Candle Making

The art of candle making  has a long history dating back to 3000 BC, when Egyptians poured the first beeswax candles . Whether they line your rose-petal strewn bubble bath or light up your kitchen in a power outage, candles are fun, functional and easy to make. 

Materials

A hot plate  or stove provides heat to melt the wax. Just be sure to lay out plenty of newspaper around where you'll be working, as wax is difficult to clean up once it's hardened.	A double boiler  works by heating water in the bottom pot to soften the wax in the upper pot. You can use also a double boiler to melt chocolate  for baking or use in fondue .	Wax  comes in a variety of types, each with their own characteristics and ingredients. Adding coloring and fragrances can change the makeup of the wax.	Candle waxes have very precise melting points so you'll need a thermometer  to properly test the temperature.

Wicks  allow the candle to burn by provide fuel to the candle flame. How long and thick your wick is wil determine how long your candle lasts.	Candle molds  come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can practice your pouring skills in plain Dixie cups  before moving onto more elaborate molds. Use a mold release agent for easy removal.	Once you've made a candle you can put it inside a glass container  for added decoration. Clear glass jars are great for gift-giving and can be decorated with ribbon or paint.	You can personalize your candles by adding fragrance oils  and coloring pigments  to the melted wax. Most come in liquid form but some come as a block or as flakes.

How to Choose Wicks and Wax

There are many different types of wicks and waxes, all of which are suited to making different types of candles. Choosing the right wick for the right wax type will result in a long-lasting candle that burns cleanly and evenly. Be sure to keep in mind that fragrance, coloring, and the type of wax used all can affect the way the wick burns.

Wick Types

• Pre-tabbed votive wicks  are a good idea for the beginner who is starting with votive candle projects. Pre-tabbed wicks can also be used for container candles.

• Braided Wicks
• Flat braided wicks  are best for taper and pillar candles. They are not suitable for votives, tea lights, or container candles.
• Square braided wicks are good for just about every type of candle, especially beeswax candles.
• Both types will burn on a slight curve so they will burn more evenly. They are also less likely to mushroom.
• Make sure to pick the right size wick:
• Choose 18 ply (#1) for pillars with a one to two inch diameter.
• Choose 24 ply (#2) for pillars with up to a three inch diameter.
• Choose 32 ply (#3) for pillars up to four inches in diameter.

• Cored Wicks
• Zinc Core : This is by far the most common cored wick type. It is the slowest and coolest burning of all, making it ideal for votives, container candles and tea lights.
• Paper Core : These burn the hottest and are typically employed in container candles.
• Hemp Core : These are strong and rigid wicks that can be used with almost any type of candle.

• HTP Coreless
• Coreless Cotton : Often referred to as "self-cleaning" wicks, these are ideal for container candles.

Wax Types

• Paraffin wax  is great for beginner candles like votives and container candles. It is inexpensive and easy to find, plus it comes in a wide variety of melting points. For a higher grade wax, refined paraffin wax produces less smoke (because it contains less oil) and burns slower. Both types are perfect for adding color and fragrance.
• Beeswax  is a popular type of wax that is slow burning.  more expensive. When burned, a faint honey aroma is released. For simple candles you can buy beeswax sheets that roll up instead of melting.
• Soybean wax  is clean burning and comes in a variety of melting points suitable for making votives, container candles and pillars. The only complaint about this type of wax is that it may not always burn evenly.
• Palm wax  is typically hard and has a high melting point (around 140). When hardened it looks crystalline.
• Gel wax  is one of the newest types of wax that are totally clear and easy to pour.

Some people purchase additives to blend into their waxes in order to slow the burn, especially in container candles. Additives include petroleum jelly ,vegetable shortening , and mineral oil . These should NOT be used when making pillar candles or other standing candles. Most waxes will state whether they require additives or not.

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