Candle making on your own is very rewarding. You can give the candles away as gifts, sell them, or use them personally. Although candle making is fun, you need a lot of supplies to do it correctly.
In candle making you can use fragrances or dyes. You can mix different ones together to make a new fragrance or stick to one color or scent at a time. You can either use the fragrance in the wax or on the wick.
There are several different kinds of wax that you can use. Some have natural colors and fragrances. Soy wax is great for scented candles. Paraffin wax is commonly used and comes from refining petroleum.
Using molds in candle making can kick up the creativity. Beginners should try to stick to simple molds. There are all kinds of shapes and sizes. You can buy these molds at most craft stores or you can make your own.
If using molds intimidates you, try using jars. They are much more simple, but just as beautiful. You can use different shapes or sizes to help beautify your candle.
You will need something like a double broiler to melt your candle wax into. Just get a really big metal pot and put a coffee can in the middle of the pan. Fill some water in the pot, but dont let it over flow into the coffee can. Make sure that you stir the melting wax constantly so that it does not burn.
The temperature of the wax is very important. You will need a candy thermometer to monitor the waxs temperature. At 185 degrees you can add your dye or fragrance. At 135 degrees you can pour it into a mold.
When you are candle making, you need to make sure you are safe. Keep children and pets out of the melting work area. Always have a fire extinguisher on hand incase you over heat your wax and catch it on fire.