placed on the stovetop, while the container that you melt the wax in is placed into the pot with the water.

The soy wax melting temperature is between 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but be careful not to keep the melted wax above 150 degrees for too long because it could burn which will give the wax a yellowish appearance.

Once the wax is fully melted, you can then add the dye to produce the color that you are after. You can then remove it from the heat and add the fragrance. It is best to use 7% fragrance by weight.

That simply means that for every one pound of wax, you can use 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil. If the fragrance concentration is too high, it may bleed through the candle.

Another difference between soy waxes and other waxes is soy wax is softer so it is not suitable for some types of candles.

You wouldn't want to try to make pillar candles unless you use an additive to make the soy wax a little harder. Soy wax isn't recommended for taper candles either.

But if you are after a cheaper alternative that can produce some great results, as well as being environmentally friendly, then use soy wax for your candle making.

Although I have only been making candles since early 2011, I have found them fascinating, and am enjoying the craft immensely.

The first time I made a candle was helping my daughter for a school project, and now I have found a passion for finding out as much information, and helping others by providing information about candle making.

You would think that candle making would be a straight forward process but there is a lot you can learn.

For some more information and tips about candle making, you can visit my site Crafty Candle Making

Candle Making Molds - Commercial or Home Made?

Candle making is an old art, or should we say 'olde' because the word 'mould' is the Olde English way of saying the more modern word 'mold'. In current times, candle making is still very popular. Candle making moulds are part of the craft and art of candle making.

Candles provided a source of light long ago and were made from tallow or animal fats mixed with other chemicals and poured into the molds. Modern candles use different types of moulds, depending on the type of candle a person is trying to make. Different candle moulds give candles different effects.

There are three types of candles usually made. Taper candles are made by having a wick dipped repeatedly into melted wax until the wick is heavily coated and becomes the candle. Some candles are poured into containers such as glass jars, and a wick is added to the cooling wax. The candle is burned right inside the container. Other candles require a candle making mould that the melted wax is poured into and allowed to cool inside. Later, the mould is peeled away or the wax separated from the mould using a separating agent.

Candle making molds can be made from metal, rubber and plastic, or even glass. Rubber and plastic are preferred because they are easy to manufacture and can thus be designed into many different shapes. Their flexibility allows them to be pulled from candles very easily, especially those that have intricate design shapes.

Metal candle moulds have a longer life than rubber and plastic or latex moulds, but can still be dented. They also don't come in as many shapes, nor do their glass counterparts. Glass moulds leave a glossy and perfect finish on the final candle's surface, but this means there won't be much room to add details or a pattern.

Home made candle moulds can be made out of almost anything. The more common home made moulds are made from waxy cardboard, usually used to hold chips in a tube, or that come with Chinese take-out dishes. Once these are cleaned out of food residue, a pencil or Popsicle stick is spread across the opening, and a wick is hung from it. Hot wax is poured into the container and allowed to set for several hours. When the candle is solid, the mould can be peeled away.

Egg shell candles offer a unique opportunity when it comes to making candles. Be sure to crack the egg closer to an end of the egg shell rather than in the middle. The egg shell must be thoroughly cleaned out if it is going to be used as a candle making mould. Egg shell candles do not hold a lot of wax but the effect as they burn down inside the candle is beautiful, as the egg shells remain on the candle and aren't pulled away.

Making candles is a practiced art as well as a hobby or craft that anyone can do. Using the right kinds of candle making moulds, home made candles can be just as beautiful or elegant as those bought at a store or made by a professional. Making something yourself is always more fulfilling.

Chris Taylor is a candle making expert. For some great information on candle making molds, visit http://www.BestCandleMakingSecrets.com.