Candle Making Tips

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.

Making your own candles is a favorite craft and hobby many individuals. They find the process to be enjoyable and relaxing. Candle makers have been know to turn to their hobby in times of stress. For some candle makers, once they learn the basics they are ready for new challenges. Purchasing books on candle making can provide you with everything from basic instructions, tips, and creative ideas to make beautiful candles. Most candle making books offer wonderful illustrations as well as step by step instructions.

The type of book you want to purchase will depend on your candle making experience, the types of candles you are interested in making, and if you are making candles for fun or to sell. Take the time to explore what each book has to offer you before making a purchase so that you won’t be disappointed. You might also check with your local library for books on candle making. If you find one there you really like then you have the option to purchase it. You can also find great discounts on used candle making books online at Ebay and Yahoo Auctions.

“The Candle Maker’s Companion” by Betty Oppenheimer and Deborah Balmuth is considered to be the “must have” candle making book. It offers information for everyone including beginners and advanced. Another great choice is “The Encyclopedia of Candle Making Techniques”. This book has gotten rave reviews for providing quality information in an easy to understand form.

For those of you who have a solid foundation of basic candle making processes, consider trying “The Complete Candle Maker Techniques, Projects, and Inspirations”. The book offers great photos of forty different candles you can make. There are step by step instructions to help you make any of them that interest you. This book includes great tips and points as well to help candle makers avoid the common mistakes that affect the results of their candles.

For those of you who enjoy making candles for special occasions and holidays, the book “Creative Candles: Over 40 Inspiring Projects for Making and Decorating Candles for Every Occasion” by Sue Spear is a great book to consider for your collection. This book features candle making ideas for Halloween, Easter, and Christmas. There are also ideas for creating candles to use as center pieces and for wedding decorations.

If you are interested in doing candle making with your children, “Great Candles” is especially designed with fun candles that are easy to do with them. The book is also written in a way that children will be interested in reading it as well. The internet is a great resource to find other great candle making books to meet your expectations.

Candle making is a great pastime. You can educate yourself on the areas of candle making by exploring various books. There are books designed for all candle making levels of expertise as well as on particular themes of candles and types of candles. The market is flooded with resources in the area of candle making, so the process of tracking down a few good books on the subject should be easy as well as fairly inexpensive. Remember to check the library, local book sales, and yard sales for these books as well. Compare prices online to make sure you get the best price for the ones you are interested in.

Candles are now one of the best gift ideas, source of income, way of relaxing and so forth. For a better effect and for safety reasons, it is good to have candle holders for these useful and essential things. When it comes to quality candle holders, choose the name with reliability and dependability. This does not only finish there, it could be the answer to your search for those stylish holders that would make your candles look greater.

We just cannot let candles stand alone. We know that they really cold be very attractive and stylish on their own but it would be safer if we use holders for them. You just could not allow any holder to put our money to waste. We must look for something that would really meet our needs and the style we want to. You would be very flattered with the candles we wanted to display in our home especially in our living room where we welcome guests if they are of good quality.

What are candle holders for? Besides keeping those drips from the furniture or the covers we love, they could really be source of style. They could add to what beauty your candles show. We could have the style. There are loads of holders and there are a lot of styles you could choose from but what we have recommended will totally be a whole lot different in every aspect you could think of.

Do you love candles? Well, we have some great things to tell you. Have you heard about the hottest candle holders? We do not literally mean hot temperature, but hot in style. More than the style, it is also made of quality materials and coated with the style you have ever wished for. Count on a great quality of candle stands, nothing could beat when your satisfaction is at stake. Get one and you will ask for more. Get more and you will be really satisfied for good.

When you think that the candles you have are too plain to create that great effect, think again… Of course, you can find means in making them more attention-puller. One way is by placing them on candle holders. These would not only make you feel safer since they protect you from any untoward incident involving candles but when you choose those you trust as to quality and style, you will know. You will not just find out what style is, you will surely have it inside your home.

Candles are more beautiful with the best candle holders. The best would be an understatement for the right candle holders if you could find them. With the quality, versatility and elegance, you could never find such adjectives from other products.

When you choose what we have just recommended, you will never go wrong. You will always have that best option with you. When you are making choices, it would be best if you know you could rely on what you have chosen. And, make sure it is not only good for today.

Candle Making is a fun hobby and enterprising business venture for others. There are basic supplies you need in order to make candles. All candles require three essentials – wax, wick, and a candle holder. Since candles can be made in various shapes, styles, and shapes; the amount of wax, length of wick, and type of candle holder you will use depends on your own preferences. The wax used for candle making is either paraffin wax or beeswax.

To melt the wax for your candles properly, you will need to purchase a good quality double boiler. To make the wax melting easy purchase stir sticks and a thermometer. To ensure the users of your candles can enjoy every bit, consider adding wick clips to the base of the candle.

Candle molds are very popular to help you design your own candles. You can purchase hundreds of different style candle molds or you can make your own. Candle molds are made from aluminum or metal. To make inserting the wick quick and easy, invest in a wick holder bar. A silicon mold release spray will ensure your candles slide out of the mold easily and keep their perfect shape. Mold cleaner will help ensure they work properly time and time again.

Colors add appeal to candles. The market offers a full array of colors to purchase for candles. There are many shades of the primary colors as well as pretty pastels and bold brights. Some candle makers like to experiment with mixing colors to create their own unique and attractive candle colors. The colors come in the form of a dye.

You have the option of leaving candles plain or adding your favorite scents. Traditional scents include cinnamon, vanilla, and potpourri. However, the choices are unlimited. Some of the aromas help you to relax and others will make your mouth water. You don’t want your candle scents to be overpowering or not strong enough. To be sure you have the right about, add one ounce of scent for each pound of wax used to make the candle.

The amount of each supply you will need depends on the types of candles you are planning to make and the size of each. On average, you can get all the supplies you need to start making candles for $100. Candle making supplies can be purchased at craft stores or online. To save money on candle making supplies, consider purchasing a candle making kit. They offer a small supply of all the items for a discounted price.

Candle making is a fascinating art that allows you to express your own creations. To help ensure your candles develop in a form that can be used, purchase the above listed candle making supplies. There are many accessories available as well to make your candle making more enjoyable. Candle paints help you create your designs on the candles. This is a great way to create gorgeous contrasts between the candle color and the overall look. Luster spray gives candles a very shiny look. A base leveler will help you align crooked candles. As well as ensure the bottoms are flat and smooth. Candles with wavy bottoms won’t sit well in a holder. Many people will enjoy the great books available on candle making. They can be purchased at major book retailers or online.

Candles have been used in home settings for centuries. Originally used for illumination, they were very utilitarian in function, with no thought of appearance or scent. But with electricity becoming commonplace, the candles role began to change.
Candles became more decorative and were recognized for their ability to achieve a certain ambiance, or mood, in any room. Candles went from being exclusively for tabletop settings to more designer-oriented sconces and multi-candle wall displays. But for the traditionalist, a formal dinner table is still not complete without at least a couple of tall tapered candles.
Scented Candles
Scented candles are just wonderful for decorating your home. Most are offered in attractive styles and decorative shapes, making them easy and fun to use around the house. Scented candles, especially the ones made rich with scented oils, emit their aromatic fragrance whether lit or not.
Placing scented pillar candles or jar candles in hallways, bathrooms and even kitchens can help freshen the air and eliminate unwanted odors. These types of candles are offered in a myriad of fragrances, sizes and shapes to meet every candle lovers needs.
Dinner Candles
Long tapered candles on a dining room table are classic. However, the newest candle displays have taken a different twist. A table decorated with a collection of small votives in matching holders can be quite a stunning addition to the dinner table. Try the same idea with an assorted mix of candle containers for a more eclectic look.
Having a dinner party?
Candleholders that also function as place card holders are available and allow you to dazzle your guests with your creativity. And whether your preference is traditional tapered candles or a grouping of votives, either will cast a special glow over the dinner table at your next party or festive event.
Other Decorative Candles
There is a multitude of specialty candles and candleholders on the market. Some are very creative with designs in the shapes of your favorite animals, others with more modern or abstract designs. Whatever your taste in candles, you can almost be assured that a candle is designed with your decorating tastes in mind.
Candle Do’s and Don’ts
Uses for modern day candles are only restricted by one’s own imagination. But decorating with candles can have its pitfalls, too. To help you avoid these decorating “faux pas”, the following tips will get you started on the road to becoming a candle aficionado.
§ If you like grouping your candles, remember to match the scents of all the candles to avoid creating a combined scent that is either too strong or unpleasant.
§ Consider mixing like-scented candles with unscented candles in your grouping to help control the overall strength of the scent.
§ Never use scented candles on a dinner table. The scent of the candles will compete with and interfere with the sumptuous aroma of the meal. Researchers have found that the aromatic smell of food actually is one of the most important elements of the dining experience.
§ Candles on a dining room table should always be smokeless. Be sure to trim the candle wick if it exceeds ¼ “ to reduce the potential of unwanted smoke.
§ Burning a scented candle in your bathroom, or “powder” room, will eliminate unpleasant odors. This is a nice touch for your next party or gathering of special friends.
§ Always burn your candles in a secure, fireproof holder made especially for candles. Also, ensure that there are no paper products or hand towels in close proximity to the candle’s flame. Using a tall candleholder with a shorter candle is just plain smart and keeps the flame away from flammable items.
§ If the candle holder is an open vessel, like a candle stick, always opt for dripless candles. Who wants a puddle of wax on your nice table linens?
§ When placing lower-flamed candles around a table, make sure it is done in such a pattern that a person’s shirt sleeve or clothing cannot pass through or over the flame.
§ Don’t place your candles too close to flower arrangements. Candles have been known to wilt or ruin flowers if the flame overheats their petals.
Remember – always practice safe candle burning! The most important aspect of using and enjoying your candles is to never leave them burning unattended, or where a child could be drawn to the candle and potentially be burned.
Keep it safe and enjoy the magical benefits of decorating your home with candles!