Candles 4U Blog

When considering all the various candle making supplies available to today’s candle maker, the list seems virtually endless. It seems a daunting task to determine what is truly necessary for candle making versus what may be simply helpful. Let’s cover the most basic necessities and briefly identify some of the common equipment and supplies that you may find to be helpful.

Two of the most important supplies that you will need for candle making are a double boiler and a thermometer.

The double boiler is necessary for melting your wax in a safe and efficient way. Double boilers may be purchased or even created simply by purchasing a pouring pitcher and placing it into a pot of boiling water. The thermometer is essential for determining when to add additives, fragrance and dyes, and for ensuring that wax is removed from the heat at the appropriate time. Often a candy thermometer that you find at a discount store can work just as well as a thermometer marketed specifically for candle making.

Obviously, the key component in any candle is wax. The type of wax you choose to work with is entirely up to you and is usually a very personal decision. Some people will work only with paraffin wax, while others will work only with natural wax options.

If you are making container candles, you will need a different wax than if you are making votives. To determine what type of wax you will need, it may be helpful to consult a book on candle making. A great alternative is to explore some of the many candle making supply websites you can find online. You’ll find a variety of waxes when you shop online. Most of the candle making supply websites provide excellent information about which wax is best used for what purposes.

Another essential supply is wicks. The variety of wicks available can seem a bit overwhelming. Wicks come in both pre-tabbed and un-tabbed varieties, so make yourself familiar with both options. A couple of things that you will want to look into and consider when choosing wicks are the size and diameter of the candles you are making, the type of wax you are using and whether or not you are making a paraffin vs. an all natural candle. All of these things will ultimately factor into your wick decision.

If you are scenting your candles, you will need to choose fragrance to work with. Again, this is an area that requires some research. Some fragrances are more concentrated than others and their reaction in different waxes may vary. Some work well in paraffin, but not in soy. You may need to adjust the amount of fragrance oil you use based on the type of wax you are using.

If you choose to use dye, be aware that dyes come in a variety of forms. There are liquid dyes, powdered dyes, dye chips and more. Make yourself familiar with what is available and how each is used.

You may also want to consider these handy items to make your candle making more efficient: wick stickers or glue dots to secure your wicks in place, wick clips to keep your wicks straight, a digital scale to accurately weigh your wax and fragrance, wax additives to correct a particular wax issue, candle molds if you are making molded candles and a heat gun for preheating containers and smoothing candle top imperfections.

The number of candle making supplies and options is amazing. As you gain more candle making experience, you will begin to learn which supplies and equipment will best meet your personal candle making needs.

By far, one of the most complex and costly areas of candle making is the selection and use of fragrance. Fragrance is usually the most expensive ingredient in your candles, and will most often be the determining factor in whether or not your candles are a hit or a miss.

The number one reason people purchase candles is for the fragrance, and for this reason, fragrance is vitally important.

When adding scent to your candles, you have two fragrance options available – natural or synthetic fragrance. Each of these fragrance options offers their own benefits. It is up to you to determine your ultimate goals, as well as who your target market is, when determining a fragrance option to choose.

If you choose to produce naturally scented candles, then you will be working with essential oils. Essential oils, unlike fragrance oils, are oils naturally derived from plants and flowers. They are highly concentrated, and usually much stronger than most fragrance oils, so it can be easy to overuse them.

Essential oils are also more costly than synthetic fragrance oils. Typically, essential oils do not burn quite as well as synthetic fragrance oils, and are harder to blend with wax. While they can offer a very good scent throw, they tend to lose their scent faster than their synthetic counterparts making for a shorter shelf life.

Because of their all-natural qualities, many natural wax candle makers find that essential oils are an excellent choice because their customers appreciate an all-natural product.

Fragrance oils are the other option. Fragrance oils are man-made, being synthetically produced by various perfumeries. For the best quality of fragrance oils, it is strongly encouraged that you purchase your fragrance oils from a specialty retailer that specializes in candle making. These candle supply retailers usually seek high quality oils and the oils they carry are made specifically for candle making.

Many candle supply retailers have their scents custom-blended. For this reason, a scent with the same name may smell very different when you buy it from various suppliers. Many of these candle supply retailers offer customer feedback and comments related to specific scents they sell. This information can help you determine what fragrances others are having success with and you may pick up tips on how they are successfully using the scent in their own products.

There are literally thousands of fragrance oil scents available for purchase, so using this type of information can help you narrow your options. When deciding on those you’d like to try, many candle supply retailers will offer sample size containers of each scent so that you can try them economically prior to purchasing a larger size.

When working with scents, consult the websites of the suppliers that sell your fragrance oils and wax. Their websites usually offer a wealth of information. When you look up your wax instructions, there is usually information about the amount of fragrance to add for the best scent throw, and when during the candle making process it is best to add the fragrance for best results.

A typical rule of thumb for adding fragrance to candles is one ounce of fragrance for each pound of wax. However, this is not a steadfast rule. Some candle makers choose to measure fragrance in teaspoons or percentages instead of ounces. And, some waxes will hold more fragrance than others. Each wax and fragrance is different, so plan on doing a lot of testing and trying a lot of fragrance and wax combinations before getting your best results.

Also, remember to test for both cold and hot scent throw in your candles. There can be a big difference in how a candle smells sitting on the shelf compared to how it smells when it is burned. It is important that your candle smells great at first whiff when the jar is opened so that customers can experience the scent. It is even more important that the candle has great fragrance as it burns as that is what brings your customers back for more.

With any worthy craft there are bound to be minor troubles. If you have ever spent any amount of time pouring candles, you will find yourself troubleshooting eventually. Each candle type presents its own special challenges, and here we are going to cover the most common concerns and frustrations related to molded candles.

While molded candles can be made with a variety of waxes, this article primarily addresses common issues that arise with the use of paraffin wax as natural waxes sometimes have their own troubleshooting issues to address.

One of the most common questions concerning molded candles is what to do if the candle will not come out of the mold. Typically this is caused by one of the following reasons.

You may have overfilled the mold causing the wax to set over the lip of the mold. If this happens, gently break away some of the dried wax from the lip and try not to go over the lip of the mold when you pour in the future.

Another reason is that your mold may be dented. If this is the case, you will most likely need to purchase a new mold. When molds are not in use, make sure they are stored in a safe place, preferably in their original packaging to prevent dents.

Sometimes the wax may have not had time to cool completely and is still adhering to the mold. Simply allow it to cool completely and try again. Lastly, you may be using a wax that is too soft. Make sure you are using a wax specifically made for making molded candles.

Another common problem is the formation of white spots all over the surface of the candle.

If you experience this, you may have added too much fragrance oil. Consider reducing the amount of fragrance oil or consider adding vybar to the wax mixture to help the wax retain the oil. This problem may also be caused by the candle cooling too slowly. If this is the case, try using a water bath to cool the candle more quickly.

If the surface of your candle has frost marks, typically the wax was too cool when it was poured, or the mold was too cold when the wax was poured into it. Make sure that you pour the wax between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit (82 to 93 degrees Celsius), and make sure your molds are at room temperature before pouring into them.

If you experience your candles caving in or forming a well in the top, both of these issues are most likely a result of not poking relief holes in the wax after the first pour. Always make sure to poke relief holes in the wax after the first pour to make sure the tension is released while the candle is cooling. As the candle cools, do a second pour making sure that the wax is cooled enough to support additional wax, but not yet completely cooled.

There are numerous issues that may arise when pouring molded candles. Just keep in mind that other candle makers have probably experienced them too, and there is almost always a way to correct the issue if you seek help. Try checking online candle making message boards to see if the issue has been addressed there – most likely you’ll find a discussion about the problem, as well as solutions to fix it.

Candle making has virtually exploded onto the scene in recent years, as people have flocked to the craft as a hobby or with the desire to sell their handmade candles for profit.

Most people tend to gravitate toward candle making as they begin to realize just how much money they spend on candles. While learning the craft takes an investment of both time and money, it can be time well spent as it is easily achievable to make your own candles that are of comparable, if not better quality, than what is already available in the mass marketplace.

There are many reasons people burn candles: as air fresheners, to set a certain mood, for religious purposes, as a source of light, even as a tool to sell houses. And with the wide variety of candles available today such as container candles, pillar candles, gel candles, natural wax candles and candle tarts, there is bound to be a candle making specialty that appeals to anyone looking to have some fun with a new hobby or to grow a hobby into a substantial, thriving business.

The candle industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The demand for candles is huge, and more and more people are beginning to look to candle making as a fun hobby, or as a way to supplement or entirely replace their income. Making candles part-time and selling them at various local craft shows or through local retailers is an excellent way to earn some extra cash.

For those individuals looking to take a more substantial leap into the craft, and perhaps even leave their current job, there are numerous ways to do so. Some candle makers wholesale candles to other retailers all over the country. Others set up their own websites and sell their candles at retail from an online store. Still others make their fortunes by primarily promoting their candles through fundraisers held by non-profit organizations.

While some people do see candles as a way to earn a living, others are choosing to continue their candle making activities purely as a hobby. There is much enjoyment in creating the perfect candle. By making your own candles, you can create candles designed specifically for your own personal tastes.

Maybe you prefer natural wax to paraffin wax and have a hard time finding natural wax candles. Now you can make your own. Maybe you can never find your favorite scent in a color you like. Not a problem. You can simply make some for yourself in any scent or color you desire. If you are truly a candle lover, learning to make your own candles can be personally rewarding – and a lot of fun!

Whatever your ultimate goals may be in making your own candles, it is a craft worth learning to do right. There are many books on the subject and the internet is filled with helpful hints, tips and resources. Dive in, dig deep and you will be amazed by the fantastic candles you can create. And the best part is, you get to say that you made them yourself.

Have you ever thought about selling your candles for profit?

While many people start making candles as a hobby, the huge interest in candles makes it possible to earn a nice part-time or full-time income by selling your candles to others. You can sell wholesale, on consignment or set up fundraising programs. The most common approach is to retail your candles. Here we’ll introduce you to retailing so that you can determine if this method is a good fit for you.

One of the most common ways most candle makers get started in retailing is to sell their candles at craft shows. One of the benefits of craft shows is that local people like to buy from local crafters. So, if you can find enough craft shows in your area to keep you busy, then this may well be an avenue that is successful for you.

Another benefit to craft shows is that people appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into hand crafted items. At craft shows, you are presented with an opportunity to sell yourself and explain how your candles are hand poured. This really sets you apart from those who simply resell candles that are made by larger companies, giving you a distinct advantage at these events.

Craft shows also present you with the added benefit of gaining exposure and building opportunities for word-of-mouth referrals. You can’t be at a craft show every day, so the rapport you build with your customers will generate income from re-orders and referrals to their friends and family. It is imperative that you have business cards available, as well as ordering and delivery procedures in place for the future orders you will hopefully receive.

Some of the drawbacks of craft shows are that they are not always readily available, and when they are, they tend to not be equally distributed throughout the year. While you may find an abundance of shows at the holidays, it will be harder to find venues to sell your candles in March and July. There may be other options, though, such as Farmer’s Markets, festivals that sell space to vendors and other similar situations.

A reality of craft shows is that they are a lot of work. They are usually day long events that require the set up and tear down of a booth each time, and require a succession of hours spent on your feet. You’re bound to get tired!

Instead of, or in addition to, selling at craft shows, many candle makers have taken steps to put up a website. Whether this is a fully functioning website capable of accepting orders or simply an online ‘catalog’ where current and potential customers can go to see what they want to order and give you a call, a website is an excellent way to grow a candle business.

Another retailing option is selling your candles at home parties. Try booking some parties with your friends and family. Chances are there will be someone there that would also like to book a party. This can be a great way to grow your business.

While some candle makers have aspirations of opening their own candle store featuring their hand-crafted products for sale, this is a goal that requires a serious amount of time and money, and is most often left for extremely experienced and well-established candle makers only.

There are many ways to create a successful candle business, and retailing your candles is only one of the many ways it may be possible. Explore your options and decide which option is the best fit for you and your ultimate goals.

The wide variety of specialty candles available in the marketplace has opened the door for the everyday candle maker to try something new and possibly create their own, unique candle line. Specialty candle making is typically reserved for more experienced candle makers, but the option is also there to anyone new to the craft.

Relatively new to the scene, yet becoming increasingly more common, are gel candles. Gel candles are made from a specially processed mineral oil that produces a clear, rubbery texture. Simply put, gel candles have a unique look that resembles a gelatin dessert.

While some candle makers are choosing to produce simple, unencumbered gel candles, others have chosen to go even further by adding non-flammable embeds to their gel candles, giving the appearance of objects suspended in midair. For example, adding fish shaped embeds into a blue tinted gel candle will produce the appearance of fish swimming in water.

The use of embeds is not only limited to use in gel candles. They can also be used in paraffin and soy. While paraffin and soy waxes are not transparent like gel, the addition of embeds can add texture and color to semi-translucent wax, and are very popular in creating unique and unusual designs in pillar candles.

Another hot trend in the specialty candle market is the production of bakery and food item candles. Candle makers have flexed their artistic muscles by creating candles that look like pies, complete with crust and realistic looking fruit. You’ll see everything from hot chocolate candles poured into cocoa mugs complete with floating marshmallows to candle tarts that look like amazingly realistic muffins and donuts. The possibilities are endless if you have a little bit of creativity – as well as ample time and patience.

Yet another rising trend in specialty candles is the popularity of wickless candles. These candles are created for the sole purpose of melting in or on a candle warmer, and will never actually be burned with a flame. Wickless candles can be jar candles, without the wick, made to set on a warmer in their container. The melted wax produces scent, without the need for an open flame.

Another wickless variety is the wax tart. These wax creations are scented wax poured into molds. When they set up they are solid pieces of scented wax that are placed into simmer pots or wax melters to melt the wax.

These wickless options provide the wonderful fragrances of candles but without an open flame, making them perfect for people who have burn restrictions in their living or work spaces. Wickless candles and tarts are increasingly popular in schools, hospitals, dorm rooms, nursing homes and anywhere an open flame is not allowed.

Part of individual’s success in the candle industry is their ability to get creative, try something new, and promote their unique creations in the marketplace. While improving on an old standard is always a smart way to grow your business, there is also much room for success in innovation.

When people first begin making candles, they are often surprised by just how many wicks there are available. This can make it a bit complicated to determine the best wick for each type of candle.

Choosing the right wick can be the ultimate difference in whether your candle is a raging success, or a not so subtle failure. Proper wicking makes all the difference when it comes to the life of the candle, how well it burns and whether or not it even stays lit.

Wicks come in one of two options, either pre-tabbed or on spools.

Pre-tabbed wicks are most often used in container candles and votives. They are stiff wicks of varying lengths with a metal base attached. The wick is connected to the tab by a longer metal piece referred to as the wick collar or neck, which also come in a variety of lengths.

The purpose of a wick tab is to stop the candle from burning once the flame on the wick reaches the metal neck of the tab. This extinguishes the flame before it can reach the bottom of the container, which can cause the container to overheat and break.

Spooled wicks are most commonly used in pillars and tapers and can either be used without tabs, or tabs can be attached by hand.

Wicks are available in a variety of materials. From cotton, to hemp, to paper, to those with metal cores, each wick offers different benefits and has certain situations in which they are best used.

Each individual wax may have certain wicks it will or will not work with best. Most wax suppliers will offer this information and make suggestions for appropriate wick choices for each wax. Certain wicks may burn too hot or too cool for the type of wax you are using, so it is important to pay attention to this information if you want to make the best candle possible.

When you first begin choosing wicks, it is recommended that you spend some time researching wicks in either a book about candle making or online at one of the many candle making supply websites. Wicks come in a variety of sizes, described by a series of numbers which can be complex to understand at the outset. Learn what these numbers mean by reading the description for each wick line you may be considering.

The diameter of your candle will help determine what size of wick you will need to use. Typically, the larger the diameter of the candle, the larger the wick size you will need.

When making container candles, you want to make sure that your wick is big enough to melt the wax of the candle completely across the top. You also want to prevent ‘tunneling’, which is when the wick burns a hole down the center of the candle leaving a tunnel of wax around the sides of a container. You also want to make sure that the wick is not too large which can cause the candle to burn faster than it should, causing excessive smoking or soot as well.

Finally, keep in mind that there is no exact science to choosing proper wicks. While manufacturers may be able to recommend certain types of wicks that will work well, you still may need to experiment to see what works best in your candles. Ultimately, you’ll discover the wicks you most enjoy working with. And by testing different wicks, you’ll be able to learn which wicks produce your desired results.

As new candle makers consult various candle making resources for instructions and troubleshooting, it is highly likely that the use of additives will be mentioned at one point or another.

Most newcomers, and even a few experienced crafters, may find it helpful to review a few of the most common candle making additives – and when and why they should be considered for use.

Before getting into detail about each individual additive, there are a few things to keep in mind when working with these products. Use of any additives in your candles will almost always affect the way the dye works with your wax. Your dye recipes may need to be adjusted when using additives.

Also, additives will most likely have an effect on your wick size. Because additives are often used to increase the wax’s melting point, you may need to adjust your wick size accordingly.

What are the most commonly used additives? Here are several you may likely have a need for at one time or another.

One additive you will hear frequently discussed is vybar. Vybar acts as a binding agent and is used to make wax more opaque. Vybar can also be used to reduce air bubbling and mottling effects in your candles.

Stearic acid is another popular additive. Stearic acid helps increase the scent throw of your candles by making it possible to add more fragrance oil to the wax. This additive also helps your candles achieve a smooth, even finish.

Several companies also produce what is referred to as a Universal Additive. This additive has several functions, some of which are to help in mold release, harden wax, bind oil to wax, increase opacity and lengthen candle burn time.

One additive that most candle makers will find extremely beneficial is UV Stabilizer. If you sell your candles outdoors or under fluorescent lights, you may want to seriously consider incorporating this additive into your finished product.

UV Stabilizer is added to candles to help prevent candle fading and to improve the stability of the color. When exposed to light, some candle dyes will fade severely. In other cases, dye and fragrance oil may not react well together and over time, the color may fade. The use of Universal Additive helps combat these pesky problems.

Other products that you may sometimes see advertised as additives are beeswax and petrolatum. Beeswax is often added to wax blends to increase the overall burn time of a candle. Petrolatum is commonly used to soften the wax and to increase the melt pool.

Every additive has one or more specific, intended uses. As you gain candle making experience, familiarize yourself with these additives and consider whether or not they may benefit your candle products.

Some candle makers choose to not incorporate additives at all. Some wax blends are pre-blended and sold with the additives already included. Check with your suppliers and consult various resources if you believe your candles may benefit from one of these many additive options.

Even experienced candle makers once had to conquer the candle making learning curve. No one just automatically knows exactly how to make the perfect candle. All candle makers have to learn the process and seek information and instructions to perfect their techniques. With all of the resources available today, just what is the best way to go about learning the craft of candle making?

If you visit any national bookseller, be it online or a traditional brick and mortar store, you are bound to find numerous books on the subject of candle making. Each book may offer you a unique perspective and may focus on a specific type of candle making. For example, you may find three different books on candle making – one features container candles, one features molded candles and yet another features specialty gel candles.

You can also find candle making books elsewhere. Many arts and craft stores are carrying books on candle making these days. And, it’s possible that you may find what you need at your local library. When choosing a book, make sure that it covers the type of candle you are most interested in making.

Pictures can be extremely helpful so look for one that shows lots of examples. Also make sure that your book contains a section on safety. Candle making can be a dangerous hobby if not done correctly and everyone needs to be well informed.

Another great candle making resource is online retailers that specialize in selling candle making supplies. You can learn a great deal by simply reading about the products they have to offer. These online retailers are also your best bet for purchasing your supplies. They offer the highest quality merchandise and almost never require minimum orders, making it easy for small, budding candle makers to purchase their start-up materials.

While many arts and craft stores have begun carrying candle making supplies, their selection is often extremely limited and their quality is usually inferior to the products available through true candle making suppliers.

Hands down, the best resource for learning to make top quality candles is experienced candle makers themselves. You will save yourself countless hours and money by learning from their mistakes. Their experience is priceless. They can advise you on how to avoid mistakes that you would otherwise learn from trial and error.

While most experienced candle makers will have certain information they may not be willing to share, you will be surprised at how open most are and how willing they are to give advice. If you do not know any experienced candle makers personally, there are several great message boards available online where candle makers ask questions, share experiences and exchange information. Using these boards will help you immensely.

While the art of candle making may be a fairly complex art to master, it is a worthwhile endeavor that will offer you countless hours of fun and fascination. And if you happen to be one of the many Americans who spend a substantial amount of money purchasing high quality candles, over the long run you just may find candle making to be the most economical hobby you ever perfected.

While most candle makers start out making candles as a hobby, many eventually choose to turn that hobby into a full-fledged business. Whether through retailing, fundraising, consignment or wholesaling, there are several choices to expand your business into a valid part-time or full-time enterprise. Here we’ll discuss the topic of wholesaling as an option for building a solid business.

The concept of wholesaling is simple. Basically, you sell your candles to resellers at a reduced price so that they can turn around and sell your candles at a higher price to their own customers.

The way you do this and still make a profit yourself, is that the resellers agree to purchase large quantities of candles in exchange for the reduced price. So while you may be selling your candles at half a typical retail price, you are also selling far more candles than you usually would if you were selling them one at a time.

When considering wholesaling there are a few extremely important things that you must keep in mind.

In order to sell profitably at wholesale, your pricing is crucial. You need to determine a reasonable retail price for your candles, and be able to cut that price at least in half to sell them at wholesale.

Most resellers want to be able to charge at least a 100% mark-up (double the wholesale price) to even consider buying from you at wholesale. This means that if they buy it from you for $5.00, they need to be able to sell it to their own customers for at least $10.00. This 100% mark-up by retailers is commonly referred to as a ‘keystone’ mark-up.

So, if you are going to sell your candles at $5.00 each wholesale, then you need to make sure you are still making a profit on the candle at $5.00. Ideally, your total costs, including sufficient pay for your time, should be no more than 50% of the wholesale price, with 30-40% recommended.

The most common mistake novice candle makers make is not truly knowing their costs, and setting their retail price too low. This makes it almost impossible to sell at wholesale in the future because they are not charging enough for their time. Don’t sell yourself short. Do your research and see what other candle makers are selling comparable candles for. Then back out your costs and time to make sure that you can afford to set a fair and profitable wholesale price.

There are many ways to go about finding wholesale clients to sell to. You can make personal sales calls to local stores and shops, you can consider hiring sales representatives to do this for you or you can sign a representation agreement with one of the many wholesale showrooms around the country.

There are also numerous ‘gift shows’ held around the country several times a year where buyers visit for the sole purpose of purchasing wholesale merchandise to resell. These shows can yield great results, but are extremely expensive, and you will need a lot of orders to offset your costs. For this reason, wholesale trade shows are often best left to experienced candle makers that have a substantial promotional budget and the production capacity to fulfill an onslaught of orders.

There are also a number of online wholesale directories available for consideration. Typically, you pay a fee to advertise in their directory, but you receive great exposure to resellers looking to purchase products. Again, if you choose to participate in these directories, make sure that you have the production capacity to meet demand. The last thing you want is to have orders from customers, and not enough finished product to fill the orders, or the ability to produce it quickly.

There are many ways to create a successful candle business, and wholesaling is only one of the many ways it may be possible. Explore your options and decide what the best fit is for you and your ultimate goals.