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.
Download your free guide to starting your own CANDLE MAKING BUSINESS at: www.publishingcircles.com/candle_making_business.html
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