How To Make A Candle You Are Proud Of
It is not difficult for anyone, even a complete beginner, to learn how to make candle creations that are beautiful enough to sell online, at novelty shops, or at a community market. There are a few things that are necessary to any candle making venture.
Obviously, you will need wax and wicks. You’ll also need dyes and fragrances. It is important when you purchase these to ensure that the wax, dye, and fragrance oil work together. Further, when you think about how to make candle art, especially the kind that you can sell, you will have to think of unique ways to mold the candles. Basically, anything that has an interior space has the potential of being a candle mold, so this is the time to be creative. Perhaps you have several old wine glasses that are collecting dust in a cabinet. They may be perfect for a yellow or burgundy candle with a warm scent. The first rule of how to make candle creations that you can sell is that there are no rules! People have used everything from car parts to cookie cutters to make candles.
There are several other items you will need if you are going to learn how to make candle art properly. You will need a thermometer and a heat source, a pitcher that can be heated inside something else, a pot to heat the pitcher in, and a scale that is accurate in grams. Finally, you will need a recipe for the wax/fragrance/dye ratios. Without this, learning how to make candle art that sells will be difficult, since they will all wind up as very smelly black or brown candles. There isn’t a one size fits all recipe for mixing your wax, as it will depend on the type of wax and the color and scent you are looking for. The major companies like Yankee have entire divisions devoted to research and development in mixing dyes and fragrance oils. Experiment if you like, but the company that distributes your material will likely have many suggestions on how to make candle wax in the color and scent that you need.
Once you are satisfied with the recipe and how the candle will take shape, it becomes a lot like baking in that the amount of each item is critical. Wax production is the scientific part of how to make candle art correctly. Measure the wax you will need to the gram. Only prepare enough dye and fragrance to work with that amount. Then boil water in your base pot.
As you learn how to make candle creations, you will learn that there are tricks. For instance, large companies use needleless syringes for their dyes. As a small wax chemist, you may find that insulin syringes (without needles) may work for measurement.
The last thing to note is the importance of the thermometer and heating the wax in a container separate from the heat source. The optimum temperature for a wax melt is 170 to 220 degrees. It is imperative that you keep these temperatures stable, as the wax will burn or break down. Also, never apply the heat directly to the wax, as this will also cause it to become unstable. Learning how to make candle art that you can sell can be rewarding and fun. With a little creativity and knowledge of the science, you will be able to market your work very quickly.
