It takes a bit of know-how to make candles at home. Tea lights, floating candles, hurricane candles, beeswax candles, and soy candles are popular.
It takes a bit of know-how to make candles at home. This know-how includes a basic, yet, solid knowledge of candle-making supplies, and safety procedures. Today, the craft of making candles at home is quite popular, and it's rather easy to get into. There are many books, instructional manuals, videos, DVDs, and candle-making kits available. In any case, keep in mind that the inclusion of fire and heat into any craft project warrants extra care and caution.
There are so many different ways to get creative with candle waxes, molds, fragrant oils, dipping techniques, and surface treatments. Here are details on several candle types to get your imaginations working:
Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are very common. They are thick and anywhere from 4 to 12 inches tall. Pillars make great canvases for creativity. Here are a few ideas to liven up your pillars:
- Apply gold leafing, or other metallic colors to the exterior.
- Add colored wax cubes to a pillar mold, then pour in melted wax.
- Pour different colored waxes in a pillar mold to make a layered candle.
- Paint designs onto the candle exterior with acrylic candle paint.
Container Candles
Soft waxes, like soy wax, work best when used to make container candles. The wick is attached to the bottom of the container, and the melted wax is poured in. Use containers designed for candles, or get creative with wine goblets, martini glasses, and mason jars.
There are so many scented oils, and they can be combined to create a limitless number of aromas. You will find scented oils in every fragrance, from jasmine, to red currant, to peanut butter, to black tea, and aloe. And the list goes on!
Tea Lights
Tea lights are very small candles, in short, round containers. Most tea lights are scented, and grouped together to burn. The containers are made of either aluminum, or transparent plastic. You will find containers for these candles sold in bulk; about 100 or so, per bag.
Floating Candles
There is something undeniably captivating about the combination of fire and water. Molds are needed to make floating candles, and you will want a wide container of water, such as a deep glass dish, to float them in. Generally, floating candles are unscented.
Hurricane Candles
Objects, like flowers, rocks, beads, hard candies, or sea shells are embedded into the outer layer of a hurricane candle. When the candle is burned, the flame glows brightly, illuminating the objects.
Two molds of the same height and different thicknesses are needed to make a solid hurricane; 1 4x4, and 1 5x4 pillar mold, for example. The inner candle is poured first, using an under-sized wick, which will prevent the outer layer from burning. The inner candle is placed inside the larger mold, with the chosen objects inserted, and the outer layer is poured.
Beeswax Candles
While building their combs, honey bees create wax. This beeswax is used to make candle wax, among many other things. Beeswax is versatile, yet expensive, and it can be applied to many candle-making projects. Pour 100% refined beeswax into your favorite candle mold and you have a candle that is a warm tan in color, gives off the lovely natural aroma of honey, and burns for an extended amount of time.
Bees wax is also pressed into sheets with a hexagonal pattern that mimics the honey comb. Use these thin sheets -- which are available in a wide range of colors -- to make hand-rolled candles. They are easy to work with because they don't require the use of heat or a mold. Square wicks are recommended for making rolled beeswax candles.
Soy Candles
Soy wax is made from the oil of the soy bean. When comparing soy wax to parafin, soy wax is a healthy alterative, as parafin wax releases 11 carcinogen compounds as it burns. Soy is all natural, and it burns 30% longer.
