Karen Lincoln asked:


Over the past few years, candle making has become extremely popular. The art of candle making is not only fun, it’s extremely interesting as well. You can involve your kids in this art, since its so much of fun. Candles are perfect as decorative pieces for home, they are also make great gifts to gift someone. In order to start off with your candle making, you need to have the right materials and supplies. These include candle molds, wicks, wax, and fragrance. The candle mold is the one of the most important things that you need, so you need to find the right type of candle mold.

While selecting the candle mold, try and opt for one which you can relate to. Its the candle mold that gives the candle its shape, so choosing the right type of mold is essential. Having zeroed in on the candle mold, next purchase some candle wax, wicks etc. If you want to make some beeswax candles, then you would need to purchase some beeswax. Beeswax is considered to be a superior material for making candles, however it can be quite pricey. Beeswax however has a lot of positive aspects to it. For starters, its a natural product and does not leave out those awful vapors that leave you sick and nauseous, they have a longer burning time, moreover you get a pleasant faint smell of honey. All these features, makes beeswax worth the high price.
Alternatively you can just use gel instead of wax, thus leaving out the wax. Gel candles are quite trendy today, and are extremely attractive to look at.

Where can you buy your supplies for candle making? Pretty much most of it is available at most Art & Craft stores. You can buy some colored wax if you want to make a candle of various candles. You can buy candle molds of various shapes and sizes. There are many available in the market, you can just pick the ones that catch your fancy. The seamless aluminum molds are quite in vogue these days, as they slip right out of the mold, without the need for polishing or trimming.

The wax that you’ll need, depends on the type of mold that you have. For example, pillar waxes due to their higher melting point, need to be used with pillars. Votive waxes are intended to be use with votive metal candle holders. Container waxes, are meant for pots or holders, as they shouldn’t be free standing pieces due to their low melting points. So its essential that you choose the right type of wax, which is intended for particular types of candle molds. You can also purchase a variety of different fragrances such as vanilla, fruity flavors, musk etc.

If your serious about your candle making, it makes sense to purchase candle making supplies, such as wicks, wax etc in bulk. This way you can avail of wholesale rates as well. Some retailers will also offer you huge discounts, of you buy larger quantities of supply. There are plenty of online stores where you can buy candle making supplies. These are convenient as your supplies are shipped right up to your doorstep. Online stores also give you various discounts.

If your just starting off and are not sure what type of supplies to go in for, you can go in for a candle making kit which has all the necessary supplies. Its ideal for beginners.



ROCCO

Walter Ballenberger asked:


Candle making can be a pleasurable or even profitable hobby, but one must be always cognizant of the fact that hot melted wax can cause many serious problems if proper precautions are not taken. Candle making safety tips include having a fire extinguisher and a box of baking soda on hand whenever you are melting wax. Use these to put out any wax fires that might start. First try to smother the fire with the baking soda. You can also use the top of your double boiler to smother a wax fire. You’ll need to have a double boiler for melting the wax, so it will be available. Don’t ever try to put out a wax fire with water, as the wax can burst and explode and burn the skin. Also don’t ever let your wax temperature exceed 280 degrees F (138 degrees C).

Other Candle Making Tips- Keep Kids and Pets Away
With the possibility looming of a wax fire as described above, it should be obvious that children and pets should be kept away from any hot wax. Even when the wax has been poured into a mold caution should be exercised. If the mold happens to be aluminum it can get very hot and burn the skin. Don’t ever heat wax or start to heat wax by putting it in a microwave oven. Heat can quickly build up inside the wax and cause it to explode. In any case melting wax should never be left unattended and you will need to have a wax thermometer to monitor the temperature of your wax at all times. Be careful not to let your wax get onto your heating element as it could very possibly ignite and cause a fire.

Other Precautions

You will need to have a good metal pouring pot to pour your wax into molds. Be sure to use one that can withstand high temperatures and has a handle and spout. Be sure to store your wax away from heat in a cool and dry place. If somehow melted wax does come in contact with the skin, run cold water over the area. This will cool the wax and make it solidify such that it can be pulled off the skin. You will most likely need to treat the affected skin area as you would treat a burn. Don’t allow water to drip into hot wax as it can explode and fly onto your skin and cause burns. If the exploding hot wax were to get into your eyes, it is obvious that very serious problems could result, so this tip is extremely important. Also, be sure to use only dyes and fragrances that have been designed specifically for candle making. Lastly, don’t ever pour melted wax down a drain.

Although candle making has its dangers due to the need to handle hot melted wax, most of the problems mentioned above can be easily avoided if you are aware of the dangers of hot wax and use common sense when making candles. If you have the right equipment and are prepared and consider the above candle making tips, your projects will be executed smoothly and serious problems will be avoided.



ROLANDO

Christopher Cooney asked:


Millions of people throughout the world have hobbies to help them relax after a long day of work. One hobby that has risen in popularity is candle making.

Candle making has become sort of an art form. Each person has their own ideas and designs for candles, and each candle has the potential of becoming a work of art, if only to its creator.

Candle making is not difficult, however if you are creating something that will become a focal point of a room, you want it to be perfect. The great thing about candle making is that if you make a mistake, you can melt the candle and start all over again.

Candle Making Kits Are Great

Candle making kits are great for first timers to introduce yourself to candle making. Candle making kits will show you the basic steps and techniques when you have the basic knowledge of how to make candles, you will be able to create candles that are stunning.

The first step in candle making is to protect your work surface from melted wax. Covering with newspaper or heavy plastic will insure that your workspace is kept clean.

You do not need elaborate tools to create wonderful candles. A roasting pan and a thermometer will work just as well as all of the fancy equipment that can be quite expensive.

Candle making kits can become a way to spend quality time with your children. However, it is very important that they are supervised at all times to avoid any accidents that may occur.
Safety First

Melting wax is relatively easy, however little fingers may try to test it. Make sure that you advise your children that although the melted wax may smell good, it is extremely hot and they could get serious injuries if they try to touch it.

Dyes and fragrances for candles are available at craft stores throughout the country. It is important that you add the dye slowly to the melted wax and wait for it to dissolve completely. Adding colors one at a time will allow you to determine which colors work with each other the best.

It is very important that you watch the wax very carefully when it is melting. If the heat is too high, it will burn the wax. If melting wax begins to smoke, remove it from the heat immediately, being very careful not to spill any on your skin. If this should happen, do not wipe it off. You could spread it cause more serious burns. Instead, run it under cold water until the wax hardens and it should fall right off.

Once you have poured your wax into your molds, it will need twenty-four hours or more to cool and harden completely. Once the candle has set up, it is time to decorate.

Add Personality To Your Candle Making

Choosing the right pattern for your candle is the most creative part of candle making. If you want to add a splash of color, try melting your favorite colored crayon for a vibrant look to your candle.

You can use just about anything from stencils to non-flammable beads to create works of art. You are limited only by your imagination.

If you choose to create scented candles, adding crushed herbs will give a pleasant scent that will last as long as the candle itself. Candle making kits come with complete instructions on how to create the perfect candle. They are easy to follow and can be used in any setting.



TYRONE

Walter Ballenberger asked:


Candle making is a popular hobby, and one can find the materials necessary to get started either at a local hobby shop or on the internet. A couple of excellent on-line sources will be mentioned below. After you get used to making some candles you’ll quickly want to start adding color as well as fragrance. For the latter you will need to procure some essential oils to add your desired scents.

The Choice of Fragrance to Use in Your Candles

You may simply have a favorite aroma that you want to try, or you can experiment with different ideas to see how you like the aroma created by burning your scented candles. You might want to do a little research about aromatherapy and see what plant materials have been used in the past for particular purposes. Essential oils are derived from certain plant materials by the process of distillation which produces very concentrated liquids that have the strong essence of the plant. For example, eucalyptus oil is often used to help clear out congested nasal passages and make breathing easier. Essential oil of lemon is considered uplifting and it lowers stress and even acts as an anti-depressant. Citronella oil is used as a repellant for insects and is also used in the making of some perfumes. Essential oil of lavender is considered calming and relaxing and is thought to soothe headaches and even sometimes migraines.

So your choice of essential oils used when making candles can have a practical goal beyond just creating a nice scent in a room. There are hundreds of essential oils to choose from when making candles. An excellent source is the web site of the CandleChem company. Here is a list of the essential oils they offer for candle making, and these are only those that start with the letter B: Baby Lotion, Baby Powder, Baked Apple Crisp, Baked Bread, Baked Cake, Baked Pie Crust, Balsam & Amber, Banana, Banana Creme Pie, Banana Nut Bread, Banana Rum Banana Spice, Basil, Basil Nectarine, Bayberry, Bayberry Spice, Beachin, Beautiful Type, Beer, Begonia, Bergamot, Bergamot Herbal Mint, Birthday Cake, Black Cherry, Black Currant, Black Love, Black Pepper, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Black Rose, Black Tea, Black Walnut, Blackberry, Blackberry Brandy, Blackberry Mist, Blackberry Pie, Blueberry, Blueberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Cobbler, Blueberry Muffin, Bourbon, Boysenberry, Boysenberry & Moss, Brown Sugar, Brown Sugar & Fig, Brown Sugar & Spice, Bubble Gum, Buck Lure, Burgundy Wine, Butter Crème, Butter Mint, Butter Pecan, Butterscotch, Butterscotch Brulee.

So you can see there truly are hundreds to choose from. Also, you’ll only be using 1-3 drops of essential oil for each candle, so you’ll be able to make a lot of candles for each scent that you purchase. Remember to put the drops into your hot wax mixture just before it is poured into a mold. In that way the essential oils won’t evaporate as quickly as they would have had they been in the hot wax mixture for some time. If you are using a dye to color your candles, that should be done prior to adding the essential oils for fragrance.



ERROL

Walter Ballenberger asked:


Candle making is a very popular hobby. Getting started is quite easy, and you can readily obtain the needed materials and start creating some candles in very short order. Like anything else, one needs to learn the ropes a bit, and if your mold isn’t clean, or if the temperature of the wax is too hot or cold, the candles won’t turn out just right. But with a little experience a person can be making very professional looking candles. One of the more popular types of candles these days are fragrant candles, and this article will discuss what types of materials are needed for making aromatic candles and where to acquire them.

Basic Equipment

The basic materials needed to make any candles include such things as a double boiler to melt wax, a metal pouring pot, candle molds and a mold sealer, primed wicks, wax, candle dyes, other basic household items like scissors, a tape measure, and measuring spoons. If you are just getting started, a book such as “Candle Making for the First Time” is a big help. Once you have the above equipment ready, it is not difficult to get started.

After making a few batches of candles and learning the various processes, you’ll soon want to start making some fragrant smelling candles as well. What types of aromas should you try, and how will you find them? Extensive lines of flavors made from both synthetic chemicals and also essential oils, which are derived by distilling natural plant material, are readily available. Check out the CandleChem Company. A quick glance at their web site reveals that they have everything one needs to make candles, including a extensive array of fragrances. Just to give an idea, here is a listing of the aromas they offer, and this is only a list of those starting with the letter “A”: African Violet, Allspice, Almond Cherry, Almond Coconut, Almond Cookie, Aloe Vera, Amaretto, Amaretto Chocolate, Amaretto Coffee, Amaretto Spice, Amaretto Vanilla, Amber Romance, Angel Food Cake, Angel Wings, Anise, Apple & Rose, Apple Blossom, Apple Cider, Apple Cinnamon, Apple, Apple Jack, Apple Peel, Apple Pie, Apple Spice, Apple Spice Cake, Apple Strudel, Apples & Berries, Apples & Oak, Apples & Oranges, Apricot, Apricot Brandy, and Apricot Azalea.

So it is clear that there are literally hundreds of possibilities. It only takes a few drops of an essential oil to add the necessary amount of fragrance when making a candle, so purchasing a few of your favorite aromas won’t cost too much and will last a long time.

If this company does not have exactly what you are looking for in terms of equipment or candle making fragrances, another possibility is Natures Garden which has a similar lengthy list of candle making scents.

Whether you are looking to make candles for your own living space, looking for a way to make creative gifts for your friends and family members, or even thinking about starting a small business, making fragrant candles is an excellent hobby that is easy to get into. And once you master the basics and get creative, you’ll be able to make all sorts of different candles that you and others will enjoy.



NICHOLAS