The most important advantage is that there are so many possibilities when it comes to creating wonderful candles with gel wax.  Plus, gel candles burn more slowly than regular wax candles so they will last a little longer.

How To Make Your Candles Unique:

Of course, as you can do with all types of candle waxes, you can add color to the gel wax, even make your candle multicolored if you want, and you will be able to see all the colors because the gel is translucent.

On the other hand, in addition to the color, you can add small items or decorations (that will not melt) to the hot wax before it cools down and, thus, make your candle as unique and specially tailored to the receiver as you want. Another option is to leave out the color and just add the decorations to the wax.

When cooled, these items seem to float in the middle of the container (providing you have chosen a transparent glass container).  How unique you make it depends only on your imagination.

Because other waxes end up being opaque when cooled down, it’s useless to add decorations or small items to the melted wax. Not so with the gel wax; even cooled down, it remains translucent. This ability to change the uniqueness of your gel candles because of its translucency far outweighs the limited ways one can change the uniqueness of the candle made  with the other types of waxes– that is, by changing size, shape, and/or color only.

Other Ways Gel Waxes Are Different:

While gel candles can burn pretty well the same way as regular wax candles, they are made differently, and as mentioned above, the candle melts more slowly, so the candle lasts longer.  The other waxes are made from refined oil, but the gel wax is made of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin  Strangely enough, the resin is originally a powder which when mixed with the  mineral oil becomes a solid state.

Gel waxes come in three densities: high, medium, and low. The higher the density, the more fragrance it can hold.  In addition, the thicker gel can better hold suspended decorations within the gel candle.  The only drawbacks about working with thicker gel wax are that it takes longer to melt, and it is more difficult to pour.

Melting your Gel Wax:

You have learned that when working with the other types of candle waxes, one is wise to  melt the wax in a double boiler.  However, it would take an eternity to melt gel wax in a double boiler, so one must put the pot holding the gel wax directly on low heat or use something like a multi-cooker (which is somewhat like a deep fryer).

Multi-cookers are usually made of metal and have a non-sticking coating inside.  The fact that each multi-cooker has its own separate heating element with a temperature dial makes it easier to adjust the temperature when melting the wax.

Caution: To avoid burning your wax, or even worse, have it burst into flames, always use a separate candle making thermometer which you can insert into the wax to make sure the wax is melting at the proper temperature

Moreover, make sure you have a chemical fire extinguisher nearby and avoid using wooden spoons which could complicate matters.  Another reason to avoid using wooden spoons is that sometimes they can be the cause of bubbles appearing in your gel.

Coloring Your Melted Wax:

When working with gel wax, it is a good idea to use liquid candle dyes to change the color of the gel candle wax because the liquid candle dyes will not ruin the gel’s translucency.

Be careful with that dye, however.  It takes only a very small amount of the dye to actually change the color of the wax.  Even a drop of dye might be too much, so don’t be afraid to experiment by using less rather than more until you are satisfied with the color. (There is a way to test)

If you wish to have your candle burn the way it should, avoid using crayons, clothing dye, food coloring, or soap dyes in your gel candle wax.  These dyes are not made for candle making.

To summarize: Using gel wax to make gel candles is getting to be popular because one can do so many variations with the gel wax.  The best thing about gel candles is that you can add decorations directly to the wax so that they float within the candle.  This is a clever and unique way to personalize a gift if you are making the candle for someone else … or even for yourself.

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If you can make candles with paraffin wax, you can make candles with soy wax.   Making candles is kind of like trying out a new food recipe; sometimes you have to try things one way then the other to see which works best for you.

We are assuming that you have all your materials: double boiler, wax, thermometer, fragrance oil, and color drops (Materials are outlined in the ebook Easy Candle Making)

• To melt the soy wax, you can use the double boiler; that is, you can put your wax (about one pound) into a small pot which has been placed in a larger pot half filled with water and place on the stove burner. Be sure your small pot can easily hold the melted wax without overflowing onto the stove.

• Place your thermometer inside the small pot to monitor the heat of your melting wax.

• Allow your soy wax to heat to minimum 150 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Like ordinary cooking oil, if you heat the wax higher than 180 degrees Fahrenheit, you risk burning your soy wax and maybe causing a fire. Burning your wax will give it a yellowish tinge which is rather ugly.

• Once the wax is melted, you can add a few drops of your chosen color and mix. Adding the right amount comes with experimentation. It’s better to begin with not enough rather than too much (like mixing color in icing for a cake)

• If you want to add fragrance, now is the time to do so. Remove the wax from the heat first, let it cool to about 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Then add about 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil per one pound of soy wax. The rule of thumb is to add no more than 7% fragrance by weight or you risk having the fragrance “bleed” throughout the candle.

• Next step is to pour your melted into your molds. Precaution: Make sure your wax does not cool off too much before you pour it, for you risk having cracked candles. Again rule of thumb is between 95 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Once the wax is in the mold, allow the wax to cool normally on its own. Putting your wax/mold in cold water at this point may cause the candle to crack. (Full details are provided in the ebook “Easy Candle Making” which is ready for download.)

Why choose soy wax?

You may want to choose soy wax rather than paraffin wax for a few reasons:

1. First of all, soy wax, made from oil extracted from the soybean flakes and hydrogenated, is a vegetable wax. Because it is natural, the soot from a soy candle is white while the soot from a paraffin candle is black and somewhat sticky.

Although soot is not harmful to humans, white soot is cleaner than black soot. As a result, soy candles are becoming more popular even though soy wax is a bit more expensive than paraffin wax.

2. Soy wax is a natural product easily grown mainly in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana, USA. Therefore it is a “green” product and using the soy does not harm the ecosystem.

3. The soy candle is made by using the same techniques and equipment as the paraffin candle.

Differences between Soy Wax and Paraffin Wax:

Because soy wax is softer than paraffin wax, soy wax will not work well for making certain types of candle such as novelty candles.

It also does not work well for pillar candles or to make taper candles.
On the other hand, soy wax is great for floating soy candles providing they are at least 3 inches in diameter.

To summarize: soy wax and paraffin wax both hold scent and color the same when making candles. Although soy wax and paraffin wax are both “natural”, soy wax burns cleaner and people are becoming addicted to them.

So if you wish to experiment, it is great to make a new kind of candle and offer variety in your candle making endeavours whether your candles are for pleasure or for business.

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My Wiccan Path: Candle Making Part 1

My Wiccan Path: Candle Making Part 2

My Wiccan Path: Making Candles Part 3

Source: YouTube

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Whether lit or unlit, the  scent emanating from scented candles  seems to bring a special ambiance to a room.  And when the candle is lit, not only does its candle light make you feel more romantic but its fragrance filling the room  can be soothing and relaxing.  It just seems that the elegance of the room just grows when a scented candle is glowing.

What Types Of Fragrance To Use .

Because the basic chemical composition of waxes is closer to being oil based, it is wiser to use oil-based fragrance better known as fragrance oil. Why?

The other types of fragrances are water-based or alcohol-based perfumes, and everyone knows that water or alcohol does not mix well with oil.

As a result the poured hot wax will rise to the top and your fragrances, especially the water-based perfumes, will end up at the bottom of the candle. Not a good idea!

So to get a better mixture throughout the whole candle, use fragrance oil which is available at most craft stores or online.

Making Scented candles

1. Choose your wax:

At the beginning of the process, you follow the same formula used for making unscented candles.   HOWEVER . . . before you begin, you must decide what type of wax you want to use.

You can choose to use natural waxes such as soy, palm, or beeswax. Or you may decide to use a paraffin wax, a basic type of wax used by many candle makers. On the other hand you may choose gel wax for your project.

Both the natural waxes and the paraffin wax can be easily scented. However, if you are using gel wax, you must choose which of the three available densities is required for the amount of perfume you want in your candle. The more scent you want the denser the gel wax must be.

Also you do not use an oil-based perfume for this type of candle since gel is not of the same chemical composition as the other waxes. Please check with your supplier.

2. The Candle Making Procedure:

The first step is to melt your wax so that it can be poured into your candle mold(s). As explained in the book Easy Candle Making, you must use a double boiler especially if you are using gel wax. That means you place a smaller pot into a bigger pot with a little water in it. The wax goes in the smaller pot and gets heated by the water boiling in the bigger pot.

Be careful not to put the temperature of the stovetop heat too high because wax can burn just as easily as cooking oil. Use a thermometer and heat your wax to about 170 degrees.  (Be sure you check with your supplier or read your directions.)

Certain waxes should be heated to 160 degrees while others can go to 180 degrees, but NO HIGHER.

While your wax is melting you can add the wick to the mold . . . as long as you keep an eye on your melting wax at the same time. Remain in the same room!

Once your wax is melted, you can remove it from its heat source and add your fragrance: the type of fragrance will depend on which type of wax you are using. Rule of thumb is one ounce of fragrance oil to one pound of wax ( if you are not using gel wax).

Be sure to go easy on the fragrance. Adding more fragrance does not mean you’ll get a better scent emanating from your candle. This is not always the case.

In addition, adding more fragrance than necessary can end up giving you problems. For example, your candle may not burn as well because of the higher concentration of liquid. The end result is that you get a pool of water around the wick or pools of liquid in the candle.

Obviously you can experiment with it, keep notes as you try different amounts of fragrance to your candle, and end up with your very own preferred recipe.

The wonderful thing about scented candles is that people can smell the fragrance when they walk into a room whether the candle is lit or not. These homemade scented candles can make wonderful gifts . . . appreciated even more because they are made by you.

Note: If you go to Make Scented Candles Prt 2, you can watch two videos In which Neopagan from My Wiccan Path shows you how to create a scented soy candle.

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To do the job you will need

1. candle remnants
2. a pot deep enough to hold a fair amount of melted wax, one with a handle which does not get hot
3. a pencil or a wooden skewer or a flat play stick about 3.5 to 4 inches long  (you can probably find this at the dollar store)
4. a pair of scissors
5. some twine
6. molds or containers
7. tinfoil

1. Place your old candle(s) in your pan and set your pan on a LOW heat.

2. While the old candles are melting you can prepare your mold by spraying the inside of it withcooking spray oil such as olive oil spray.

3. Get your wick ready. Cut a length of twine about 5 to 6 inches longer than the depth of your mold. Roll one end of the twine around a few pennies which will act as an anchor, and hold these securely  in place with a piece of tinfoil.

4. Holding your twine by the other end, place it in the mold so that the pennies will be centered on the bottom of the mold.

5. Take the end of the twine you are holding and twirl it around a flat stick or a pencil in such a way that the twine in the mold (which will be your wick) is vertically taut: the pennies will keep one end of the twine down at the bottom of the mold,  and  by having the other end of the twine wound around  the stick or pencil which is resting on the top part of the mold, your wick will remain straight up.

6. Once the wax on the stove is totally melted, remove any impurities or pieces of old wick from it.

7. Then pour the wax into your mold to approximately 2 to 3 inches from the top.   Keep a little bit of wax to top up where the cooled down wax has shrunk and created a hollow in the middle around the wick.

8. When the candle has cooled somewhat and you notice the hollow, reheat the little bit of wax you kept for this purpose and add itto the top of your candle so that the hollow is no more.

9. Allow to cool thoroughly.

10. To remove your candle from its mold once the candle has cooled and gelled, you can place it  in a pan of cold water for a few hours.

11. Once you’re sure the candle is ready, gently pull on the top of your wick and the candle should slide out of its mold.

12. Cut your wick ½ to ¾ of an inch, remove the extra twine and pencil or flat stick and your candle is ready for you to light.

For a visual of this procedure, watch this video made by NailandRockett.com from California who will show you how to take old candles and make them into brand new candles by using material normally found around the house.

Source: YouTube

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Candle making molds come in many shapes, sizes, and material.  The more unique the candle mold, the better the candle maker likes it. As time goes on and more people get involved in candle making, available molds are getting better and more varied.

What is a mold?

Simply put, a mold is a container in which you can pour your hot wax before it cools. Once the candle has cooled down, you can take the candle out of the mold, and the candle will retain the shape of the mold.

Different Types of Molds

As already mentioned, molds vary in size, shape, and material — depending on its use.   We shall discuss three types of molds: the aluminum/metal mold, the flexible molds, and the plastic mold.

The Aluminum/Metal Molds:

The aluminum/metal molds  have more advantages than disadvantages and are very popular with candle makers.   These are especially popular choices for  making votive or pillar candles.

Advantages:

• The aluminum/metal molds resist high heat and, with care, can be  extremely durable.
• Because the inside of the mold is smooth and even, the finished candle will also be smooth and even just like the candles one might buy.   The fact that the finished product shows no seams gives the finished candle a professionally made look.
• Compared to rubber molds, aluminum molds are a lot less expensive.
• Aluminum molds are easy to clean.  Simply line a cookie sheet with aluminum paper, place the mold upside down over the aluminum paper, and place the cookie sheet into the oven at about 150 degrees.  The wax will simply melt and drain out of the mold onto the aluminum paper.

Disadvantages:

1. The first disadvantage is that this type of mold is not flexible; therefore,  one cannot change the shape or the texture of the candle.  (What you see is what you get!)
2. The second disadvantage is that one has to use a releasing agent to get the candle to slide out of the mold.

Rubber Based Molds(flexible molds):

The polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are rubber molds which are very flexible but to varying degrees.

Polyurethane molds, although flexible, do not stretch as well as the silicone mold; therefore, they are usually less expensive than the silicone mold.

It has two disadvantage: 1) it has  a strong odor that can be easily passed on to the candle.2)  it also needs a releasing agent to allow the candle to slide out of the mold.

Polyurethane molds are extensively used by makers of pillar and taper candles.

The silicone molds, another type of rubber mold, have outstanding qualities so are, therefore, the most expensive of these rubber molds.

Silicone molds are very popular because they are not only flexible but also stretchable to a point: this  little bit of extra stretching ability makes it easier to slide the candle out without using a releasing agent.

Another popular  feature is that, like the aluminum mold, the silicone mold does not leave any lines on the candle.

The latex mold used to be extremely popular at one time, but with the advances made in other types of rubber mold, its popularity is diminishing.

Its original popularity was due to the fact that latex molds can be made at home by taking a structure of some kind and painting it with multiple coats of latex.

Although this type of mold is work, its advantage is that one is only limited by imagination.

Plastic Molds:

Cheapest is not necessarily the best!  Although plastic molds are cheaper, they don’t always hold out well under the hot wax.

Also, being more brittle than the other types of molds, they don’t last that long.

In addition, one must make sure the mold is dry after it has been cleaned; otherwise, you will end up with water bubbles in your candles.

Besides being cheaper, its other advantage is that it can easily be cleaned with a little soap and warm water.  I suppose if you are a beginner, this type of mold might do for the moment.

However, if you were to take candle making to the next level and make it a serious hobby, it would wise to invest in different and better types of molds.

For a visual, watch this video, a free instructional video clip by candle making expert Matt Freedman for ExpertVillage.com. Matt, owner of BlueCreekCandle.com discusses various types of molds mentioned above.

Source: YouTube:How To Make Candles – Using Molds In Candle Making

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For better results, a candle maker must become familiar with at least the six most popular types of wax: paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax, palm wax, and gel wax.

Because candle making has been growing in popularity in leaps and bounds, the wax suppliers are responding by offering a larger variety of wax which is better and  more readily available.   Because  candle makers are always looking for something new,  the wax industry is responding and the changes are there.

What Is Each Type of  Wax Made From?

1. Many of today’s candles are made from a wax derived from refining petroleum, which is of course one of our most natural products.    This wax  wax,  known as  paraffin wax, is very popular for making candles because it is  readily available and inexpensive.

As I mentioned in a previous article,  I remember every fall  my grandmother using paraffin wax to top her jam with a  a 1/2 inch  layer of wax in order to prevent it from  spoiling.   So it just proves that paraffin wax is easy to use and has been around for ages.

2. Soy based wax, also made from a renewable and natural source,  is rapidly becoming more popular.    When the soybeans are hydrogenated, the resulting product is a wax suitable for candles.

Since the majority of the soybeans are grown especially in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana in the United States, soy wax  is a readily available and renewable resource that is eco friendly.

3. Another renewable and natural  resource is palm wax.  Unfortunately as palm wax was getting more and more popular, people in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia were cutting down large areas of  rain forest so they could plant palm plantations.  As you know, cutting down the rain forest is extremely destructive to the eco system and endangers the survival of such animals as the orangutans, the rhinoceros, and the Sumatran tiger.

Fortunately the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) was able to implement a course of action by founding the RSPO. Through this organization a plan to implement the best practices for sustainable palm cultivation was put in place, and they were able to help member organizations implement and verify the procedures.

So when you are shopping for palm wax, make sure your vendor is getting the wax where people are growing it in an eco-friendly way.

4. Some wax such as beeswax is made from animal based material. In the past companies offered ready-made candles which were made with beeswax, palm wax, and even bayberry wax.  As more and more people became involved in creating their own candles at home,  there has been a growing interest in making candles out of these natural products.

Beeswax is the most popular of the three; it comes in sheets which you can roll up to make your candle and is available in yellow and white.  Although beeswax can be rather expensive,  people love its pleasant fragrance, the way it burns, and the way the candle can  last for a long time.

5.  A different type of wax  is the gel wax. Although gel wax, which is made from a specially selected and processed mineral oil and a gelling agent, has a clear rubbery texture, it is heated and poured just like any other wax. The only difference is that you end up with a clear wax when cooled.

Gel comes in three densities.  The density you choose will depend on the type of candle you are making and how much fragrance you wish to add to the candle.

If you want to add a 0 -3% fragrance load, you pour your gel when it is at a lower temperature for you want your gel wax to have a low density.

If you want to add more fragrance to your wax, for example a 3 to 5% fragrance load, you may want to use a medium density gel wax,  probably the most popular gel wax to work with.

If you wish to add more than a 5% fragrance load to your wax, you will need the high density gel wax.

There is obviously a lot of different types of wax available!  With so many different kinds of wax on the market, the candle maker can pick the type that suits her project the best.  When a candle maker is able to understand each kind of wax, he/she can fully experience and take advantage of the candle making market and get double, triple, or even quadruple his/her accomplishments  (i.e.  profit).

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When these people had lived in Europe, their candles had been made by “chandlers”; however, once in the New World, women and daughters had the task of making all necessary candles for the family.

Since our ancesters made their candles with animal fat, candle making coincided with the slaughtering of farm animals in the fall.  Imagine having to make between 200 to 400 candles for your family in one week.  It must have been a tedious job, but the women managed to turn that one week of candle making in a week of socializing — a community affair.

Of course the situation is quite different today.  We make candles at home because it’s fun to come up with new ideas to create that unique, one-of-a-kind candle that makes your friends and neighbors green with envy.

Not only is candle making fun, it is a great craft project to do with older children.  Some people make candles to give away as gifts while others make candles to sell and create a business out of it.

It’s very easy to make candles for yourself or to give away.  And now that candle making at home is becoming more and more popular, more of the local craft stores can supply you with all you will need in order to make your own candles.

You can buy your wax, wicks, and molds from almost any craft stores (or on the internet once you know exactly what you want).  To make your candles more unique and stunning, craft suppliers have added items such as color, decorations, and fragrance  —  all ready  to be added to your homemade  candles.

Once all the necessary ingredients have been bought, all you need supply are the rest of the needed candle making supplies such as double boiler, mold, etc.

What is a double boiler?  When you have two pots, one somewhat smaller that can be easily  placed into and be held by the lip of the bigger pot, you have a double boiler.  The idea is to add some water into the larger one and place it on the burner; then, you add the wax to be melted into the smaller pot  and place it in position above the water in the large pot.  The wax is then heated by the boiling water underneath it.

If you place the pot with the wax directly on the burner, the wax would get too hot too fast and might cause a fire.  Wax has to be dealt with carefully.

If you have ever watched our grandmothers melt paraffin wax to create an air barrier on top of jam after they have been placed inside jars, you would notice how carefully the women would hover over their wax melting procedure.

This is a good time to mention that when you are heating up your wax, one of the extra supplies you should keep handy is a fire extinguisher– yes a fire extinguisher (and  know how to use it.)  Also when melting wax, forget about answering the phone, the door, or half watching TV.  It’s important to stay alert to what you’re doing!  (OKay I can get off the podium, now!)

Back to the task at hand

Using a double boiler removes the danger factor by at least half when you try to melt your wax.  Once the wax is melted, you hold (or have tied) the wick in place in the middle of the mold,and pour in the wax.

Once the wax has been poured into your mold, you must give it time to cool.  It can take from four to six hours before the candle can safely be remove from the  mold.  If you find that the candle just does not want to come out of the mold, try popping the whole thing into the freezer in 15 ro 20 minute time frames until the wax has cooled down to the point where the candle will easily slide out of the mold.

Here’s a tip:  Spray non-stick cooking spray into your mold before you pour the wax into it so you will have an easier time  removing the finished candle from its container.

The different types of candles you can make are endless.  With the availability of so many different fragrances, colors, and decorations, the only limitation is your imagination.  Some candle making enthusiasts have gone as far as to create their own mold with liquid latex in order to create amazing candles.

However, these people have had to come up with an idea to keep this flimsy mold from falling apart when wax is poured into it. They first cut a hole in a piece  of sturdy cardboard (such as corrugated cardboard), a hole just big enough for the mould to slip through but only up to the lip.

Once the mold is  safely in place, the hot wax can be poured into it, and the cardboard will be its support.  Of course the candle maker has to make sure he has created his mold with a lip on the bottom for this purpose.

Some entrepreneurs have become so skilled at making candles that they have made a great business out of selling their candles. What a great way to make money . . .  doing what you love and seeing the results of your talents and imagination!

They are able to make a profit by buying their products in bulk at discount prices and attracting clients by putting time and effort into  packaging their products attractively. These people have a fabulous imagination! They are always looking for new ideas when it comes to this old custom.

Yes, candle making at home is becoming more and more popular, and though it requires patience like any other hobby, it is easy to create a gorgeous  candle in 7 days or less even if you have never done this before.

Get a lovely glass container, melt your wax, place your wick upright in the center of your container, add the melted wax, color and/or fragrance to your wax before it hardens, and let your candle cool down.

Of course I’m over simplifying the candle making procedure! ! But what I am trying to say is that it can be easy … and the more you practice making candles at home the better your results.

The new ebook Easy Candle Making explains all of these steps in much greater detail.  You may want to consider downloading it.

Enjoy!  It’s fun!

Here’s a video by Michelle Kaufman who gives a brief overview on how to make candles at home. Download the ebook to get more detailed information

Source: youtube

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