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:

1. A stove or hot plate.  This is where you will heat the wax.
2. 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.
3. Wax that will melt inside the coffee can.
4. A thermometer to test the temperature of the wax before pouring.
5. As many wicks  as you need for the number of candles you will make.
6. A candle mold  in which the wax will harden. Metal molds are used for votives and pillars, but beginners may opt for Dixie cups.
7. Glass or earthenware containers to use for container candles.
8. 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.

External Links

• Candlewic -- An excellent site dedicated to candle making. Here's a list of their newsletters dating back to February 2001.
• CandleTech -- Basic instructions for making votives, pillars, and container candles. The site also has more advanced projects available from the home page.
• Candle Cauldron -- A great resource site for candle makers.
• Pioneer Thinking -- Some basics about candles and candle making.
• CandleMaking.org -- Lots of help for beginners, including safety, mixing, projects,adding scent, and more.