Simple and Easy Steps to Make Oil Candles

If you thought every candle needs to have some kind of wax, then you are wrong. There were and still are candles that actually do not use solid wax. Does this ring a bell? Switch back to a couple of centuries ago. Along with the candle, lamps were made of wick that burnt on oil. These oil lamps or oil candles were then a necessity. Today, they serve many purposes.

The most common purpose that an oil candle serves today is that it adds beauty to the place where it is kept. It sets the mood for the occasion. It sets the rhythm for a romantic date. You can also give it as a gift to someone who would appreciate its warmth, glow and its sheer beauty.

Making oil candles is considerably different from making wax candles. You don’t use solid wax and melt it. The process is simple and hence learning how to make oil candles is a breeze. Any one can do. The material required can be got anywhere. The ease of the process and easy availability of material makes it ideal for children as well.

First, you have to find a jar. Any glass bottle or jar would do. There is no restriction on size or shape. Wine bottles, perfume bottles, hexagonal kitchenware; anything will do. Since glass is transparent, you don’t have to worry about the color of the wax. You can simply add any kind of decoration in the jar and it will show up beautifully.

You next need a funnel to fill the jar with oil. You will also require a thermal glass wick tube to place the wick. You can find these materials in your local craft store without any hassle.

Once you have selected your jar and have the other things required, fill the glass up with paraffin oil. Do not fill the whole bottle, till the point of leaking. This will not affect the burning, but you will spill a lot of oil when moving the jar. Fill the bottle until there is about half an inch to an inch of space left at the top.

After the bottle is filled with oil, it’s now time for the wick. The wick can simply be left suspended in the bottle or it can be put in a tube which can be left standing in the jar. If you are using the wick in a tube, make sure that the mouth of the tube is below the level of oil.

Your candle is now ready to burn. But that’s not all. While your candle will certainly burn, you have to make it look good. You can add anything to your oil candle. Some things that people mostly add to their candles include shells, marbles, beads, dried flowers and herbs etc. You may not just have one of these things but several of them.

Oil candle making gives a lot of pleasure and watching one made by you burn, will indeed give you great pleasure and satisfaction. It is not restricted to any group of people as it is easy and takes very little time.

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Why You Should Use Candle Making Jars?

There are endless possibilities to making a candle. Your options are varied depending on the wax, the container, the wick, color and fragrance. Another parameter that determines your variety is the container. If you decide to put your candle in a container, then you must know that your options have just become unlimited.

Candles in jars are perhaps among the most attractive. You can put any kind of candle in a jar. Most commonly seen are votive candles, which comprise smaller cups or containers with candles, made of beeswax or paraffin. These days, it is also common to see gel candles in jars. Gel candles are transparent, like glass itself and can give great color variation throughout their body. When placed in containers, they can be attractive.

The candle that you put in a candle making jar, depends on the material. To melt the wax you need a double boiler setup. A double boiler consists of two pots, one larger than the other. The larger one is used to contain water and is placed on the heat source. The smaller one holds the wax. The wax starts melting as it nears its melting temperature. Before the wax is about to melt, add any color and fragrance that you want. Once the wax has melted, you can pour it into the container. You have to ensure that the container is not wet and rests on an even surface so that the wax settles evenly. When you are pouring the wax, you have to hold the wick in place.

Many people also use attractive candle making jars for filling with solid wax. Different kinds of wax chunks can simply be added to the jars. A wick of sufficient thickness can then be placed snuggly into the jar. You can also add any kind of decorative materials to make the candle look attractive. You cannot add any candle color as you don’t melt the wax. For the same reason, you cannot add fragrance as well, unless the wax chunks themselves have a fragrance.

When you fill the jar either with chunks or molten wax, ensure that there is a gap from the top. You have to also make sure that the jar is solid and tempered enough to withstand candle burning temperatures. If the jar is not strong enough, it will simply crack. You have to also ensure that the thickness of the wick is perfect for the container. While this is an intuitive judgment to make, you can estimate the size of wick perfectly. Too small a size, you will have wax that has not burnt. Too big a wick and your candle will not last very long.

Candle making jars can be easily obtained. You don’t have to spend a lot on it in terms of time and money. Your local crafts store or dedicated candle stores can give you a variety of jar options, each with very attractive color, shape and texture. You can find hexagonal jars, stylist wine glasses or any other shape easily. Your candles are only restricted by your imagination.

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How To Make Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles have been used for a long time now. Though they might be associated with elegance and luxury, they are purchased for their natural color, scent and clean burning. They are sturdier than soy wax and burn for a long time. They burn for days and leave little or no oil as they have a very high melting point.

There are two methods of making beeswax candles. One is by making it from a beeswax sheet and there is the traditional method of using wax. The first method takes little time and is easy. It can also be a fun project for young children. The traditional method requires melting the wax and hence requires caution. However learning how to make beeswax candles the traditional way means that you can make any candle.

Beeswax sheets are readily available in different colors and with different scents at any local craft store. Many people feel that natural color and scent are the best. This is only a matter of individual choice. Once you get the wax sheet, you are ready to make the candle.

You have to make sure that the width of the sheet is the same as the desired length of the candle. Let the width of the sheet face you. Place a wick that is about 2 inches longer than the length of the candle along the width of the sheet and start rolling. When you are rolling, carefully press down on the candle to avoid trapped air between the layers. The rolling should be as compact as possible. Stop rolling when you have obtained desired candle thickness. Trim off the wick and your beeswax candle is ready to burn. This takes not more than 5 minutes to complete.

If you want to make the candle from molten wax and add a color, fragrance of your choice, then you have to first get the wax. Beeswax is very popular and easily found. You will also need molds and wick. Once you have these things, melt the wax in a double boiler. Beeswax has a higher melting point when compared to soy and paraffin. Hence you need to let the temperature go up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit before you turn off the heat source. Do not melt the wax directly, as it can burn and turn pale. Once the wax melts, you can pour it into the molds. As you do so, keep tapping its sides to expel any air. Allow it cool for about six hours. After the candle as solidified, you may need to use a candle releasing agent to get the candle out of the mold. Putting it in the refrigerator for ten minutes can also help.

If you want to add colors to it, you can get liquid dyes and add them when the wax is just about to reach its melting point. If you are making beeswax candles for the first time, then add just a little. The fragrance oils can be added when you are pouring the wax into the molds.

Bees wax candles can be used everywhere and they signify royalty. They are very clean candles and have a pleasant smell. Every beeswax candle that you make, will charm those around it when it is burning.

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Equipment That You Need To Start Making Candles

Candle making is a craft which like other crafts, has its tools. Without these tools, a candle maker is like a painter without a canvas, like a carpenter without his saw or like a writer without his pen (and the computer for the modern day writer). While you may be able to find these tools in your house, you can make do with these if you are just starting out. But if you plan to make a business out of your hobby, you need to get more than jus the basic ones. In order to know what equipment is required, it is easier to go about the process as we learn about them.

The most important equipment that a candle maker needs is a heat source and a double boiler. A double boiler is essentially a structure with two pots of different sizes. The smaller one sits inside the bigger one. The smaller one holds the wax in it and the bigger holds water. This setup prevents excessive heat from the burning wax, which can easily melt. Hence transferring heat through water is efficient. If you cannot find a double boiler, you can use two containers which match the description. But the inside container should not get very hot.

Monitoring the temperature is very important when making candles. Waxes easily melt and if they are heated beyond their melting points, can fade or burn. Hence a thermometer is your next purchase. You need one that can show temperatures up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. At this stage, you have successfully melted wax.

Molds are important equipment. There are several kinds of molds and they all come in various shapes and sizes. You can buy cheap plastic moulds or you can get the highly flexible silicon moulds. If you are just starting, a high quality aluminum mould would do just fine. You can get a fine finish with this on your candle. However you might require a releasing agent to get your candle out.

You would need a microwave but you can do without it initially. It is useful for melting the wax when you want to clean the mold. Also preheating a mold or jar before pouring wax into it can prevent rapid cooling which lead to cracking.

Jars come in various colors and sizes. You can get transparent ones or you can get those made of metal. You can paint anything you want on them, which adds greater allure to the candle. Gel candles are best suited for jars, as their transparence and color distribution can sync with anything you paint on the jar. These jars are easy to find, but if you don’t, then you can purchase them for a low price at any store.

Other things that make your tool box are screw drivers, scissors, pliers, wick clips and a knife. If you think you cannot buy each of the required equipment, then you could simply get a candle making kit. They contain all the required tools. They also might cost you lesser than buying each of the equipment separately. Any craft store stacks these kits.

Now that you have your tools, let’s make candles.

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Soy Candle Making Supplies

Candle making is one hobby that has lasted the test of time. It has been around for centuries now. Earlier it was less a hobby and more an activity that members of the house involved in. But it was just as much fun then as it is today. With the choice of waxes, fragrances and color available today, perhaps it is more fun now that what it was.

Soy candles are known to burn clean and for those who like to make their candles eco friendly, they are ideal. They are easy to find in the United States and if you are an aspiring candle maker here, you might actually start off with Soy wax, and not paraffin. Though slightly more expensive, its pleasant odor and clean burning makes it the first choice for many candle makers.

Soy candles are similar to paraffin candles. The process of making them is no different. However soy is not as strong a wax as paraffin is. Hence this places a limitation on the shapes and sizes of candles you can make. However you can some additives to make it stronger.

Before you start making soy candles, you need to get your supplies. First the wax and mold. You can find soy wax at any local craft store. Though there are several brands and different qualities of wax, you can start with the cheapest one you find. Next is the mold. If you are just starting to make candles, do not spend a lot of money buying molds. Just get one or two. When you have acquired some skill, you can get more of them.

Other purchases that are to be made are wicks, fragrance oils, color dyes and additives. A liquid color dye is better than other forms namely, flake chips and powders. You might not be able to find the color you are looking for. This calls for some creative color blending. Getting it perfect may not be easy in the beginning but you should be able to get the hang of it in a day or two.

For melting the wax, you need a double boiler. A double boiler is a setup where two pots, one larger than the other, are placed on a heat source. The smaller pot holds the wax and is placed inside the bigger one, which has water. The bigger is in direct contact with the heat source. As the water heats up, the candle melts. The right temperature at which you have to stop the heating is around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To monitor the temperature you need a thermometer. If you can’t find a candle specific thermometer, then any thermometer that can show temperatures in the range of 50 to 300 Fahrenheit should serve the purpose.

For fragrances, options are galore. You just have to choose one that attracts you. It is better if you opt for fragrance oils and not the water based ones. You might also need a candle jar, if you are using wax that has low melting point. The oil that collects can be reused.

With these materials in hand, you are ready to make your first soy candle…Let there be light!

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How To Make Candles?

Making candles has been popular for thousands of years. Candles were once necessary for lighting purposes but now they are more a hobby than anything else. There are several reasons why candle making is a popular hobby. Many people make them just for themselves or for giving them away as gifts. It can be taken up as a project with older children. Some people are so accomplished at this skill, they have turned their hobby into successful business.

No matter for what purpose you make candles – either for your personal use or for giving them away as gifts, you will find that it is extremely rewarding and one of the simplest things to do. Local stores provide you all that you need to make candles. You can easily get wicks, wax, and molds. With candle making now being a very popular hobby, you can also get color, decorative material and fragrance material of any type you desire, without any hassle. The equipment is also easily available. Candle making starts with the preparation of the wax. A double boiler is used for this purpose. A double boiler consists of two vessels; one larger and the other smaller. The larger vessel is used to hold the water, the smaller vessel is used for the wax. Wax cannot be directly melted as it can burn. Hence melting it through hot water is more efficient and provides greater temperature control. Pour the wax into the mold holding the wick in the center of the mold. The wax should be allowed to cool for more than four hours. Placing it in freezer for about half hour can make solidifying faster. You can also spray the mold with non sticky cooking spray to make it easy to remove the candle after the wax solidifies.

There are several options and no end at all to the choices you have when it comes to making a candle. You can add different colors, fragrances and decorations. Only your imagination is the limit. Some of the hobbyists working with latex molds prefer to make their own molds of different sizes. Latex molds can be made of any size but their flexibility makes it difficult to make them stand when pouring wax into them.

For holding them, make a hole in a sturdy cardboard sheet and latex molds can be fit into these molds. This support makes them stand while wax is being poured into them. This is essential as the wick needs to be positioned perfectly with and the wax should be poured evenly in to the mold.

Many enterprising hobbyists have taken candle making to the level of a lucrative business. Their skills and passions have led to make money through their hobby. They buy their supplies in bulk at discount prices. They also spend a good deal of time making their candles attractively. Each of their designs brings out the best in them. Their imagination results in something new all the time which is exactly why they sell.

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How To Make Soy Candles?

Soy candles are gaining popularity because they burn cleaner than candle wax. They are being widely used not only because they are cleaner but also because they are natural. Though it is slightly more expensive than paraffin wax, those who have used soy stick to it.

Soy wax is obtained from Soy beans. The oil is extracted from the beans and is made to undergo hydrogenation. Most of the world’s produce comes from United States, with major producers being Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin wax and this is one of the major reasons why they are used. Paraffin emits emit black soot while soy emits white soot. Soot itself does not harm people, but white soot is a lot cleaner.

The only difference between making candles from paraffin wax and candles from soy is the material used. The technique and equipment used for both these kinds of candles is the same. The same double boiler used for paraffin wax can also be used for making candles with soy wax. The double boiler consists of two pots: one for wax and other for water. The bigger of the pots holds water, while the smaller one is for candle making material, in this case soy wax. The smaller pot is placed in the bigger pot, which is then placed on a stove. Make sure that you do not heat the water great than 180 degrees Fahrenheit, as too high a temperature can make the wax burn giving it a yellow appearance. Ideally it should be heated to 150 degrees. Once the wax has melted, you take it off the heat and add color. When the wax is between 140 and 150 degrees, you can add desired fragrance at 7% concentration. This means that for one pound of wax, you can add 1.12 ounce of fragrance material. Higher concentration will result in leakage from the candle. Once the wax has cooled slightly you can pour it into the mold. Make sure that wax is between 95 and 115 and no cooler, as pouring at very low temperatures can make the candle crack.

While there is a lot of similarity between soy wax candles and paraffin wax candles, there are a couple of differences as well. Soy wax is softer when compared to wax. It is not suited for making novelty candles. It also is not used for making pillar candles. Making taper candles is not possible as well with soy wax. Floating candles however can be made if they are up to 3 inches in diameter.

If you are adept at making candles with paraffin, then you can certainly learn how to make soy candles. Candle making is like cooking where you constantly try new things and explore different recipes, to find out how each recipe is cooked the best. Both soy wax and paraffin wax can be colored and hold scent. You have to learn how you can make your candle creative and come up with variety when you make candles, so as gain the maximum pleasure out of it or to run a lucrative business.

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Various Types of Wax in Candle Making

Candle making is growing in popularity given its scope to explore the creative side and also run a successful business. With growing popularity of the hobby, the required materials particularly candle making wax, has witnessed a growth in its variety and options. Wax is the main component of candle making and a candle maker is always on the lookout for different materials with improved efficiency and reduced price.

Commonly used wax today is obtained from petroleum and is called paraffin wax. Most candles made are from paraffin as it is easily available and inexpensive. Plant and vegetable materials are also commonly used as candle wax. These include palm, bayberry and soy. Soy wax is very popular and is obtained by hydrogenating soy beans. It is clean, eco-friendly and is easily available as soy beans are grown in United States itself, mainly in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Palm is another natural material. But with growing popularity of its use as candle wax, unsustainable plantations in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia resulted in the destruction of rainforests. As a result ecosystems and habitats of animals particularly orangutans, rhinoceroses and the Sumatran tiger were compromised. With timely intervention of World Wildlife fund for nature (WWF), RSPO was developed to promote sustainable practices to cultivate palm. Members of this organization can also learn these practices to cultivate palms themselves. As a candle maker, you have to ensure that your wax comes from eco friendly sources.

Candle wax can also be made from animal material. Beeswax is most commonly used.  Though candles were earlier made from palm, beeswax and bayberry, there is now a renewed interest to make candles from these natural products. Beeswax has assumed more popularity than ever and is not available in yellow and white. Though expensive, Beeswax attracts candle makers because it has a pleasant fragrance, is sturdy and it has superior burning characteristics compared to any other animal product.

Gel candles are the newest kind of materials for wax. The appearance is clear and they have a rubbery texture. Depending on the density of the gel, the required type of candle can be made with the amount of fragrance. For about 0-3% fragrance, low density wax is good. Low density wax can also be poured into the molds at lower temperatures. If you desire a 3-5% fragrance load, a medium density gel wax will do. For a higher fragrance load, a high density wax load is preferred.

There are umpteen choices and each candle maker has different options to choose from. A candle maker knows which material suits his skills the best. It is also important to ascertain that your wax for candle making comes from a source that is eco friendly and can be reusable. The mark of a good candle maker is not just how the candle looks or burns, but also depends on the material and the practices of candle making. With experience, you can mold the materials in ways that will make you renowned candle maker and help you get the most out your investment.

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How To Make Scented Candles

Scented candles make your room lively even in the dark. Candlelight makes a room romantic but when the candle is scented, the fragrance makes it more romantic and also elegant.

For making your own candles scented, you can use fragrance oil that is easily available at most craft stores. You can also order them online. Oils are better than water based or alcohol based perfumes as wax mixes better with oil than these other kinds of perfumes. Water perfumes do not mix with wax because wax is more like oil; water and oil don’t mix  If you add a water based perfume to your candle, the liquid will just settle to the bottom when the wax is melted.

Fragrance from a scented candle can be noticed even when the candle is put off. They are ideal gifts and handmade candles make better gifts. Making a scented candle is no different from making any other kind of candle. First you will have to decide on the candle making material. You can go with the easily available and inexpensive paraffin. Then there are several kinds of natural wax materials obtained from plants and animals. Some of the popular natural waxes include soy, palm and beeswax. Any of these can be used to make scented candles. Gel candles are also very popular. Before making a gel candle, you have to deicide on the fragrance load. A gel with a higher density should be used if you want your candles to emit more fragrance. Low density gels, though easier to use, cannot hold as much fragrance.

Making any candle begins with melting the wax and molding it in a candle mold. To melt the wax, you have to use a double boiler. Use a small pot to place wax and a larger pot to contain the water. Make sure that you don’t overheat the stove top, as the wax can catch fire and burn. Use a thermometer to heat the wax to 170 – 180 degrees and not beyond. Then add the wick to the mold. After the wax has melted, remove it from the stove. Now you can add the fragrance oil to it. Adding one ounce of fragrance oil to one pound of wax gives you a fragrance concentration of 6 %. You might think that more the fragrance the better, a strong fragrance may not feel good. So ensure that you add the right quantity of oil. Adding too much of fragrance oil can prevent the candle from burning properly because of higher concentration of the oil. Make several candles with different concentrations to find out what is the best. Experimenting will help you find the perfect scented candle recipe.

Color and scent makes candle making fun and results in beautiful candles. Imagine making one yourself and give it to a loved one? More than a candle, you are going to be gifting the essence of relaxation and peace. Anyone can learn how to make scented candles and it does not take long either. Now that you know, you can start right away.

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How To Make Gel Candles

Gel candles are gaining immense popularity for their high decorative value. They burn the same way as regular candles do and have similar characteristics of fragrance, density and finish, but are a different material and are made differently as well.

Both wax and gel candles are made from oil but gel contains 5% polymer resin i.e. 95% mineral oil and 5% resin. The resin is a powder but when mixed with oil, it results in the formation of a solid mass. Gel wax is available in three densities: high, medium and low. A higher density gel wax means it can hold more oil and is more fragrant. It is also ideal for suspended decorations as a thicker gel can hold them better when compared to one that is not so thick.  However thicker gel takes longer to melt and is difficult to pour into molds

Making a gel candle is similar to making a regular wax candle. The steps involved i.e. melting and pouring the material into the mold, is the same when making a gel candle. But the equipment you would need and the method of making the candles are slightly different from making regular wax candles. If you were to try and melt the gel in a double boiler, it would take too long. Candle makers have adopted the use of multi cookers. Multi cookers have a separate heating element with a temperature dial, so you can precisely set the right temperate to melt the gel. You don’t need separate pots for water and wax. The gel can be directly placed in the multi cooker melt. Despite the cooker having a temperate dial, use a separate thermometer to be doubly sure that the gel is heated to the right temperature. Do not use a wooden stirrer as it can induce bubbles in the gel. Use hard plastic or metal to stir. The gel material is inflammable so make sure you have a chemical fire extinguisher at hand when you are making gel candles.

Dyes can be used to change the color of the candle. Use dyes which specifically meant for candles. Liquid candle dyes are popularly used as the color does not affect the transparency of the gel. Little amount of it is enough; sometimes a drop may be too much. Avoid using crayons, clothing dye, food colors, soap dyes or any other kind of color dyes as they are not meant for candles and will not burn properly.

Learning how to make gel candles is easy and anyone can do it in little time. There are endless possibilities to creating amazing designs with gel. Suspended decoration makes them very attractive to candle makers and buyers alike. When making the candles, you can insert any thing and it will float. High density gels are better for holding suspended decorations. You can personalize your decorations in several ways or make it especially for someone. Gel candles also last longer as they burn slower compared to wax candles.

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