Ever wondered, how a tiny flame, lit atop a candle can fill your special moments with splendor and love? Candles through ages have held a discrete place in human life previously by being a source of light until now to provide relaxation and pleasure. Candles have always been associated to humans be it a birthday we use it on or a cozy dinner we use candles to make the time special. Technology has upturned human life, many things got depleted but not candles, and they are still a part of human life.
Candle making is an art and is a widely adept hobby these days. In fact it’s not just a hobby, people are taking up candle making as a business and earning handsome sums through this deliberate art. In order to facilitate this passion for candle making, many new objects have been created and are easily available at craft stores. This has made candle making even more uncomplicated and interesting. Children at schools are taught to make candles as a craft, they are widely used in interior decoration, as a hobby, for personal use and to gift. Thus we can say that candle making is emerging as an industry which is convenient and fun.
Materials needed:
Candles go with your imagination. The more you can imagine about them and experiment with them, the mightier wonder you create. Anyone can make candles with all the materials and supplies available at your nearest hardware or craft store. As the times have changed, many new materials have been developed for candle making and you can make candles almost out of anything, if you have these essentials which are the root to candle making.
Wax: is the basic ingredient to candle making and its types are a plenty. To start with, bees-wax is extracted from honey as a bi product. It was widely used in old times especially in the making of candles which were to be used for religious purposes as the candles it produces burn very cleanly without exhausting any smoke and hardly any wax drips down its sides. Also it is very easy to use and melts very easily and the smell it produces is very distinctive. Beeswax can be used for making candles with high design factor. Vegetable wax being an ideal option for those who love organic substances as this wax is extracted out of vegetables such as soy. Vegetable wax is available in granular form which melts within no time. Paraffin is a petroleum based wax which is widely used today and is conveniently available in the form of blocks. It is easy to heat and is best for making candles which are relatively of a hard formation like pillar candles. Paraffin is favorable for candle making at large or commercial level. Gel is the most modern substance used for making candles especially for making more fashionable candles. Gel is available in many forms and it mixes up with other ingredients such as colors and fragrances very easily to create splendid effects. Gel candles can be made with adding different materials and objects to create different scenes inside the candle.
Wicks: If we refer to wax being the body of the candle then the wick is its soul, as the wick is responsible for the burning of the candle. Diameter, stiffness and material of the wick need to be considered for it effects how it burns. New research has been done and wicks have been created that burn at a steady rate producing a consistent flame. As the availability of the wick is concerned, they can be found in long lengths in the form of yarn and also precut in different sizes.
Containers: The basic to a candle-making mold is a double container, which is used to melt the wax. It is a large container outside with a small container inside with water in the outer container, as it prevents the wax from burning. Molds are a must for candle making and containers of different sizes and shapes are easily available in craft shops.
Color and decorative objects: Special colors are available for making candles and they easily blend in with the wax. You can create different colors and textures out of them by following your imagination. For decorating and beautifying your candles you can use unusual decorative materials that the candle making material stores provide in a wide array. You can even use different articles you have, to give effect and textures to your candles.
Procedure for preparing the candles:
Different types of candles can be created using faintly different measures, but there is a core method to create candles which is almost the same always and here it is summarized in a very easy to do series of steps.
The first step in making candles is to gather up all your materials; wax, moulds and the double container, scissors for cutting the wick, spoon for stirring the wax, color, and burner. Then allocate a place for making the candle and spread a newspaper to spare the place from the mess caused by the spillage of wax.
The second step is to prepare your double container for melting the wax i.e. a large pan with a small pan or a used can could be used instead. Fill the outer can with water and the inner with wax and put it onto the heat with the temperature up to 140 degrees approximately. When the wax has started melting stir it with a spoon. Once it has melted, add the color and scent and stir it until it is all mixed well. In the third step, remove the pan with wax from the heat and pour it into the container making sure you don’t fill it to the top. Then put the wick in the mould and tie one end of the wick to a stick and steadily plunge the free end of the wick into the mold holding the wax. Setting aside the stick to rest on top of the mold, will provide a holding spot for the wick while the wax hardens. Then let it harden up for about a day’s time or you can even put it in the freezer to quicken up the solidification process. Fifthly, when the candle has hardened, remove it from the mold by tipping the mold upside down. If you apply a little vegetable oil before putting the wax in the mould, it will come out very smoothly.