Making Gel Candles

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Bring the joy of candling making into your home with the southern hospitality and homestead charm the West ladies bring to this entertaining and instructive film. The Art of Candle Making is full of special techniques, artistic flair, and family unity sure to cultivate beauty, joy, and ambience in your home.

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Making Unity Candles

Unity candles are often a very important part of traditional wedding ceremonies. This candle is a symbol of the union both families. The ceremony involves the bride and groom each lighting a taper candle with a large column candle in the middle. Once they have lit their taper candles, the bride and groom light the column with the flames form the tapers.

It is very simple to make these beautiful candles. By making them, you can personalize the message the message on the column candle for those getting married. The message can be a poem, Biblical scripture, or even a photo of the couple getting married.

Making the taper candles is very simple. It involves the hand dipping process. You will dip the two wicks over and over again in the hot wax until the taper candles are the desired width. After they have completely cooled you can trim the wick to ¼ inch of the top of the candle.

To make the column candle you will need to use a candle mold. Simply heat the wax and pour it into the mold until it completely cools. Prior to pouring the wax into the mold you will need to insert the wick from the bottom of the mold. Cut the wick several inches longer so that you can tie it to a pencil or other object. This will keep the wick centered while the candle is cooling.

After the column candle has cooled, you can place a poem, saying, photo, or even a wedding invitation to the candle using double stick tape or a glue gun. For a beautiful effect, consider cutting the attachment in an oval shape using the scissors that will leave a ridge all the way around the attachment.

To add beauty and appeal to the unity candles, you can make bows for them out of the wedding colors. For best results, use a piece of wire for each candle. Twist the wire in the front gently so you don’t damage the candles but enough to hold it securely in place. Don’t worry about the wire being seen as the beautiful bows will cover it up.

You will want to find some very pretty taper candle holders for these precious unity candles. Generally, the column candle will sit on a matching flat candle holder, similar to a small plate.

With the overall expense of a wedding, creating your own unity candles or allowing a friend or family member to do so as a gift will save you plenty. There are many great books available in craft stores and some bridal shops that provide step by step instructions for creating your own unity candles. The internet also offers great ideas and tips for making the process fun. Creating quality candles doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult.

The unity candle ceremony is an important part of many wedding ceremonies. You can provide the bride and groom with a wonderful trio of candles for their ceremony that they will treasure forever. The ability to add a personalized attachment to the column candle is a great incentive for making them yourself. Making additional column candles for the parents of the bride and groom or the wedding party is a great gift idea as well. You can place them in gift bags with bows that match the colors of the wedding.

Candle Making Basics

The use of candles for light and heat is known to have existed in ancient times. The remains of candles have been found in the caves of France. It is believed that cavemen used them while painting and etching on the walls. It is believed those candles where made out of animal fat. The Egyptians used candles as well by dripping beeswax onto leave stems. The burning process of a candle involves the four basic elements of matter which are solids, liquids, gas, and plasma.

Today candle making is a fun hobby or craft. For some, it is a very profitable business venture. Candle making provides you with they ability to create wonderful designs and crafts out of your candles. There is no limit to the shapes, sizes, and colors you can make your candles in. A candle is a device to provide light or fragrance. Candles have become very popular for the wonderful aromas more than for their ability to produce light. Some candles give off a popular smell such as vanilla or jasmine. Others smell like a chocolate cake or cinnamon rolls.

The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax. It can also be made out of beeswax. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that comes from plants. This wax can be purchased from Petroleum Refinery or the Specialty Wax Processor. Beeswax is also considered a natural wax, and is taken from honeybees. This is the substance the bees use to construct their honeycombs. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but also very powerful. Sometimes candle makers will use a wick that is wider than normal to increase the size of the flame.

Safety is a very important part of candle making. The temperature of the hot wax can result in severe burns. There is also the risk of fire. Make sure your candle making area is set up properly and that you have a fire extinguisher in the area. Clean up spills quickly as they will become very slick, leading to falls if you walk across them.

To make candle making fun instead of frustrating, start will making simple candles. This is a great opportunity for you to discover what works well with your set up and gives you the chance to make necessary changes. Initially, work at implementing good safety habits and melting your wax at the proper temperatures. You will also want to experiment with your cooling process. Once you have these areas down, you will start to relax and the process will become more natural to you. This is the right time to start experimenting with dyes, scents, and shapes for your candles.

The candle making process is easy to follow if you take your time and learn from your mistakes. Those who are impatient and take multitasking to an extreme will most likely not enjoy the art of candle making. However, it is very enjoyable by those who have plenty of time to take with the process and who enjoy creating things. Candle making supplies aren’t expensive so use the best you can. This will also help ensure your candles form well and burn properly.

Ajello Candles

The motto of the Ajello Candle Company is “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. This candle making company has been in business since 1775. The business has been family owned for seven generations. The candles from Ajello’s are well known for their beauty and quality. While they make more candles now than in 1775, their dedication to quality and to customers has never changed.

The Ajello Candle Company was founded by Rafael Ajello, an Italian painter. He was also a beekeeper, so he tried his hand at using bees wax to create candles. He worked hard to create a formula that worked well. The formula, combined with his outstanding artistic ability, lead to the birth of the Ajello Candle Company. In 1785, the company earned the honor of creating all the candles for the Vatican. He and his wife ran the business, keeping their children involved in the processes from an early age. As time went on, their children and grandchildren kept the business running as well as passed the family business on to their children.

By 1862, the company had established itself as a leader among the candle making industry. They had also added perfumes and many colors to their line of outstanding candles. The decided to extend the business to Manhattan, New York. In both places, the business prospered. Kings and aristocrats in Italy wanted the services of the Ajello Candle Company. They designed candles for weddings, funerals, and ceremonies. They made the candles for the inauguration of the King of Spain in 1876, Pope Pius IX in 1878, and Pope Leo in 1902. Hollywood stars and rich people in Beverly Hills California wanted the candles from the Ajello Candle Company as well. Candles were also ordered by President Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, and Rudolph Valentino.

In 1922, the Ajello Candle Company made a memorial candle for their deceased friend Enrico Caruso. This candle was 18 feet tall and weighed more than a ton. It is estimated this candle could burn 24 hours a day for 1,800 years before running out of wax. This enormous memorial candle remains the largest one ever made in the world. Each year it is lit twice to honor the day Enrico Caruso was born and the day he died.

The Ajello Candle Company continued to grow and sells were well beyond anticipated both in Italy and the United States. In 1953 the company was asked to create 2,200 candles for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. The company was honored to meet the request, and had all the candles ready in six months. The Ajello Candle Company was approached to be bought out, but refused. The family wanted their candle business to remain just that, not a major corporation.

Despite the creative efforts of the Ajello Candle Company, they were not able to meet the demand for their candles in 1965 during the blackout in New York City. The age of computers has found the Ajello Candle Company offering candles via the internet. Ironically, as Rafael Ajello worked around the clock to make candles for this need, his wife was giving birth to their child at a hospital scrambling to find candles for her room.

The Ajello Candle Company is still going strong today, offering quality candles that are beautiful as well as made of the best quality products. These candles can be purchased in many specialty stores throughout the world as well as on the internet in the comfort of our homes. This candle making business has spanned many generations, yet continues to hold the traditions and values of Rafael Ajello who started this business more than two centuries ago.

Anyone who has access to the internet should take a look at www.ajellocandles.com. Your breath will be taken away at the gorgeous candles there. I have never seen such beautiful wedding candles or unique decorating candles. I have seen a lot of candles, and I was very impressed. While Ajello Candle Company has made many custom candles for celebrities and royalty, they are very willing to do it for you as well. Simply select what you want and they will provide you with the best quality candles ever made.

Jump Start Your Candle Making Hobby With Candle Making Kits

Ready to start making your own candles, but you just don't have the time to research all of the steps, types of candle waxes, wicks before you begin making your first candle? Don't despair and give up on your new found hobby. Candle supply manufactures have started offering candle making kits.

The kit comes with all of the necessary tools and supplies to begin making your first candle today. There are many different types of candle making kits available. From kits for adults to kits for children. Always supervise you kids when they are making a candle, they will be working with hot wax that they can easily burn themselves.

Here are some of the more popular kits to consider when selecting your first kit.

Gel Candle Making Kit

Gel candles have become very popular because the gel wax is clear. You can get very creative with your gel candle and embed all sorts of colorful items that make your candle uniquely yours. Be cautious that the stuff you select to embed in the candle does not burn up while the gel wax is hot.

I once saw gel candle that looked like an aquarium. The candle was cast in a clear glass container. At the bottom of the candle was had a sandy brown look to it. The middle part was colored a light blue to give it a water like look to it. They even put a metal fish in the candle! It was set off center so that it would not interfere with the burning of the candle.

Look for a kit that contain at least five pounds of gel wax, wicks with metal plate attached to the bottom, three to four different fragrances and one dye color.

Soy Candle Kits

Soy candles are becoming every popular because when they are burned they produce very little soot and smoke. Soy wax is made from soybeans. Thus they are considered environment friendly and a sustainable candle making product.

Look for a kit that contain at least two pounds of soy candle wax, 1/2 dozen wicks, two different fragrances and one dye color.

Paraffin Candle Kits

Most commercially manufactured candles are made from paraffin wax. The wax is refined from crude oil. Paraffin candles have a tendency to smoke and produce more soot especially if the candle has a high fragrance load or a lot of dye in it.

Look for a kit that contain at least five pounds of wax, pillar candle molds, a dozen or more pre tabbed wicks, four different fragrance oils and three different dyes.

Browse the local hobby shops and the internet and you will find a lot of different specialty candle making kits available. Candle making doesn't need to be a difficult and complex hobby. These candle kits make it very easy to get started. In next to no time you will be show casing your lovely hand crafted candles to family and friends.

Once you have gotten comfortable in making candles from a kit, extend your skills by learning how to make scented candles by visiting http://www.candlemakinghome.com.

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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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Natural Soy 444 Wax: 10 pound bag

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Making Chunk Candles

Chunk candles add a great alternative to the standard pillar candle of yesterday. These colorful candles add a vibrancy and life to them. Looking at chunk candles, they appear to be very difficult to make. However, just the opposite is true. In fact, many candle makers claim they are easier to make than basic pillar candles. This is because pillar candles have to be perfectly smooth. If they aren’t, it is easy to see the visual defect. Such blemishes aren’t visible in chunk candles. While chunk candles aren’t recommended as a beginner project, they can be made once you know the basics of the candle making process.

There are two phases to making chunk candles. To make the process easier, it is recommended that you keep the two separate. Attempts to cut corners often result in chunk candles that are of poor quality and don’t burn well. The first phase of the project is making the chunks. The second is the process of turning those chunks into gorgeous candles. Some individuals choose to purchase pre-cut chunks at craft stores or online.

To make your candles their prettiest, select colors that compliment each other. To start making the color chunks, spray a cookie sheet with a non-stick cooking spray. You only want a thin film on the cooking sheet. After the wax you are using has completely melted, add a color to it as well as any fragrance you want. Pour the mix onto the cookies sheet. Fill the sheet to the level you want the depth of your candle chunks to be.

Keep an eye on the cooling color chunks. Once it is the consistency of cookie dough you will want to use a sharp utility knife to cut it into chunks. Allow the chunks to continue cooling. If you are making several colors of chunks you can mix them together or leave them separate. Some people choose to let the colors mix together on their own while others like to create a design by adding the amount of each color they want.

Using the same molds that are used for pillar candles, insert your candle wick through the bottom of the candle mold. Fill the mold loosely with color chunks. You can put one color on the bottom with another color on top or even layers of three colors. You can also use only one color. The choice is all yours. Do not stack as many chunks as you can in the mold or the candle won’t form properly. Just toss them in and let them lay where they end up.

You are now ready to pour the melted wax over the color chunks. It is recommended that you do leave the melted wax colorless, but some people choose to add a light color to tint it and add a uniqueness to their chunk candles. As the candle cools, the chunks will adhere to together with the hot wax. Once the molds cool the chunk candles should slide out with ease.

Making chunk candles is really quite simple if you have the basic candle making concepts under your belt. These candles add flare to any décor as well as make great gifts. They are a bit more time consuming to make since you will be making your color chunks, but well worth the results. Remember that you can purchase color chunks to save you time. That is a great option for someone who plans to make large quantities of chunk candles.

For those who want to get even more creative, consider using embeds on the sides. You can place them in the candle molds first. They will stay in place once you put the chunks in the mold. You can adjust the embeds as needed prior to adding the hot wax to the mold. There are excellent books available on the various patterns and embeds you can add to make specific chunk candles. There are also great pictures and step by step instructions available on the internet.

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Aromatherapy Candle Making

The fragrant type of candles are extremely popular right now? This is because of the mood that is instantly produced just by lighting an aromatic candle. Because the world is a stressful place, men and women want to spend their time at home relaxing in an ambiance that is both inviting and invigorating. People buy perfumed candles to transport themselves to a tropical island where wild flowers are abundant.There's a holistic custom of improving your well being that supports the use of aromas to ease anxiety. Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that's applied in today's world. The essential plant oils are the secrets behind these powerful, rejuvenating fragrances. Besides essential oils, aromatherapy involves the use of other natural materials such as vegetable extracts, honey, herbs, milk, sugars and natural clay. The perfume stimulates mental activity and triggers a response depending on the fragrance that is inhaled. Is your business mind telling you something? You should be able to profit from this human need to be comforted by scent.

One of the most gratifying things about creating scented candles is the fact that people use these to improve the vibe of their rooms. Possibly you even keep a supply of handmade scented candles in your bathroom and you light one when you need to loosen up your psyche while you are taking a bath.

Aromatic Therapy and Your Well-Being

Begin Crafting Aromatherapy Candles

The primary thing you need to do is to gain knowledge of the fundamentals of candle production. One particular detail to pay attention to is the kind of wax you are using. Soy wax and beeswax are the topmost choices for aromatherapy candle making.

You can use waxes with all natural raw components for better smell. The gentle yet special scent of soy wax can add to the fragrance of your scented candle. Bee's wax naturally has a sweet honey scent that adds to the fragrance of your fundamental oils. Some people use Paraffin waxes for creating perfumed candles but soybean wax and beeswax are more appealing for holistic aromatherapy because of the natural raw material.

Only when you have a wax type in mind can you start planning your aromatherapy candle business. You can use a motif for manufacturing and selling your candles, like the different seasons. You can also create candles based on the kind of market you're targeting. If you need to appeal to women who are on the go, you can produce candles that energize the senses like mint or eucalyptus fragrant candles.

Floral kinds of candles and those that call to mind the feeling of being in a sultry paradise like lemon fruits are also trendy among women. To wrap it up, here's something you should remember. If you're producing fragrant candles, make sure the color of the candles match with the fragrance they give off when lighted. A candle that gives off the smell of newly picked apples must be colored red. Green and Yellow, alone or in combination, should be your choice if you're creating lime scented candles.

A candle that smells like the ocean can be colored light blue. You can put together the candles that harmonize each other in terms of scent. For instance, you want to sell a fruity candle package. You can put raspberry, strawberry and apple scented candles together.

Have fun making scented candles!

Tom Taft is a Candle Making enthusiast. Here is more information on How to Make Scented Candles. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Candle Making.

Candle Making & Decorating

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Homestead Blessings: The Art of Candle Making

Learn the artful skill of candle making in this exciting new DVD from the West ladies - Vicki, Jasmine, Hannah, and CeCe. This creativity-inspiring film is full of helpful instruction, practical tips, and fun-filled insight into the unique art of candle making.

From distinctive and beautiful glow lamps, twisted candles, decorative ornaments, basic seven-inch candles, and much more, this DVD is filled with a range of candle making activities sure to encourage warmth and creativity for your family.

Bring the joy of candling making into your home with the southern hospitality and homestead charm the West ladies bring to this entertaining and instructive film. The Art of Candle Making is full of special techniques, artistic flair, and family unity sure to cultivate beauty, joy, and ambience in your home.

Price: $19.95

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Making Votive Candles

Votive candles are simple, yet beautiful. These candles are often used to accent a center piece or design. Often it entails more than one votive candle, but not always. Votives are very cost effective because they burn for about fifteen hours. Votives must have a holder as they are not safe to use as a free standing candle.

Many individuals choose to use votive candles in their jack-o-lanterns at Halloween because they burn for a long time and illuminate the entire face of the jack-o-lantern. They are also one of the easiest types of candles to make. For beginners in the area of candle making votives provide a great learning experience to learn the basics of the candle making process.

To get started, you will need to gather your votive candle items. This includes wax, molds, a double boiler, and a thermometer. You will need to have wick and wick tabs for votive candles. The wick tabs serve as a base for the candle. You can choose to purchase dye and fragrance if you wish for your votive candles. To ensure your candles will form properly in the molds, consider investing in mold spray to keep them clean and lubricated.

Once the wax has melted, add in any colors and fragrances. Immediately pour the melted wax into the molds, filling them to the lip of the mold. For easy clean up, place old newspaper under the wax molds before you pour the wax into them. You will need to save about 20% of the melted wax for the next pouring process.

While the wax is cooling in the molds, prepare your wicks. Attack a wick several inches longer than the mold to a wick tab. Dip the wicks into the hot wax. Keep an eye on the votive molds as they won’t take as long to cool as other types of candles. Once you can tell the wax is starting to harden, insert a wick with the tab into each mold through the bottom. As the wax continues to cool, it will meld to the metal tab, ensuring it stays in place at the base of the candle. As the candles cool, make sure your wick is staying in the center of the votive.

Once the wax has completely cooled, you will notice a sink hole in it due to shrinkage. You will want to pour melted wax into the molds again to remedy this. Make the wax about fifteen degrees hotter than the original wax you used to fill the votives. After the candles have completely cooled again, they will slide out of the molds easily. Trim the wick to about ½ an inch from the top of the candle. For safety, you will want to use a votive holder that is an inch or two taller than the candle itself.

Votive candles add class and charm to any home or special occasion. They are fun and simple to make. You can add any color or scent to your votive candles to add a personal touch to them. Votive candles burn for a long time, making them a worth while candle to use. They also make excellent gifts. To make the process even less expensive, look for votive candle holders at thrift shops and yard sales. You can further personalize your votive candles by applying pretty ribbon with a hot glue gun around the rim of the votive candle holder.

Bill’s Candles

If you are looking to purchase beautiful looking homemade candles, but you aren’t interested in the candle making process yourself, turn to Bill’s Candles. They offer an array of quality candles that you will love. This company started in 1999 after beginning to reprocess candles bought on the market. The candles were reprocessed because the scent had already disappeared. By melting the leftover wax, adding a fragrance, and pouring into a container, new candles were had that held their scent for a very long time.

From there, experimenting with various types of candle waxes and molds lead to the invention of Bill’s Candles. The candles you purchase are the result of many labor intense hours. Some of the experiments worked well while others were complete disasters. Finally, recipes for the perfect candles were done and written down.

Customers are very happy with the candles they receive from Bill’s Candle. They love that the process is still one done by hand rather than in a factory. Bill also gives his personal guarantee that if you are not satisfied with any candle you can exchange it or get a full refund. The only requirement is that you return in before you have used 10% or more of the candle.

Bill’s Candles uses two types of wax. There is the vegetable candle blend and the soy wax. Please note soy wax is only available on the container candle line. Soy candles burn clean without producing smoke. They also burn for a great deal of time. The scent of a candle stays for an amazing length of time with soy candles. The vegetable candle blend is used for pillars and votives. It is American made and gives the candle a very lustrous color.

All of the candles offered from Bill’s Candles are hand poured. It is important that you allow at least two weeks for your order because there is no automated process here. What you get are top of the line candles that are 100% homemade. Customers can be assured there is no shortage of selection at Bill’s Candles.

This company offers container candles that come in an apothecary jar. Choose from a 10 ounce, 16 ounce, 22 ounce, or 26 ounce candle. You can also choose a classic mason jar container candle. The mason jars come in either a pint or half pint. The lids for the mason jars are gold with a flower design on top.

Pillar candles are a very popular type. Bill’s Candles offers a wide range of pillar candles to choose from. Traditional pillar candles can be purchased in most any size. They are available in round and square shapes. Dome top pillar candles add a bit of design to this classic candle. The arch motif has a ridge design in it as well as an arc shape at the top. The fluted spiral has ridges, giving this pillar a very unique design.

Round votives are available in the traditional size of 1 ½ x 1 ½. Once you have decided which types of candles you want to purchase, select the color and fragrance you want. There are 30 great colors and over 200 scents to choose from. You will find a full list of colors and scents posted online and in the Bill’s Candles catalog.

Bill’s candles offers a wonder variety of homemade candles for you to choose from. The quality is guaranteed. Bill takes great pride in his candle making techniques. Each candle is made with care and customer service in mind. If you are considering purchasing candles from Bill’s Candles as gifts, look at their online store. They offer unique gift baskets and gift sets to choose from. They will also work with the customer to make a customized gift set or basket to meet your needs. This is a small business that still enjoys the candle making process as opposed to manufacturing large quantities to make profits. The love Bill has for his candle making shows in his products and satisfaction guarantee.

Soy Candle Making and How to Use Soybean Candles

Soy candle making is becoming a very popular hobby nowadays and so are soybean candles. They are considered to be the alternative of traditional beeswax candles. However, it is really important to know how to properly handle, these candles to prevent injury or accident.

You should take care of even the smaller things like, if you purchase these candles from a retail store, then you have to make sure that the packaging has been removed properly, before attempting to use it. These Soybean candles should only be used when you have proper supporting equipments like holder on a surface, which should be dry and heat resistant.

If this is your first time, with a soy candle, then let it burn for around an hour for every single inch of the diameter of the candle to generate a complete wax-pool. By using this, you can increase scent-throw.

The reason soy candle making is becoming so popular is that soy candles generate less soot in comparison to paraffin candles. However, soy candles should be burnt in a room with proper ventilation. You have to make sure that Soybean candles must not be lit in drafts. These candles should maintain a safe distance from the flammable items. They should be at least 15 cm space between two consecutive Soybean candles. Make sure that the candles are beyond the reach of kids and pet's. Any soy candle should not be left burning, without having your eyes on it.

If you are burning soy candles properly then the frame should not flicker. The flame should remain still. If you want to make sure that the soy candles do not smoke, then you can use wick-dipper. First, pushed the soy candles' wick into a wax-pool, with the help of wick dipper, after this pull it up. Ensure that the wick of soy candle should be trimmed no less than 5 mm. Normally; It is observed that trimmed Soybean candle burns at least 30% longer.

If, even after taking the precautions, a Soybean candle starts smoking, then, first of all, immediately extinguish it and recheck the drafts' area. You should then trim the wick and should remove the extra wick from the candle. You should wait until the soy candle wax gets hard and cool and you can re-light it again. You should not decompose the unwanted Soy candle wax under the sink; it may result in clog; put the wax into the trash. The wick of the candle should always be in the centre. To ensure the security, you should extinguish the soy candle at least 1/4" from the bottom and don't try to re-light.

Soybean candles, which are made of soy candle wax, derived from vegetable oil in comparison to paraffin wax, which falls under the category of a petroleum product. Because of these soy candles are not as strong as paraffin candles. The walls of Soybean candles can break, easily in comparison to paraffin candles, when pressure applied on it. Furthermore, prevent Soybean candles, to be taken into direct sunlight for a long duration. You must not heat the candles more than 200° F. To get the best out of soy candles, store them in a cool and dry place. Have fun soy candle making.

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Creative Candle Making Tips and Techniques

Through the passing of ages, the demands for candles have not dipped even a bit; and so, this has also gained the interest of candle makers to join the fold. Candle making is a very fun hobby because of its easy-to-do procedures. And most especially, nowadays, there have been lots of candle making tips to rely on.

One of the most common candle making tips is to use natural or essential oil because it enhances homemade candles and give your candles a pleasurable aroma as well. Making use of these essential oils, which came from various plants, has other benefits aside from its pleasurable aroma; it also aids in producing physical modification in people.

As a matter of fact, candle makers can make use of essential oil to help people feel some kind of a relief from pain and stress. Essential oils also help in energizing a tired body. Furthermore, another useful benefit of using essential oils in candle making is improved digestion. Since these ingredients came from nature you can just only expect natural benefits from using it.

Here are candle making tips you can practice when using an essential oil in your candles:

Simply add a few drops of natural oils to your candle.

Make sure that the candle is unscented; otherwise, the scent will dilute its natural aroma.

Stab an unscented candle. Make use of a thick needle or an ice pick to hold the candle in a straight position.

Afterward, you will need to remove the slack wax from the hole before you can add a few drops of essential oils. One more benefit of using natural oil is: it allows you to experiment with diverse kinds of scents until you attain your preferred scent.

Around the world, at least 7 out of 10 households use candles. In your own home, there are great chances of having tapers, columns, votives, containers, pillars and novelty- being the different types of candles. And so, the necessity to know the proper ways to burn a perfect candle comes into the picture.

Below are some candle making tips in order to burn the perfect candle:

1- Keep your candle wick trimmed to a quarter of an inch. The reason being, wicks that are larger than a quarter of an inch has a tendency to burn faster and smoke. If you happen to notice that there is black soot on the container of you candles, the reason is your wick is too long. You can make use of nail clippers to trim candle wicks which scissors cannot reach.

2- You must avoid drafts. It is because when you burn candles in drafty areas, uneven burning and excessive smoking will arise; and the candle will burn faster. The concrete sign that there is a draft is when the flame of the candle is flickering in any direction except upright. You can avoid drafts through keeping away the burning candles from any form of heating and air-conditioning vents and windows.

3- Next up is to refrigerate them. When candles are cold it will burn relatively slower. In order to cool your candle, wrap it in foil so as to avoid absorbing the moisture. An important reminder: Never place them in the freezer because they will just break.

The most important among these candle making tips is still the safety of you and your neighborhood. Do not leave candle making supplies at close reach by the children.

Sheryll Walker is a candle making enthusiast, helping hundreds of people to learn secrets of the candle making. Shes recently created an mini-course showing you a exact process for making your own candles. To discover how to make scented candles within days visit http://www.EnjoyCandleMaking.com.

Candles Through the Ages - A Brief History of Candle Making

The First Candles

As early as 3,000 B.C. the Egyptians made torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow derived from animal fat. The Romans, who also used tallow, developed the first candles with wicks, which were used to guide travelers and light buildings.

The early Chinese molded candles in paper tubes and used rolled rice paper for the wick; they made the wax from a concoction of an indigenous insect and seeds. The Japanese made candles with wax extracted from tree nuts. In India early candle-makers boiled the fruit of the cinnamon tree for wax.

Candles in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages candle makers began using beeswax, which honey bees secreted to build their honeycombs. The advantage of beeswax was that unlike tallow it burned cleanly-no smoky flame or acrid odor. Unfortunately, it was so expensive that only the wealthy could afford it.

By the 13th century, candle makers (or chandlers) in England and France sold tallow candles from their shops and traveled to homes, making candles from the fat the residents had saved.

Candles in the 18th Century

In Colonial America, women discovered that boiling bayberry leaves also produced a fragrant, clean-burning wax. But because the wax-producing process was so tedious, bayberry candles quickly lost popularity.

In the late 18th century, the booming whaling industry initiated the first revolution in candle making since the Middle Ages; Spermaceti-a wax produced by crystallizing sperm whale oil-also burned clean and smelled pleasant. Because it was harder than beeswax or tallow, it withstood the summer heat better.

Candles in the 19th Century

In the 1820s French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, leading to the development of stearin wax, which was hard, durable, and burned cleanly.

In 1834, Joseph Morgan invented a machine that allowed for the continuous production of molded candles, using a cylinder with a movable piston that ejected candles as they solidified. With the advent of mass production, most people could easily afford candles.

By 1850, paraffin wax-made from oil and coal shales-was in production. It burned cleanly, didn't produce a repugnant odor, and was less expensive to produce than any preceding wax. Because it had a low melting point, stearic acid was used to make the candles more durable. By the end of the 19th century, most candles were being made from a paraffin wax-stearic acid combination.

Candles After the Light Bulb

After the light bulb was invented in 1879, people began to lose interest in candles, but the growth of the U.S. oil and meatpacking industries, which resulted in an increase of the byproducts used to create paraffin and stearic acid-the basic ingredients in candles-caused a revival of the candle's popularity.

In the mid-1980s, the popularity of candles as decorative items and for mood setting began to rise. Manufacturers began producing candles in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and a multitude of scents.

Today candles are used in 7 out of 10 U.S. households, and U.S. annual sales, excluding candle accessories, are estimated at $2 billion.

David Kubicek received a B.A. with Distinction in English from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. As a writer of both fiction and non-fiction, his work has been published in many periodicals, including Space and Time, National Lampoon, and The Writer's Journal, and he was a writer for the Midlands Business Journal for nine years. His books include The Pelican in the Desert and Other Stories of the Family Farm, October Dreams: A Harvest of Horror, and the Cliffs Notes for Willa Cather's My Antonia. David lives with his wife Cheryl, son Sean, two dogs and a cat in Lincoln, Nebraska. Visit his Website at http://www.davidkubicek.com.

Start Your Own Candle Making Business - Part 2

Anything that makes your candles stand out from the rest is likely to increase your profits. Look for unusual designs and colours and try to create something unique. Here are some ideas to copy:

* Chunky Candles

The chunky effect is obtained from embedded pieces of different coloured wax that are visible through the walls of the candle. Hardened blocks of wax are arranged in the mould, leaving spaces for the melted wax to settle into. The effect can be stunning, especially where several colours are used.

* Striped Candles

To make a vertically striped candle, begin with a candle made of one colour. Remove it from the mould and leave to cool. Apply masking tape vertically down the candle, depending on the width you want your stripes to be. Pour a tiny amount of dyed wax in a large shallow container (a swiss roll tin or painting tray is useful). Now roll your candle over the wax, covering the sides evenly. Remove from the tray, being careful not to get wax on the top of your candle. Leave to cool before removing the strips.

* Egg Candles

Empty eggshells make excellent moulds, especially for candles with an Easter design and obvious popularity at seasonal craft fairs. One egg is needed for every candle and careful cleaning is essential. To prepare the mould, make a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter in the large end of a raw egg. Pierce the yolk with a skewer or knitting needle and allow the contents to drain. Wash the inside thoroughly and stand the egg on a piece of kitchen towel until completely dry. Stand your eggs in an egg box for stability and insert the wicks leaving a long piece to trail at the top. Fill with melted wax and leave to set. Chip away the shells and decorate to finish.

* Layered Candles

Layers of different coloured wax are attractive and colours can be chosen to reflect the season or special occasion red, white and green for Christmas; rust, orange and brown for autumn; different shades of pink or blue for a new baby, and so on. In layered candles, each colour is poured after the previous one has hardened, producing either horizontal or angled layers, depending on the angle of the mould. Time allowed between pouring successive layers is crucial. The previous layer must be set before another is added or the colours will mix. Make sure the wick is properly in place when the mould is arranged at an angle.

CANDLE-MAKING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

- Make your own moulds from everyday household items like milk cartons, eggs, rubber balls and jelly moulds.

- Be careful when choosing your wick. If the wick is too thick, the candle will smoke. If the wick is too thin the candle won't last long.

MARKETING YOUR CANDLES

First decide whether you want to sell your candles yourself or have others market them for you. Candles sell well at craft fairs, by mail order, through gift and souvenir shops, through garden centres, and other retail outlets. Many candle-makers offer their goods for others to sell on a sale-or-return basis; some offer low volume wholesale packages with prices reducing for larger sales.

As you become more proficient you might consider working to commission, literally designing and producing candles exclusively for regular buyers. Restaurants, hotels, stately homes, souvenir shops and tourist centres are likely markets for exclusive designs. Commissioned designs offered by one very successful Herefordshire-based firm include birthday candles with signs of the zodiac (recipients' name and date of birth included as an optional extra); wedding candles with partners' names and wedding date painted in gold; engraved local views and landmarks, and much more. Local landmarks and tourist attractions are particularly good sellers through souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels, and are usually made to commission. Most of this firm's candles are made using moulds and finished by hand. This is one of several firms for which the bulk of business comes through commissions, particularly at Christmas with customers looking for unusual, more personal gifts for family and friends. Firms' advertising messages can also be incorporated into candles, making this a popular alternative to gifts traditionally chosen by firms to promote their trade mugs, diaries, calendars, wallcharts, and so on.

INCREASE YOUR PROFITS

Keep your eyes open for new and unusual ways to market your work. For example

- Consider how candles might be introduced into other businesses. The gift basket service is a useful example, many of which package gourmet foods, trinkets, champagne and high class confectionery, but rarely candles for the celebration dinner.

- Study high-pedestrian tourist areas, like stately homes, museums, tourist attractions. Offer to make candles for them, incorporating maps, advertising messages, pictures, announcements, scenes, etc.

- Look for targetable groups to make and market to. Collectors are a useful example. People interested in collecting teddy bears, dolls, pigs and frogs might also be interested in candle designs to reflect their hobby. Model cottages represent another product currently selling well in resin and pottery form but rarely offered in wax.

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Supplies Needed For Candle Making

Candles are no longer just decorative materials that people display in their houses to make them feel more homey and relaxed. These days, candles are also considered one of the most promising and lucrative business ventures there are. There are a lot of people who are interested in making extra cash through candle making but are a little hesitant because they are unfamiliar with the craft. In truth, candle making is a lot simpler than most people think and anybody including you can make a hobby of even a profession out of it.

The first thing you need to know about making candles is that you will need candle making supplies. These materials can be bought online or in specialty shops.

1. Fragrance oils- This is the soul of candle making supplies and the heart of the scented candles themselves. There is a wide array of fragrances that you can choose from and you can experiment on them by mixing and matching scents that will appeal to many buyers, from fruity to floral and even food inspired.

2. Candle Wax- While fragrances are the soul of candles, candle wax on the other hand is the body. There are different kinds of candle waxes so you can experiment with them to come up with your own candle blend. There are 4 basic waxes that you can use in making candles:

· Soy Wax- a vegetable based wax that is made out of soybean oils. Many candle makers lean on the use of this kind of wax because it is a renewable resource, that is, it does not run out notwithstanding the rate of its usage and utilization.

· Palm Wax- an all natural resource that is used to make candles. This is also highly preferred especially in the oriental countries where it can be found in great abundance. This is excellent for making long burning candles because of its distinct properties. It is also preferred for intricately patterned candles since palm wax can assume shapes more easily than others.

· Paraffin wax- this wax is derived from petroleum and has been used in the candle industry for years because of it's low cost. However, it is no longer considered a renewable source and it rapidly being replace with soy wax.

· Beeswax- a natural wax that is produced from the hives of honey bees.

3. Candle molds- this will give the candles shape and form.

4. Candle dye- your candle making supplies will not be complete without colouring agents.

5. Candle Wick- you can choose to use pre tabbed or spooled wicks

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Canning Jar Candles

Image via WikipediaWe have all seen those beautiful canning jar candles with the pretty ribbon and potpourri. It is very easy to make your own canning jar candles with just a few inexpensive items that you can get from your local craft store or online. You will need wide mouth canning jars, ribbon, potpourri, votive candles with holders, and a hot glue gun. Make your own canning jar candles to add charm to the dinner table as a center piece or gift them to family and friends for gifts.
To start, fill the jar with potpourri. If you desire, add some extras such as dried apples or cinnamon sticks. Fill the jar full enough that when you set the candle holder on top it is even with the top of the jar. Place the candle in the holder once you have got the fit right. Next, glue the ribbon around the top mouth area of the canning jar. You can further personalize your canning jar candles by gluing on decorations. Canning jar candles are a great idea for Mother’s Day or crafts for young children to take home.
Canning jar candles are great for all Holidays as well. Add pumpkin cut outs for Halloween, little bunnies for Easter, and Christmas trees or small ornaments for Christmas. Canning candle jars make excellent fundraisers or items to sell at the next craft show. The internet offers many great canning jar candle décor ideas, especially for the holidays. Your local craft stores and the internet are great places to get canning jar candle ideas. Those of you who are more creative will have no trouble designing your own.
McCall’s canning jar candles are already made. They come with wonderful labels that are very rustic looking. This candle collection comes in many wonderful fragrances with a zinc wick. These canning jar candles come in two sizes, the 5 ounce that burns for about 30-35 hours and the 16 ounce burns for 110-115 hours. The small candles retail for $13.63 and the larger ones are $24.63. While these are great candles as well, you will miss out on the experience of candle making if you choose to purchase them. You will also be able to make several of your own for the cost of one McCall’s canning jar candle.
To save even more money when making canning jar candles, consider making your own votives. You can do this easily in you home. You will need paraffin wax, wick, and candle holders. You can choose to use dye for colored votives or scents to add a wonderful smell to the candles. It is very easy to melt the wax and add in whatever you want to make the color and smell you desire. Then simply pour the hot wax into the candle holders. To save even more, shop at thrift stores and yard sales for canning jars and votive holders at a very low price.
Canning jar candles are very easy to make and they are very beautiful. You can make them in very little time and young children will be able to do this with ease as long as you help them with the glue gun. Make canning jar candles for you own personal use or as gifts. These cute candles are very inexpensive to make and they last a very long time, giving a delicious aroma.

A Brief History Of Candle Making

Flip a switch and turn on a light! If there is one thing about modern life we really take for granted, it is indoor electric lighting. Imagine, if you will, a home in the Middle Ages. It is night, and the day's hard work is done. A single candle lights the interior of the room. This candle provides light for the family's night time activities. It occupies a distinguished position in human history. The candle is one of mankind's earliest inventions. The history of candle making is a long and interesting story.

The candle uses wax as fuel to produce light. Once the wick of a candle is lighted, heat from the flame burns the wax, which flows into the wick by capillary action. It's a simple device, and it ruled the night for thousands of years.

Archeological digs have unearthed candlesticks in Egyptian and Cretan sites dating to about 3000 BC. Before this the Egyptians used a device called a rush light. A rush light was made from the pithy core of the rush plant, which was soaked in tallow and burned for light.

Tallow was the main ingredient of candles for thousands of years. Tallow is processed from the fat of cattle and sheep. These candles emit a very disagreeable odor and a lot of smoke when burned. They were used to light homes, temples, and meeting places. Travelers used them to light their way.

It is the Romans who probably learned how to make candles from beeswax. Beeswax is superior to tallow because it burns much cleaner, and is odorless. But it was also very expensive, so its use was limited to the nobility and the Church.

American Colonial women discovered that a superior wax could be extracted from the bayberry. This wax was very clean burning and produced a sweet aroma. The difficulty in extracting the wax from the berry prevented it from replacing the more readily available tallow.

Whales have the bad fortune to have a substance called spermaceti in their enormous bodies. Spermaceti produces a very high quality wax which makes candles superior to both tallow and beeswax. Since it is harder than these other waxes, the candles don't bend in hot weather, a common problem for tallow and beeswax candles. By the 1700's the whaling industry was supplying this highly valued substance for use. Candle making has always been a labor intensive business. Wax has to be melted and hand poured into molds. Taper candles, the earliest candles made, must be dipped many times to make a candle. Molded candle production became a lot easier in 1834 because of a gentleman by the name of Joseph Morgan. Mr. Morgan invented a candle molding machine. This machine consisted of a mold which had a moveable cylinder for its bottom. Wax was poured into the mold and allowed to cool. The cylinder bottom was then moved up, forcing the hardened wax candles out of the top. Continuous production of candles was now possible.

The best material for making candles was developed near the end of the candles long reign. Automobiles were becoming popular in the late 1800's, and the need for petroleum to fuel the new internal combustion engine became great. The leftover residues of petroleum production produced a substance called paraffin. It was ideal for the production of candles, as it was economical, clean burning, and odorless. It's chief drawback was its low melting point, which would have caused problems in warm weather. The independent discovery of stearic acid solved this problem. Added to paraffin, it hardened the candle, and slowed its burn rate. Paraffin/stearine candles soon became standard, totally replacing the tallow candle.

Thomas Edison's creation of the light bulb in 1879 ended our dependency on the candle as a light source. The candle soon passed from necessity to ornamental. Candles are still used as ceremonial and decorative lights. Skilled crafts people still make candles to light and perfume our homes.

Candle making has been an essential craft in our history. Candles lit our ancestors homes and provided light for sacred ceremonies. Their manufacture contributed to the economy of the civilizations they illuminated. Today, candle making is a craft practiced by many artisans providing a link to our distant past.

Paul Wonning is the owner of Toys, Hobbies and Crafts.com a web site which has information about many hobbies and crafts.

4 Great Advantages of Soy Candle Making

Soy candle making is also making waves in the net. This simple candle making project also makes use of a different type of material and ingredient. Soy candles are essentially made using soy wax, which is another form of hydrogenated soybean oil. It was a material pioneered by Michael Richards in the early 90's to act as cheaper replacement for beeswax.

The idea became so ideal knowing that many people are into making natural and tapered candles as products. It is also an answer addressing the rising costs of materials. Soy making candle has been the fancy of many beginners due to its cheaper overhead and price. What candle makers do is they mix soy wax with scents to make it appealing as commercial products.

There are about 4 great advantages of soy candle making.

1. As compared to paraffin wax, soy candles are cheaper. While beeswax proves to be a viable alternative, beeswax candles need a pricier investment. Hobbyists who think of paraffin as not so good choices can also rely on soy candle making as an environment-friendly replacement.

2. Soy candles take pride in featuring natural ingredients. Unlike paraffin wax, which is a by-product of petroleum, soy making candle promotes the idea of a cleaner and safer environment.

3. Soy candles last longer compared to paraffin candles. They produce lesser soot and their corresponding spills are easier to clean. Unlike wax spills caused by paraffin candles, soy wax spills can be easily removed using detergent and hot water.

4. Soy candles are also known to distribute fragrances and scents more evenly. The low melting point usually translates to cooler burning candles. It also results to a larger-sized liquid wax pool, which then helps in disseminating essential fragrances into the air.

Soy candle making has indeed a pool of benefits under its belt. With an increasing knowledge in candle making, options are becoming more sensitive not only to the needs of customers but also of the environments'. You are also doing the environment well by using all-natural ingredients. There are so many products that give off the same benefits and soy candles are practically one of these.

Soy candle making can also be a profitable venture for candle makers. Aside from paraffin candles, soy candle making can also be a cost-effective way to come up with profits and sales. Its line of strengths can also be used to attract more buyers and clients. Naturally, soy candles do have a rare advantage over paraffin candles. Plus, with an awareness towards cheaper alternatives, it is no surprise how soy candles affect consumer taste.

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The Process of Candle Making

Making candles is fun and relaxing. While it does give you the opportunity to be creative, there are some basic candle making steps you need to follow to make the process flow well. Nothing is more disappointing than discovering your candles didn’t form correctly. Safety is very important in candle making. Most people make candles in their own kitchen. You will want to have a fire extinguisher handy as well as a non slip mat placed in from of your stove. Always wear old clothing and long sleeves. However, make sure your sleeves don’t dangle where they can fall into the hot wax.

Since you will have to get the candle wax very hot to melt completely, there is the risk of severe burns. You also have the risk of starting a fire. It is important to clean up all spilled wax immediately. It won’t take long for it to harden, thus becoming very slippery. The dyes and scents used in candle making can leave stains.

The best way to set up your work area for candle making is to divide it into three specific work stations for preparation, the melting process, and the cooling process. The preparation area doesn’t need to be large, just a flat surface that is well organized. To make the process flow best, use a counter in close proximity to the stove. You will want to keep your utensils, thermometer, additives, and other candle making supplies in this area. It is a good idea to know what types of candles you will be making ahead of time so that you have all the necessary items ready to go.

Your melting work station will likely be the stove. You will need to use a double boiler to melt the wax to a temperature that is hot enough without scorching it. The molecular structure of the wax can be damaged if the direct heat to it is too much. This means your candles won’t form well or hold up well when they are used. Wax comes in sheets or blocks. You will need to chip off chunks to melt. A hammer and flat head screwdriver work well for this.

Chipping wax should be done in the preparation stage so that you can simply add more pieces throughout the melting process. You will want to weigh each piece of wax before you add it to the pot for melting. This will help you determine how much scent and dye to add, which is based on weight.

The cooling station needs to be a flat area such as a countertop or table. The wax needs to cool for several hours so this area needs to be able to withstand high temperatures as well as remain undisturbed for long periods of time. The area should not be directly in the path of sunlight or heating/cooling systems. If it is, the candles will not set properly. If you plan to use molds for your candles, have them set up in the cooling area while the wax is melting. Once it is done melting, you will need to pour it immediately into the molds. To prevent a mess from spills, use an old cookie sheet for the molds to rest on.

The candle making process will run smooth and efficient if you follow these tips for establishing three work stations. While the process should be fun, it is important that you understand the dangers of candle making including burns and fires. Taking the proper safety precautions will help ensure the creation of candles in your home is a great way to spend your time.

History of Candle Making Methods Used Throughout Time

How many times have you lit a candle and wondered about how it all began? Is it down to one culture and country? The answer is that any written history of the candle making of today and back into the past has to include many countries and cultures.

As far back as 3000BC we know the Egyptians were making candles out of beeswax, a type of candle that is still popular today. Around 200BC the Chinese used whale fat for their candles and, as we are too well aware, whales continued to provide blubber and oil for lamps until they have become an endangered species.

Middle Age Europe saw tallow candles grow in popularity. Tallow, which is fat from cows or sheep, became the standard material used in candles and The Tallow Chandlers Company of London was formed in about 1300. By 1415, tallow candles were used in street lighting. However the glycerine in tallow candle produced an unpleasant smell and hence beeswax candles were used for churches and royal events. If tallow candles were so unpleasant to burn, just imagine how unpleasant the smell must have been during manufacture! It was so unpleasant that the processing of fat to produce tallow for candles was banned in many areas.

American colonists made candles from bayberries but the yield was very poor. It is said that it takes about 15 pounds of bayberries to make just one pound of bayberry wax. Bayberry wax is also known as bayberry tallow or myrtle wax and is the rarest of all candle waxes. Bayberry wax has an earthy fragrance and dries to an olive green colour.

Around 1750, very expensive candles were being produced from spermaceti, found in the the head cavity of the sperm whale. Clearly cheaper alternatives were required and by 1800 an alternative was indeed discovered. Derived from plant material, the candles produced clear, smokeless flames. A further breakthrough in 1811 by French chemists saw the production of stearin, like tallow derived from animals but with no glycerine content.

Price's Patent Candles Ltd. began manufacturing candles in 1830. By the end of the century the company was the largest maker of candles in the world. It made inexpensive stearine candles that burned almost as well as expensive beeswax candles. In 1834, Joseph Morgan began to industrialise the production of candles. He invented a machine to manufacture 1,500 per hour, from a mould. Already a successful company, the introduction of mass production enabled Price's to dominate the nightlight market.

In 1850 the production of paraffin became commercially viable and enabled the manufacture of high quality but inexpensive candles.

Rodger Cresswell is Managing Director of Avondale Consultancy Limited and Consultant to JC Regali

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The History of Candle Making

The art of making candles has been around since primitive times. Of course, as time went by they become much different in design than what they were back then. In the early days, candles were a necessity for heat and light. Today they serve as decorations, wonderfully smelling mechanisms in our homes, and offer light for romantic dinners and baths.

The first known use of candles is not completely known. The remains of clay candle holders that date back to 4 BC have given us the knowledge that they have been in use for a very long time. Those clay candle holders were found in Egypt.

Candles were also used in ancient times in both China and Japan. These candles were made of wax extracted from insects and seeds. The taper candles of India were made from the wax extracted from boiled cinnamon. Candles are not known to exist in American until 1 AD. It is believed Native American’s burned oily fish and the back of the Cerio tree. When settlers came to New England, they used similar techniques to extract wax from bayberries. Many modern candle makers still use that process to make bayberry candles. However, it is quite expensive to do so.

Tallow was the product used to make candles in the 1600’s and 1700’s. This is a byproduct from animal fat. The product worked well but had a foul odor, especially when it was burning. Bees wax and paraffin wax both were introduced in the early 1800’s, and tallow stopped being used.

The dipping process for taper candles as we know it today began in 13 AD. Traveler merchants went door to door from town to town. While there, they made taper candles for individuals in their homes. Around 15 AD the idea to use molds for various types of candles was introduced in Paris. While this greatly improved the candle making process, there were still issues with getting the candles to burn properly.

In the 1800’s, candle makers felt the wick was the weakest area of the candle as well as the cause for defective burning patterns. A braided wick was developed in 1825 that seemed to greatly improve the burning of several types of candles. By 1830, a process was in place to make candles using paraffin wax and molds. These candles were of good quality and burned well.

As gas and electricity were introduced, the candle making process continued to evolve. It became much easier and faster to melt the paraffin wax. It is believed that the reason so many of the elements of candle making stayed the same, including the hand dipping process is because the popularity of candles diminished with the introduction of electricity.

Today, candle making is a well known art form. There are many companies who manufacture wonderful candles with some very unique fragrances. There are also small businesses that still make their candles by home in their kitchen. Candle making is a great hobby and fun activity for the whole family to be involved in.

Candles are now used more for luxury and pleasure than for light or heat. The candle industry continues to grow with new types of candles being introduced all the time. The amount of colors, fragrances, and types of candles to choose from in the marketplace is absolutely amazing.

Candles are a very common home decorating item. They are used to accent any room in your house. They are a common centerpiece for dinner parties and formal occasions. The unity candles that are presided over at many weddings hold a deep sense of tradition in the American culture.

The art of making candles has definitely changed over time. If you are interested in trying your hand at it, choose a candle that is fairly easy to make such as the container candle or the votive. This will allow you the chance to get used to the process. There are several good candle making kits available for a low price as well as books to give you tips and assistance along the way.

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Made to fit the tapered style bulbs used in accent lamps, welcome lights and candle lamps, this pleated shade will provide a soft look to your small lamps. The shade measures 5 inches in diameter at the bottom tapering to 2-1/2 inches at the top and is 4 inches high. It has a white plastic liner and is pleated in a soft ivory color with matching trim at the top and bottom and it will make a pleasing addition to your decor. This offer includes 6 shades. For hundreds more craft, art and hobby products be sure to visit our National Artcraft Storefront. We have the creative component you need.

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Candle Making Additives

There are eight distinct candle making additives used in the candle making process. Some makers choose not to use them at all while others take advantage of what each type of additive has to offer to their candle making process. Candle wax additives are inexpensive and work well if you are educated in how to use them and why to use each kind.

Kemamide is a fine powder. It has a hint of ivory in the color, but it is close to being transparent. This type of additive becomes clumped if it is exposed to humidity so keep it in a closed, dry environment. Use this type of additive as a release agent. Add one teaspoon for each pound of wax.

Poly-AC is a fine powder, white in color. It has a dry texture and should also be stored in a dry environment to prevent clumping. This additive is a hardener. To be effective, add one teaspoon for each pound of wax.

Chimasorb 81 is a powder with a yellowish tint. Of all the additives, this one is the most likely to clump, even in areas of low humidity. Chimasorb 81 is used to enhance color. You do not need much of it, 1/10 of a percent for each pound of wax.

Stearic Powder is flaky. The color is white. This additive doesn’t react to humidity at all so it is an agreeable product to use for hardening. They amount you will use depends on the type of candles you are making. This additive helps reduce the temperature needed to melt the wax. Add about three teaspoons for each pound of wax. Be careful not to over use Stearic Powder as doing so will cause damage to the wax.

103 Vybar generally is sold in the form of very small beads. The beads flow loosely and do not stick or clump together, even in areas of high humidity. 103 Vybar is a hardener as well. It will add a very creamy texture to your candle wax. This is a perfect hardener to use for scented candles. Add one teaspoon to for every pound of wax.

Paraflint is another hardener. It comes in beaded form similar to the 103 Vybar. However, the beads are much larger. You will want to use one teaspoon for every pound of wax.

Poly 400 comes in the form of beads that vary is size and shape. This is a UV inhibitor, which will keep your candles from fading in the sunlight. This additive is also to be used at the rate of one teaspoon for every pound of wax.

BHT Crystal is a yellowish powder. This is an antioxidant for wax that has been stored in liquid form for a length of time. Using this crystal will also add a very pretty luster to your wax.

Candle making additives can add a variety of features to your wax. The type of additives you choose to use will depend on the types of candles you are going to make as well as the climate in your region. Be careful to use candle making additives in the right amounts or you will cause damage to the wax, resulting in ill effects in the visual aspects of the candles as well as their ability to burn properly. There are many great candle making books out there to help you figure out which types of additives to use for the various types of candles you can make.

CANDLES BY THE NUMBERS

Image by thecameo via FlickrIf you're like a lot of us, after your initial success in candle making for friends and family, you may think about going into business for yourself, at least part-time. Before you jump in to the business -- which is by the way a great idea -- think about some of the numbers involved with candles.
These statistics will give you some idea of what direction you may want to take your business.
When you know what rooms of the house your customers plan on burning these in, you can create candles that blend in with appropriate decorations and designs. For example, 42 percent of the individuals surveyed said they burn their candles primarily in their living room. About 18 percent use candles in the kitchen and only 13 percent use them in a bedroom.
Not only that, but I even know who buys these candles. Your potential market is made up first and foremost of women. In fact, more than 96 percent of all candles are bought by women. Females also use candles more often than men and younger people use candles more often than older folks.
There you have it. Thinking twice about entering the business now? You've got an idea of who you're selling to -- and you've got some sound marketing tips. You've probably already have some type of "inventory" lying around. You know you're making candles faster than you and your friends combined can burn them.
Hey! Where are you going? Oh, you're out to check out flea markets. Oh . . . so you are ready to stake out a candle-company territory.
I'll keep a candle burning for you!
Why not go to http://www.swankeecandles.com why you're thinking of it to discover more tips not only on starting a candle making business, but on all aspects of candle making -- from what type of wax to choose to the types of wicks to use, to how to dye and add scent to your beautiful craft creations?

GIVING YOUR CANDLES AS GIFTS

Image via WikipediaA candle gift that never gets old (even though it looks very old-fashioned) is the "canning jar" candle. You can easily make these container candles simply by using old canning jars you have around the house.
Don't have canning jars? Don't worry. If you spend any time at flea markets or frequent garage sales, you'll find these. And if for some strange reason you can't, you can usually buy a dozen of these jars relatively cheaply at just about any grocery store or even some of the discount or "dollar" stores.
You simply use these jars as the containers. Then you follow the directions for the container candles. If you use paraffin wax, you can add any type of scent you'd like -- or think the recipient of your gift would like -- and the color that you'd like.
Some canning jars have embossed or raised decorations on the surface. Others are quite plain. Consider using plain jars as gel candles -- and then you can place all types of accessories in the jar! You can even top the jars off -- gel wax or otherwise -- with the lid of the canning jar.
For an added effect, you may want to wrap the lid in some type of gingham fabric to make give it more of a country look.
Candles are versatile gifts. They are every bit as appropriate as a Christmas present as a birthday present -- and every holiday in between. And since you love this hobby so much -- because let's face it, candle-making really is growing on you! -- you even try to think of holidays so you have a reason to give candles away.
It's not enough to give candles on Mother's Day, the Fourth of July, birthdays, New Year's Day, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, or even Valentine's Day. You keep looking for even more holidays. Well, Groundhog's Day may be pushing it a bit, now don't you think?
If you want get more ideas -- and even some cool directions for candles suitable for gifts -- go to http://www.swankeecandles.com It's all in my new eBook Secrets to Successful Candle Making. In it you'll learn all the basics in a nutshell about making professional quality candles -- right in the privacy and comfort of your home.

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR CANDLE CREATIONS

Image via WikipediaHelp! I think I made a mistake!
This is the common cry of the novice candle-making. And I certainly should know. I've been the person crying that phrase more than once. In fact, I can't tell you how many candles I refused to give away and actually threw away because I thought they were ruined.
Had I known some of the secrets of salvaging a candle that I share with you, I would not only have save myself much distress, but quite a few candles as well.
As with any hobby or adventure, you're bound to make a few bumps in the road during your first couple of forays into the field. Or, you may encounter some strange phenomenon that has never occurred before. It totally throws you off guard. And of course, since you've never seen it before you haven't a clue how to fix it -- or even if your candle can be "fixed."
Let me tell you, there are few mistakes in candle making that cant be repaired. And here are just a few of the ways you can spot your less than perfect candles and make them shine, not only in your family's eyes, but in yours as well.
Help! The surface of my candle is pitted!
Again this is a problem that, unfortunately cannot be fixed with that particular candle (what a pity, you must keep that one for yourself, too!), but can be easily remedied with the next candles you pour.
A pitted surface indicates that the wax was too cool by the time you poured it. Now, all you need to do with this particular problem is decide where in the process the cooling occurred. Did you not heat the wax to a sufficient temperature?
If you suspect this, then just make sure that you get the temperature to the highest, safest range for the type of wax you're using.
Did it cool too quickly in your pouring pot? If it did, then you need to re-think the order in which you produce your candles. What can you do differently that prepares your quicker for pouring?
For more troubleshooting advice and more information on candle making go to *hhp://www.swankeecandles.com Be sure to check out my new eBook, which gives you my step-by-step system of making professional quality candles from your kitchen. 972 other candle lovers like yourself can't be wrong!