Who says you need to pay for expensive candle making classes to learn how to make beautiful candles? With just a little effort and a whole lot of creativity, you can create candles you can be proud of.

If you wish to make candles on your own, you must first, melt wax using a double boiler at about 200 degrees. Try using a boiler with thermostat control for easier manipulation. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use any can you find in your garage (but clean it first) and a thermometer to gauge temperature. If the wax is emitting smoke the temperature is too high. Try to keep the temperature at a constant level for best results. Warning: wax can explode at dangerous levels (about 390 degrees).

When the wax is completely melted, it’s time to add the dye you want. You can use any color dye you want. As a rule, one block of dye colors about twenty pounds of wax. Stir the dye until it is completely dissolved.

You can also add in some fragrances. You need about 2.5 ounces of scent for every five-pound block of wax. Be careful because some fragrances have their own color and may affect the color of the dye you’ve already mixed. The scent ‘gardenia’ is particularly notorious for giving a ‘green’ effect. It looks great alone, but can ruin other dye colors. Also, be careful how much scent you mix in. Too much can actually remove paint color.

You can now pour the wax mixture into your molds, and stick on your wicks. Let the wax cool overnight. Expect the wax to ‘sink’ and create a hole down the middle – don’t panic when you see this the next day. Simply pour in additional wax and let it cool for another 12 hours and voila — you have made your very own candle.

Without having any ingredients that could harm your well-being, natural soy candles are offered in the most diverse pleasing scents, with plenty of burning instructions on the side. For all the scented candles that your purchase the basic recommendations remain the same. Do not allow children or pets to come in contact with such products, keep the candle away from fabrics or objects that are likely to catch fire and most importantly do not leave the candle burning without careful supervision. All these things are essential for your own safety and it’s important that you know all of them as such, especially if you are likely to surround yourself with these scented candles

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As for the multitude of scents presented for the soy candles, you will certainly be pleased with the offers presented online. Let’s take the example of the blueberry cheesecake scented candles, bearing a strong but extremely pleasant fragrance. The combination between blueberry, vanilla and other subtle undertones make this particular candle a favorite of many people, particularly to those who are into cheesecake. Talking about strong fragrances, the cherry blossom pertains to the same category, offering a definitely unique choice. The white-cherry flower has an incredible scent, being mixed with woody tones, notes of green rosewood and even lily-rose. It’s a killer combination!

If you are passionate about scented candles, but prefer a fragrance that is not too obvious you can go for products based on citric ingredients. The perfume resulted is practically a combination of lemon, lime and tangerine, with just a splash of grapefruit added; there is something fresh, clean and yet sweet about these soy candles, many people preferring them for the fragrance they impart to a room. Just like that you have the cucumber melon combo, which may seem strange at first but it’s completely unique; the flavors of cucumbers, honeydew and cantaloupe come together to create the best scented candles you have ever seen, not to mention the most distinctive fragrance. Not to sweet, just the way you like it.

All the soy candles that have been posted online have something in common. They are handmade, hand-poured and bear the trademark signature of high-quality products. They might include scented candles that release a fragrance that is crisp and clean, based on marine notes and a combination between rosewood with musky tones. Just as well, they might bring back some of your greatest memories, encompassing a scent or a fragrance you completely forgot about it, reminding you perhaps of your childhood or good times spent as growing up. These candles might have an aroma based on floral ingredients, with fruity accents offered by oranges, all delicately emphasized by vanilla undertones.

The light category for soy candles includes products that have fragrances based on green tea, apples and other fruits. Green tea has been used for a long time now for candle making, representing one of the most used tones for scented candles. When combined with apple flavor, the result is spectacular, the scent offered being fresh and yet at the same time unbelievably light. The same feeling of freshness, associated this time with crispness is obtained from candles with a fruity/floral fragrance, with tones of lavender and musk, ready to enchant you in every possible way.

No matter if you are the type to prefer light, moderate or incredibly strong fragrances; you can certainly find what you were looking for online. The products are top of the line, including scents that range from delicious to inviting and vice-versa. It’s all about how the scented candles make you feel, relaxed and sometimes even seductive!

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Our website is the best place where you can find all the scented candles you desire. We can promise you that our soy candles are of the highest possible quality, having exotic fragrances and light tones for your delicate side. Choose us and you will choose the finest scent for your candles!

Candles were invented independently in many countries. The Egyptians and Cretans made candles from beeswax, about 3000 BC. In the fourth century BC there were clay candle holders in Egypt. Qui Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC) was the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). His mausoleum was rediscovered in the 1990s 22 miles east of Xi’an in China and contained candles made from whale fat. In early China and Japan tapers were made with wax from insects and seeds, wrapped in paper. Wax from boiling cinnamon was used for temple candles in India. There is a fish called the “smelt” or candlefish, found from Oregon to Alaska. During the first century AD native Americans used oil from this fish. They put it on a forked stick then lit it. Excavations at Pompeii discovered several candelabra. The Latin word “candere” means to flicker. Yak butter was used for candles in Tibet. In Europe the earliest surviving candle was discovered near Avignon in France, from the first century AD. In 848 King Alfred used a candle-clock which burned for 4 hours. There were lines around the side to show the passing of each hour. Later, there were 24-hour candles. The Sung dynasty in China (960 - 1279) also used candle-clocks. By the 18th century, the Chinese put weights into the sides. As the candle melted, the weights fell off and made a noise as they fell into a bowl. A form of candle-clock was used in coal-mining until the twentieth century. The novel “Anthem” by Ayn Rand contains a scene in chapter VII, where there is a painting showing “the twenty men who invented the candle”. This can only be fanciful.

The Middle Ages

During the middle ages, the popularity of candles is shown by their use in Candlemas and on Saint Lucy festivities. Tallow, fat from cows or sheep, became the standard material used in candles in Europe. The Tallow Chandlers Company of London was formed in about 1300 in London, and in 1456 was granted a coat of arms. By 1415 tallow candles were used in street lighting. The trade of the chandler is also recorded by the more picturesque name of “smeremongere”, since they oversaw the manufacture of sauces, vinegar, soap and cheese. The unpleasant smell of tallow candles is due to the glycerine in it. For churches and royal events, candles from beeswax were used, as the smell was usually less unpleasant. Dating from about 1330, the Wax Chandlers Company acquired its charter in 1484. The first candle mould comes from 15th century Paris. The smell of the manufacturing process was so unpleasant that it was banned by ordnance in several cities. The first American colonists discovered that bayberries could be used to make candles, but the yield was very poor. 15 lbs of boiled bayberries would provide only 1 lb of wax.

new types of oil

Spermaceti is oil that comes from the sperm whale. From about 1750 it was used to provide very expensive candles. By 1800 a much cheaper alternative was discovered. Brassica campestris is derived from rape seed. It yields colza oil. This was the best candle yet, producing clear smokeless flames. The French chemists Michel-Eugene Chevreul (1786 - 1899) and Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac (1788 - 1850) patented stearin, in 1811. Like tallow, this was derived from animals, but had no glycerine content. Joseph Sampson had the second patent ever granted in the United States. It was for a new method of candle-making in 1790. In 1806 William Colgate (1783 - 1857) (later famous for his “Soap and Perfumery Works”) established a tallow factory in New York. By 1847 he had switched to making soap. There seems to be an ethical component of many nineteenth-century soap and candle manufacturers, as Colgate became involved with Bible Societies. James Wilson of Price’s Candles were also concerned about promoting Christianity, and abolishing slavery. Following the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, there were celebration dances across Europe. It is sometimes said that more candles were burned in 1815 than in any year before or since. In 1834 Joseph Morgan began to industrialise the production of candles. He invented a machine to manufacture 1,500 per hour, from a mould.

Paraffin and palm oil

Paraffin is a waxy hydrocarbon, without any smell. A chemist called Laurent distilled it from schist in 1830, and another chemist Dumas, obtained it from coal-tar in 1835. Not until 1850 did it become commercially viable, when James Young filed a patent to produce it from coal. This was a major blow to the candle industry. From this point, candles became more of a decorative item. In 1829 William Wilson of Price’s Candles invested in 1,000 acres of coconut plantation in Sri Lanka. His aim was to make candles from coconut oil. Later he tried palm oil from palm trees, but an accidental discovery swept all this aside. His brother George Wilson distilled the first petroleum oil in Burma in 1854. By 1922 Lever Brothers had bought Prices Candles and in 1922 a joint-owned company called “Candles Ltd” was created. The three owners are today better known as Shell Oil Company, BP and Burmah Oil. By 1991, the last remaining owner of “Candles Ltd” was Shell, who sold off the candle-making part of business.

The oldest candle manufacturers still in existence are Rathbornes Candles, founded in Dublin in 1488.

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Stop and think about that scented candle before you make your purchase. Why pay those retail prices for home decor candles when you can make your own candles in the comfort of your own home, with you very own hands? That is right.

You can enjoy candle making and you will not have to break the bank to purchase the supplies. Not only will you have a beautiful paraffin wax or beeswax candles, you can also have many more of them for the same price as that one retail store candle.

Step one for candle making is assembling the required ingredients that you will need. You must decide at this point whether you will be using paraffin wax, soy wax or beeswax. The paraffin is the most commonly used wax for candles.

Soy wax has the added advantage of being naturally made from soy beans and it is easily cleaned up with soap and water. Beeswax does not require melting. Simply wrap the wax sheets around the wick and press with your fingers to seal it.

So let’s say you are going to use paraffin wax. You will also need: wicks, molds, scented oil for fragrance, something in which you can melt the wax, dyes and putty. Once you have assembled the necessary ingredients it is time to begin by melting the wax.

Please be careful and try not to burn the wax or yourself. Once the wax is melted you will want to work quickly before the wax has time to cool. It is at this point that you add the scented oils and dyes; crayons actually work great for color.

Now comes time for your wick. Insert the wick into the mold and through the opposite end. Secure the wick in place with the putty and wrap the remaining wick outside of the mold around a pencil to hold the wick in place. Now carefully pour the wax into the mold.

Once you have the wax in place, it will need to harden. Do not mess with the candle until it is fully solidified. Do not try to speed the process along, as it will take several hours and perhaps even overnight. Once it is hard you can light and enjoy.

Candle making is a great way to spend an afternoon indoors with your family. Everyone can make their candle and enjoy spending quality time together.

Just take proper precautions if you are making candles with young children so that they are not burned. You can spend that extra money that you saved by making your own homemade candle and buy a decorative candle holder to display your masterpiece.

Supplies

Making votive type candles out of beeswax is one of the simplest forms of beeswax candle making ventures. All you will need to complete this project is beeswax, a plain votive candle, sharp knife, ruler and cutting board. It is important to remember that a votive candle with straight sides will make this project easier.

Process

The first thing you need to do is roll your candle. This is where you roll your votive candle on the beeswax to measure the size you will need to cut. You can choose to roll your votive so the top of it is flush with the beeswax or you can roll it so the beeswax is a little higher than the candle.

Whichever style you decide to make, the next step in beeswax candle making is the cutting of the beeswax. Place your candle on the sheet of beeswax and mark the desired height with your knife. To ensure that the cuts you make are straight we recommend using a ruler to cut the beeswax. You will most likely need two lengths of the beeswax, so take the first piece you cut and lay it on the leftover length and cut the second piece.

After you have your lengths of beeswax cut you will need to do the second step of rolling your candle. Take your votive and lay it on its side on one of the lengths ensuring the bottom of the candle is flush with the edge of the beeswax. Once you begin rolling you may notice that there is a taper to your votive. Since most votives are tapered, ensure that the top of the roll is tight even though the bottom may not be. Once the first length is rolled, take the second and begin rolling that where you left off.

Finishing Touches

The final step in beeswax candle making is trimming excess wax. To have the same thickness of beeswax all the way around, only roll the second layer to where the first layer ended and trim the excess. Now you can add any finishing touches you desire. Try a bow or some glitter to give it flare. Beeswax candle making is an inexpensive idea for gifts since everybody loves candles. It’s also an easy project to do with your kids!

Practice and Raw Material Are the Key to Perfection

The type of candle making material you purchase will decide what type of candles you are able to make.  Many of the candle making materials available will make numerous different types of candles from scented candles, tealites, novelty candles, decorative candles, gel candles, pillars, soy candles, etc.  The list is endless.  Before you decide on the type of candle, you need to think about who will be receiving it.

If you are planning on giving your boss a candle for Boss’s Day or even for his birthday you may choose to design a gel candle with some inserts in it depicting your respect or their personality.  A candle prepared for your mother could be of the aromatic kind or a tealite that could easily depict your appreciation and love for everything she does.

As with just about everything, the quality of the candle making material is absolutely important.  Therefore, before you decide to start giving out candles as gifts you need to experiment a little.  Try out a few different types of candle making materials and practice the art of candle making so you will be prepared for any type of variations or problems that may arise.

A rule of thumb is to begin with the easier types of candles and keep practicing until it becomes second nature.  Be sure to follow all of the safety guidelines as candle making has substantial potential for accidents.  Always wear eye protection and keep a fire extinguisher on hand and be sure to wear a fire retardant apron.

Stock Up on the Basic Candle Making Material Needed

If your plan is to make candles as gifts to use whenever the need arises, be sure to keep plenty of candle making material on hand so you will not be caught off guard when an unforeseen need for a gift arises.  A nice inventory will ensure that you will be able to create a special gift from the heart at the drop of the hat when you want to make a personal gift for someone near and dear to you.

Besides having enough candle making material on hand, you will also need to have enough gift boxes, wrap and tissue paper on hand for wrapping.  The presentation of your gift is just as important as the treasure itself.

Who Invented the Candle?

There is not a single inventor to give credit to for the art of candle making.  The history of candle making technology was developed independently in many different countries as a means of survival.

Early Origins of Candles

The history of candle making dates back to about three thousand years before the birth of Christ when the Cretans and ancient Egyptians were making candles from beeswax.  Beeswax is a matter secreted from bees as they build honeycombs to store their honey.  Candles made from beeswax are still in demand today and are one of the simplest forms of candles to make at home.

During the first century, the ancient Romans were using candles made from tallow, an animal fat.  They would use the center of a bulrush, a reed that can be found in the wetlands, to serve as a wick.  This form of candle making was used well into the Eighteenth Century, but with spermaceti, which is derived from the blubber of a sperm whale.  These candles were some of the finest candles produced up to that point in the history of candle making.

In time, colza oil (or canola oil), which is derived from turnip and rapeseed oil, replaced the spermaceti.  This enabled candle makers the ability to make candles wherever these plants could be found, and this oil was less costly.

Along Comes Paraffin

The history of candle making was changed forever in 1830 when paraffin was invented.  Paraffin is an inexpensive substance produced by a collection of alkaline based chemicals derived from minerals.  This new material would produce a clean-burning, high quality, odorless candle.  Paraffin was used for other things as well.  You’ll see it on waxed paper, as electrical insulation and in the coating on cheese.  However, it’s most dominant use is its place in the history of candle making.

Since the discovery of kerosene and its excellent use as a fuel source, candles almost became obsolete.  Candles became an item for decorative purposes as the kerosene lamps took over as the indoor light source.

The history of candle making will have new members as resin and soy oil join that rank.  The romantic candlelit dinner and the demand for aromatherapy will always keep the art of candle making alive today.

Even though candle making directions are easy to follow it is important to remember that when letting kids help, caution should be used.  Let them read the directions to you and help only with the simpler tasks.  Heating of the wax should never be left to a child as this can lead to injuries.

Basic Candle Making Directions

While making a basic candle, the first thing you need to do is melt the wax.  The recommended way to melt wax is with the use of a double boiler.  There are other means available but the double boiler is safer and easier.  Remember to always keep a thermometer on hand to check the temperature of the wax as it melts.

After the wax has melted completely you can add any fragrance or dyes of your choosing.  Be sure to stir the mixture well and continue to melt another 5 minutes to allow the dyes and fragrance to completely dissolve.  Then give it one more stir to ensure that everything is well combined.

Now you can pour the melted wax into the molds that you have already prepared with wicks.  There are numerous sizes and shapes of molds available.  Once the wax is poured you need to let the molds cool overnight. This will ensure that they have completely cooled and will not get ruined as you remove the finished product from the molds.

That is basically all that you need to do to create your own home made candles.  As you become more knowledgeable on the subject you will be able to add your own variations to these candle making directions.  Candle making has always been a favorite hobby and pastime.  Just remember that practice makes perfect so don’t become discouraged if the first few attempts aren’t successful.

You can also find numerous candle making classes and seminars online that will aid you in your projects and most are inexpensive.  This is surely a hobby that will come in handy not only to make your own candles but to allow you to make hand made gifts for friends and family around the holidays.  Who wouldn’t appreciate a homemade candle from someone they love?

As part of your candle making supplies shopping, you will need to purchase containers or molds for your candles.  If you prefer the jar type candle you can purchase jelly, mason or apothecary jars.  Metal tins are also a great container for the candle maker as they produce beautiful candles.  If your desire is to make different shaped candles you can purchase molds in many different shapes and sizes, from scalloped to round.  You have height choices at your fingertips when making votive or pillar candles.  Use your imagination with different combinations of molds, colors and scents.

Candle Making Supplies Include Different Waxes

The Egyptians were probably the first to make candles over five thousand years ago.  As time went on, light was supplied to societies in Japan, Italy and China by candles.   The first people to arrive in America also made candles as a way of using the night hours as well as the day.  The candles produced back then were not very dependable and had a foul odor to them.  The candle making supplies available today allow you to produce candles with very aromatic fragrances.  Some of them even include essential oils which are believed to have scents that can produce an atmosphere of relaxation.

Even though candles are not a necessity for light any more, the candle making supplies that are available are numerous.  The variety of waxes accessible today can produce candles that are very reliable, some of them lasting for many hours.  The desires of your customers, or your personal preferences, are easily obtainable by the wide range of candle making supplies you have.  You can choose from paraffin, beeswax or soy, and some candle makers like to blend different waxes.  Though candles are not an essential means of light anymore, the demand for beautiful, fragrant candles is very high today.

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.

About the Author

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Highly Scented Candles. For hand-crafted scented candles that are clean and long burning visit Highly Scented Candles