Candle Making! Scents and Aromas for a pleasant prayer

A candle lighted in silent prayer gives a divine feeling. Scented candles spreading their aroma around gives your mind a soothing feeling. Making candles has been in practice since the 4th century BC.The modern candle making took shape around the 13th century AD.Today, candle making is a flourishing business with varieties of candles flooding the market. For those who want to take up candle making as a hobby, candle making supplies and kits are available in the market.

Types Of Candels

e varieties of candles available are as follows:

• Column candles- These candles are shaped like a column or pillar. They can also come in other shapes and they can be scented or unscented.
• Taper candles- These candles have to be held in candle holders and are placed on dinner tables.
• Votives- These candles are placed in a cup and have a small cylindrical shape.
• Luminaria candles- These are used as outdoor candles.
• Apothecary or jelly jar candles- These candles are made by pouring the wax into an artistic or decorative container.
• Mosaic pillar candles- These candles are cylindrical in shape and made by filling different sizes, colours and shapes of wax into it giving it a mosaic look.
• Tea light candles- These are small decorative candles that are scented or non scented.
• Decorative floating candles- These candles float on water creating an enchanting effect to your surroundings.
• Wax tarts- They are placed on top of the holder and a tea candle is lit below to melt the wax tarts thereby releasing fragrance.
• Electric candles- These are the latest candles to hit the market. They are wickless. They have a light bulb, cord and socket.

Candle Making Supplies

The basic candle making supplies you need are as follows:

• Paraffin wax
• Soy wax
• Gel wax
• Fragrance oils
• Candle dye
• Glassware
• Molds
• Wicks
• Pillar wick pins
• Wax heaters
• Wick holders

Depending on your candle making a wide variety of supplies are available in the market or you can order online.

Steps To Make Your Candle At Home

• Making your own candle at home can be a lot of fun. It is easy as well as cheap. The following steps will help you make your own candle.
• First decide what type of candle you want to make. Accordingly select the shape and size of the mould.
• There are three types of wax that are available .They are the bees wax, soy wax and paraffin wax.
• Melt your wax in a wax melter or take half filled water in a pot and put it on low flame. Place a melter in it and then put wax into it and let it come to a double boil.
• Fragrance oil and candle dye can be added when the wax comes to a boil.
• Place the wick in centre with the help of wick holder or tie it to a stick and hold in the centre.
• Now pour the melted wax along the sides of the mould and leave space before you reach the brim of the mould.
• Tap the mould so as to release air bubbles from the wax.
• Allow the wax to cool. Then you can even place it for some time in your refrigerator.
• Once the candle is removed from the mould, polish it with candle spray or nylon stocking.
• Refine the base and rim of the candle and also the wick.

Saftey Measures For Candle Making

• Be very careful when you are handling hot melted wax, especially when you are pouring it into a mould.
• Keep kids out of the working area
• Do not pour soft wax down the drain. On cooling, it will clog your drains
• Wax fire can be controlled with baking soda or a fire extinguisher rather than water.
• It is better to cover your floor with news papers and keep cleaning cloth near by
• Take care not to spill fragrance oils on to your skin as they could cause skin irritations.
• Keep your work place organized.

Candle Making Kits

A variety of candle making kits are available in the market.

• A typical candle kit- This kit will contain a wax container, wick sampler kit, dye blocks with colors yellow, blue and red, fragrance oils and an instruction booklet. The price range for this is around 29.99$
• A pillar candle making kit- This kit will contain 10lbs wax, wicks, one polycarbonate mould, votive moulds, wick clip, color dyes, fragrance oils and instruction booklet. Price range would be around 39.99$
• Bees wax candle kit - This kit will contain bees wax sheets of different colors like electric blue, white, red, yellow, greenpurple, black and flame orange with wicks. A candle making guide also comes with the kit that helps you to make different varieties of candles out of bees wax. The price range of the kit is around 35$

Candle Fragrances

Few of The different varieties of candle fragrances available in the market are as follows:

• Apple
• Apricot
• Banana
• Black berry
• Cherry
• Cedar
• Eucalyptus
• Figs
• Grapes
• Orchids
• Honey suckle
• Rose
• Sandalwood
• Strawberry

Candles are an all time favorite mood enhancers. Be it a romantic evening or a birthday celebration, candles light up the mood and spirit of the occasion. Candle making as a hobby can be a soothing and rewarding experience.So, start making your candle today!