The Joy of Making a Candle

Candle making is a hobby for some people. For others it is a business. Making candles can be a very creative process and has you ending up with a beautiful craft. You get to choose everything from the size and shapes to the colors and fragrance.

In the old days candles were used to provide light and served that practical purpose. Today that is not the case. Unless your electricity goes out lighting a candle is used primarily for the beautiful smell it produces. Popular fragrances include cinnamon, vanilla, strawberry, and jasmine.

The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax. It can also be made out of beeswax. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that comes from plants. This wax can be purchased from Petroleum Refinery or the Specialty Wax Processor. Beeswax is also considered a natural wax, and is taken from honeybees. This is the substance the bees use to construct their honeycombs. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but also very powerful. Sometimes candle makers will use a wick that is wider than normal to increase the size of the flame.

If you want to start making candles the first thing is to get your work area set up properly. Because you are dealing with hot wax you have the potential for starting a fire. Be sure and have a fire extinguisher close by just in case you need it. Clean up any spills right away and be careful not to burn yourself. Keep a first aid kit in the room if you do burn yourself.

You can make your candles out of beeswax or Paraffin. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. If you want to increase the size of the flame you can use a wide wick otherwise it will be very thin. You can get beeswax and Paraffin at a specialty wax processor or petroleum refinery.

Start by making simple candles that will be fun to do. As you get better at it you can develop your hobby into a business or just try various candles for yourself. The important thing is to be safe and have fun. You can Google search candle making for more articles and books to get fresh ideas.