Candle Making

If you'd like to try your hand at candle making, set aside two hours next weekend, and start with an easy project, using your old candles to test the waters. If it's instant gratification you crave, you'll see the fruits of your labor in just a couple of hours with a minimum expenditure for supplies.

People often speak of candle making and soap making in the same sentence as if they are similar experiences. The process is not the same. If you have thought of making your own soap, try candle making first. The process may appear similar, but it's simpler and safer. When you make your own candles, you are simply melting wax, not conducting chemical experiments in your kitchen.

We'll give you a play-by-play preview of the process, but consider this an overview. Before you actually set up shop and play candle maker for the afternoon, download a proper set of step-by-step procedures from the Internet. You'll find hundreds of candle-making projects available online, but start by recycling your old candles just to get a feel for the process. In fact, in this overview, we'll describe the process of melting down your old candles and turning them into brand new votive candles.

If you enjoy the experience, which is similar to cooking, then you'll want to order more supplies before beginning your candle-making hobby in earnest. With a little practice, you can give unique, hand-made holiday gifts, and delight your friends with something that you personally created.

Safety First
Anytime you work around an open flame, you have all the ingredients for a potentially dangerous situation. Work carefully and mind your safety P's and Q's at all times. Candle making requires your undivided attention. Don't even think about multitasking while working with hot wax.

Materials and Preparation
Before you begin, you'll need to gather the following equipment:
* Old candles – anything that you would otherwise throw away
* Votive wicks, pre-tabbed
* Votive molds (metal is best)
* Scissors
* Silicone spray for metal votive molds
* Old saucepans to create a "double boiler"
* Candy thermometer
* Oven mitts
To minimize cleanup, cover your burners with aluminum foil and spread old rags or newspapers over a flat work area.

Prepare the Molds
If you prepare your molds in advance, you won't have to scramble at the last minute, and risk the possibility of your wax cooling before you can pour it.
Spray the inside of each mold with Silicone per the instructions on the can.
Place a pre-tabbed votive wick in the mold, and set aside.
Melt the Wax
This process requires your undivided attention.
Remove old wicks, labels, etc. At a bare minimum, clip the burnt part of the wick.
Melt the wax.
If you're using old jar candles, you'll need to melt the wax in the jars separately.
Pour the Molds
Allow the melted wax to cool to 160 to 180 degrees F.
Pour the wax into the prepared molds.
Allow to cool and shrink.
Melt wax for the repour and allow it to cool to 180 degrees F.
Repour to top off the molds.
Allow to cool.
Remove the candle from the votive holder.
The key to successful candle making is preparation and setup. If you have everything prepared and within easy reach, you'll have a smooth melt to pour process. If you haven't prepared in advance, the wax may cool faster than you can prepare your work area and molds, costing you additional time.

That's all there is to creating brand new candles from your candle remnants. If you enjoy the process, you can progress to creating your own custom candles from scratch, giving them as gifts, or even starting a brand new career path.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for www.candles-4-u.com/candle_making.htm and www.candles-4-u.com in general. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.

The Birth of the Birthday Candle

The time we were children we have hovered over our birthday cake and stared into the glow of flickering candles. Full of anticipation, we know our yearly wish is not complete until we lean over and blow them out. Some play nice while others, at the guidance of loved ones, make us try numerous times before transporting our wish. From traditional to trickster, every year candles provide our birthday glow with each luminous flame honoring a year in our lives. But have you ever wondered, when is the birthday candles birthday?
The origin of the birthday candle can be traced back to early Greeks who would place candles on cakes they would offer to Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon. It is said that the candles made the cakes glow like that of a full moon against the night sky.
The Germans also placed candles on cakes in the 18th century for childrens birthday celebrations called Kinderfest. At the time, tradition was to place one candle for each year of an individuals life with additional candles representing years to come. Sometimes a single candle was placed in the center of the cake to represent the light of life. This candle had twelve numbers and lines down its side and was re-lit every year.
Scholars allege that the tradition of placing candles on cakes originated from the belief that gods lived in the sky. People felt the flame of the candle would send signals to the gods and in return, their prayers would be answered. In addition, the smoke formed from the act of blowing out the candle was thought to carry their wishes up to heaven.
Today, we have our own unique tradition. As we place our secretive birthday wish, we are careful to blow all the candles out in one breath so it comes true. Throughout history, candles on a birthday cake have symbolized good health and luck for the upcoming year. So, the next time you make your birthday wish, you can rest easy in the knowledge that years of tradition are working in your favor.
by Vanessa A. Lujan

Aromatherapy Candles

One of the better ways of creating a house surroundings that is uplifting and relaxing is with aromatherapy soy candles.An aromatherapy candle made of soya is too made with vital oils inside of it. As the candle burns, the oils are heated scatter throughout the atmosphere. These soy candles are accessible in all types of shapes and sizes, as easily as filled with a kind of distinct vital oils. Basically, as the candle burns, the oil gets warm and releases its aroma throughout the room. The curative vapors can assist in elevating climate or becoming often much alarm. They can too cut strain levels and still better your memory.

Aromatherapy candles assist aromatherapy practitioners attain particular psychological and physiological benefits as they emit vital oil vapors released from a combustion candle. There are many types of aromatherapy candle. Aromatherapy candle can be made with beeswax, soya wax, veggie oil or still sheer vital oil candles are accessible. Using aromatherapy candle has a constructive consequence on our system and emotions. The key is in choosing the accurate aroma to equal the emotion or feel you want to elicit. By using vital oils, these candles not simply do the aim of providing that passion of light but too get a curative value.

Aromatherapy candle, produce an ambience glow and allow aromatherapy essential oils to vaporize into the atmosphere, releasing their potent scent. A few of the most common therapeutic scents of these wonderful candles include lavender, chamomile, ginger and bergamot. Lavender great in helping release tension. Chamomile helps in eliminating tension. This is only a small example of the many therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy.A soy aromatherapy candle has another advantage over paraffin. The soy oil carries fragrance - a quality called "scent throw" - better than typical wax candles, thanks to its melting point and solubility.