Candle Making Fragrance-What You Need to Know
One of the main reasons why people buy and make candles is for their smell. For some, the fact that candles are a source of light is completely secondary. This is where fragrances come in. Although the addition of a fragrance has a huge impact on a candle, the process of adding the fragrance is extremely simple.
Fragrance options range from chemicals to natural oils and they are readily available. Some of the fragrances that are available include apple pie, apricot, vanilla, cherry, strawberry, mint, and aloe vera. I’m confident that you could find any fragrance you desire with very little effort. You can even mix fragrances together to create your own scent.
You can get fragrances at your local craft store. However, I have found that shopping online for fragrances gives me the best options and the cheapest prices.
It most cases you will only need to add a few drops of a fragrance to your candle wax. Read the information available on label and the seller’s website (if buying online) and you will get a good understanding regarding how much fragrance is needed. Trust me, in the majority of the cases you will encounter, large amounts of fragrances are not needed.
You will quickly find that people will want your candles and they won’t even burn them. They will enjoy the smell so much, they just want to leave the candle on display. This will occur quite often with college students who are restricted from burning anything in their dorm rooms.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. The first time you begin to work with fragrances you may be a little disappointed with the result. You candle may come out smelling too strong or it might not be fragrant enough. Don’t give up! With a little practice, you will be an expert in no time.
Understanding Candle Making Jars
If you are looking for a safe and reliable method for holding your candles, then I strongly suggest that you consider using candle making jars. They can prove to be great for transforming your candle into an outstanding decoration.
Contrary to what you may have heard, there is no such thing as a jar that is specifically for candle making. Please don’t let the people at the craft store fool you. Don’t get me wrong, you might find some really nice jars there. Physically, those jars are no different than any other jar you could find.
Any heat resistant container can be used for your candle. You may have a very nice container that is not heat resistant. I highly recommend that you do not use it. I prefer using glass. Clear glass gives me more flexibility for decorating. I love the way they allow of the color of the candle to be shown.
Make sure that your jars are clean and free from any cracks before using them. Cracks could prove to be very detrimental to your entire experience.
The inside of your jar needs to be completely dry before you pour the wax. Moisture inside of the jar can prevent the wax from sticking to the jar. I suggest you heat that jar in an oven at 150-175 degrees for about 10 minutes.
If you love to add some flair to your candles, then you will love wax jars. These jars allow you to incorporate many different elements like stickers, ribbons and flowers to your presentation.
Candle making jars allow us to be as creative as we want to be. Have fun and let your imagination flow!
How to Make Beeswax Candles
Beeswax Candles are simple and extremely quick to make. They are also very safe too, because heat is not required.
To get started making beeswax candles, here are some of the materials that you will need:
1. Wicks
2. Sheets of Beeswax
3. Cutting Board
4. Ruler
5. Knife or Scissors
Start out by priming your wicks. This step is optional, but I believe that this will improve the performance of your candle. Here are the steps required for priming your wick.
1. Cut the wick to your desired length. Hint: the wick should be a little longer than the width of your paper. About 1/2 inch is a good rule of thumb.
2. Melt a few pieces of beeswax in a small pot.
3. Once the beeswax is melted, place the wick inside of the pot.
4. Use something to stir the wick in the pot. A couple of suggestions are a fork, a chopstick or tongs. Use this same tool to remove the wick from the pot once it is completely covered in beeswax.
5. Place the wick on a piece of wax paper.
Now that the wick is primed, it is time to create your candle. To create your candle, you will end up rolling the wax paper around the wick. Here is how to do it:
1. Grab a sheet of beeswax and place it on a flat, clean surface.
2. Lay the wick on the edge of the sheet. Remember that at least 1/2 inch of the wick should extend past the end of the beeswax sheet.
3. Carefully begin to roll the beeswax over the beeswax over the wick. Make sure you wrap the beeswax sheet around as tight as possible. This will help you get a neat and even candle.
4. Continue rolling the wick until all of the beeswax paper is used up. Press your fingers across the edge of the end of the beeswax paper to create a nice seal across the length of the candle.
5. The wick should only be exposed on one side of the candle. Check the bottom of the candle to make sure that wick isn’t sticking out. If it is, cut the exposed portion off.
6. Leave about 1/4-1/2 inch of wick exposed at the top of the candle.
That is it! You have just created a beeswax candle in a matter of minutes.
Candle Making Molds
There are a large number of candle making molds that you can buy to make candles at home. The options are endless.
A candle mold is a container that is used to hold hot wax while it cools. The mold holds the shape of the wax until it is cooled completely.
Candle molds are made out of many different materials, sizes, shapes and styles. Many candle makers use aluminum molds because of its durability and resistance. The smooth finish of aluminum molds will give you a candle without any seams making the candle look professionally made. Votive and pillar candles are usually made out of these types of metal molds. When compared to rubber molds, aluminum molds are inexpensive.
An additional bonus with aluminum molds is that they are easy to clean. Place the mold on a baking sheet in your oven. Place the molds upside down and heat the oven to 150 degrees. The leftover wax will melt and run out of the mold onto the cookie sheet. Don’t forget to line your cookie sheet first.
One of the drawbacks with aluminum molds is that they are not flexible. This leaves little choices in regards to varying shapes or textures of the candles. A releasing agent will be required to get the candle out of the mold.
Rubber molds like polyurethane, silicone and latex are very flexible. Polyurethane molds do not stretch, but they are flexible. In addition, they are usually cheaper than silicone molds. A downside is that polyurethane molds have a strong odor that may be able to be passed along in your candle. A releasing agent will be needed in order to get the candle out of the mold. These types of molds are usually used to create pillar and taper candles.
Silicone molds have outstanding qualities that make them the most expensive type of molds. They do not leave any parting lines. They are also flexible and stretchable, so a releasing agent is not needed to remove a candle from the mold.
Latex molds are losing their luster. They were once used very often, but advances in other types of molds have caused candle makers to seek other options. You can make your own molds at home by using liquid latex and painting into a structure. A lot of coats of latex are needed for this process. However, the options of different types of unique molds are endless.
While candle plastic molds are the cheapest, they are not always the best. Since they are more brittle, they have a shorter lifespan. Plastic molds are easy to clean. Soap and water is all that is needed. Before you use the mold again, make sure that it is completely dry. If you don’t, you will get bubbles in your candles. Plastic molds are good for beginners. If you want to take your candle making to the next level, then you will probably need to invest in different types of molds.
Learn to Make Scented Candles
If you want to add elegance to a room, place a scented candle in it. Candlelight from any candle will give a room a romantic feeling. The fragrance of a scented candle plus the candlelight take the elegance to a different level.
Scented candles can be created by using fragrance oil that is available at craft stores or online. The use of oils is the best way to create a scented candle. You should not use water-bases or alcohol based perfumes. The chemical composition of most waxes is very close to oil and water and oil do not mix. If you use a water-based perfume, the liquid will float to the bottom of your melted wax.
One of the good things about scented candles is the the fragrance is noticed even when the candle is not lit. This makes them great gifts, especially when they are handmade. Scented candles are made the same way regular candles are. The process begins by deciding which kind of wax your are going to use.
You can choose from many different kind of waxes. Natural waxes include soy, palm and beeswax. Most candles are made of paraffin wax and you can also use gel candles. With gel candles, it is important for you to consider how much fragrance you are planning to use before you choose your wax. Lesser density gel wax can not hold as much fragrance as gel wax with a higher density.
Before you make a candle, you will need to melt the wax before it can be poured into a candle mold. A double boiler will be required to melt the wax. Take a smaller pot that has the wax in it and place it into al larger pot that is filled with water. The wax will burn if the temperature of the stove is too high. Heat the wax to 170-180 degrees. Using a thermometer will help you gauge the desired temperature.
Next, add the wick to the mold. You can remove the wax from the heat source once it has melted. Add one ounce of fragrance oil to one pound of wax. Doing this gives you a 6% fragrance concentration.
Be careful regarding how much fragrance you add. More fragrance is not always the best solution. Problems can arise from excessive use of fragrance. The candle may not burn properly due to the higher concentration of liquid. You could end up with pools of liquid in the candle. Feel free to experiment with your candle making. Keep good records regarding how much fragrance and wax you use. You will be able to develop your own scented candle recipe.
Using scents and candles will give you great variety in your candle making. The ability to give one a candle with the essence of relaxation and a calming scent is a great thing! Now all you need to do is get started and have fun!
Candle Making Wax Basics
The quality of candle wax has improved over the years. Today candle wax is more diversified, more available and better than ever before. Most of the major changes in candle making have been with the makeup of the wax.
Most candles used today are created from paraffin wax. This type of wax is refined from petroleum making it readily available and inexpensive. Other wax sources are natural and refined from vegetable or plant materials. Some examples of this are soy, palm or bayberry.
Soy based wax is a natural wax that is growing in popularity. It is processed by hydrogenating soybeans which makes them suitable for candles and eco-friendly. One of the good things about soy wax is that is grown primarily in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana.
Palm wax is also a natural and renewable resource that is growing in popularity. This popularity is hurting some of our other natural resources around the world. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have been clearing out large areas of rain forests in order to plant palm plantations. As a result, ecosystems are being devastated and endangered animals like orangutans, rhinoceroses and the Sumatran tiger are being compromised. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was founded to develop and define the best practices for sustainable palm cultivation. We can all do our part to help the environment by making sure that the palm wax we buy has been obtained in an eco-friendly way.
Recently there has been a growing interest in making candles from beeswax. It is available in yellow or white and has become quite popular. The cost of beeswax can be expensive. However, candle makers love its pleasant fragrance, burning characteristics and the hardiness of the product.
Gel candles are emerging as a new way to make candles. Gel has a clear rubbery texture that works the same as wax and it is available in three different densities. The density of the gel will depend on what type of candle you are trying to make and how much fragrance you are trying to use. Low density gel wax is best for candles with a 0-3% fragrance load and it can be poured at a lower temperature. The most popular gel to work with is the medium density gel. It works well with candles that have a 3-5% fragrance load. For candles with a heavier fragrance load, high density gel wax is best.
Wax variety gives the candle maker the opportunity to choose the type of wax that works best for them. A candle maker can fully understand every inch of the candle market when they are able to understand each kind of wax. They will look at the candle making market from a completely different perspective and fulfillment will increase.
Learn to Make Soy Candles
If you are looking for a natural, clean burning candle, then soy candles are for you. This probably why their popularity is growing. Even though soy wax is more expensive than paraffin wax, many people who make soy candles are quickly becoming addicted to them.
In order to create soy wax, oil is extracted from soybean flakes and hydrogenated. The United States is the largest soybean producer in the world. Illinois, Iowa and Indiana are the states in which soybeans are commonly grown.
To say that soy candles burn cleaner that paraffin candles is true to an extent. The main difference is in the soot that each type of candle emits. Soy candles emit white soot, while paraffin candles emit black soot. Soot is not harmful to people, but whit soot is a little cleaner than black soot.
The techniques used for making soy candles and paraffin candles is similar. A double boiler is used to melt the soy wax. To create a double boiler take a small pot and place the wax in it. Then take a larger pot, fill it with water and place the pot on the stove top. Place the smaller pot on top of the larger pot and heat the soy wax to 150-180 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep the melted max above 150 degrees Fahrenheit for too long it could cause the wax to burn and have a yellowish appearance.
You can add your desired color once the wax has melted. Then, remove the wax from the heat and add the fragrance. For best results, you should use 7% fragrance by weight. For every one pound of soy wax, you can use 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil. A high fragrance concentration will cause the fragrance to bleed through the candle.
Next, you will need to pour the wax into the the mold to cool. Keep the wax temperature between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The candle could crack if you pour the wax at too low of a temperature. Using water to cool the candle quickly can also cause the candle to crack also. This is a practice that you may want to avoid.
There are a couple of differences between soy candles and paraffin candles. Since soy is a softer wax, it is not suitable for all types of candles. For instance, soy wax is not good for making novelty candles, pillar candles and taper candles. You can make floating candles out of soy if they are up to 3 inches in diameter.
The process of candle making is fairly universal. If you can make paraffin wax candles, then you can make soy wax candles. With candle making, there are times when you need to try out a couple of different options to see what works best for you. While paraffin candles and soy candles have some similarities, creating variety in your candle making will give you a nice boost, whether you make candles for business or pleasure.
Learn to Make Gel Candles
The popularity of gel candles is growing. Although they are made a little differently, gel candles work the same as wax candles.
Gel candles are made of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. Resin is initially in a powder form. It transforms into a solid state when it is mixed with mineral oil. Gel wax comes in three different densities: high, medium and low. Oil holds more fragrance at higher densities. As a result, a thicker gel is created that will allow suspended decorations to be held within the candle. A thicker gel is harder to pour and it takes longer to meld.
The melting and pouring steps that go into making regular wax are identical to the step required to melt and pour gel wax. However, the equipment and techniques are slightly different. Many people use a double boiler to melt most types of candle wax. The process of using a double boiler would take way too long for melting gel wax.
A number of gel candle makers have found to multi-cookers to be a viable option. Multi-cookers are similar to deep fryers. Typically, they are metal with a non-stick coating. Multi-cookers allow you to get the proper temperature to melt the gel wax because they have a separate heating element with a temperature dial. Instead of using two separate pots, one with water and one to melt the wax, gel wax is palced directly in the multi-cooker to melt. You may still want to use a separate thermometer to make sure the gel is melted at the proper temperature even though the multi-cooker comes with a separate temperature dial. Use something made out of metal or hard plastic to stir the wax instead of wooden spoons. Often times, the use of wooden spoons can add bubbles to the gel. If you don’t already have one, you should consider investing in a chemical fire extinguisher. Gel candle wax can catch fire.
You can use dyes to change the color of gel wax. Liquid candle dyes are a great solution for this because they maintain the translucency of the gel. The color of the wax can usually be changed with a small amount of dye. You’ll find that even a drop of dye is too much sometimes. Stay away from using crayons, clothing dye, food coloring, or soap dyes in the gel candle wax. These substances are not effective for burning because they are not made specifically for candles.
The process of making gel candles is easy and fast. The possibilities for makeing candles with gel wax are endless. One of the good things about using gel to make candles is that it gives you the ability to add decorations directly in the wax so they float within the candle. This is a great way to personalize a candle if you are making it as a gift for someone else. Since gel candles burn slower than regular wax candles, they will last a little longer.
Make Your Own Candles
People from all over the world have been experienced the joy and benefits of candle making for thousands of years. It is amazing how something that started out as a necessity is now a hobby that is enjoyed by many people. There are many reasons why candle making continues to be a popular hobby. Candle making is great for personal use, craft projects and gifts. A number of people create a business by making and selling candles.
If you are looking for a rewarding experience making candles will fit the bill, whether it be for personal use or to give away as gifts. You can find the tool you need to make your own candles at many local craft stores. Wax, wicks and molds should not be hard to find at all. Since the hobby of candle making is so popular, you will find that color, decorations and fragrances are readily available.
Candle making begins by preparing the wax. This is done by melting it in a double boiler. What is a double boiler? It is simple. You take one large pot, fill it with water, and sit it on a stove. Take another smaller pot that contains the un-melted wax and sit it inside the larger pot. Using a double boiler prevents the wax from burning.
Now that the wax is melted, it is time to insert the wick. Hold the wick in the middle of the mold and pour in the wax. It will take four to six hours for the wax to harden. Do not attempt to remove the wax from the mold until then.
There are a couple of things you can do if you have a tough time removing the wax from the mold. You can try putting the entire thing in the freezer for a half an hour. Spraying non-stick cooking spray into the mold before you pour the way will help make it easier to remove the competed candle.
The options you have for making candles at home are limitless. You have multiple fragrances, colors and decorations to choose from. The only thing limiting you is your imagination.
You might even consider making your own mold at some point. Using liquid latex to make molds is becoming popular among candle enthusiats. The use of latex molds comes with one small problem. They can be difficult to stand on end and pour wax in the bottom of them. This is due to their flexibility. This can be remedied by cutting a hole in a piece of sturdy cardboard. Make the hole big enough so that the mold can slip through up to the lip. This is why all latex molds need a lip on the bottom. Then pour the wax into the bottom of the mold and the cardboard will provide support.
Selling candles can be a very lucrative business. Many entreprenuers have managed to turn their hobby into a stream of income. Buying supplies in bulk at discount prices is a key factor in this. A little time and effort will go a long way when it comes to making attractive products. Since people are always looking for something new, imagination is a key ingredient to success.
