Candle Making Tips for Beginners
Candle making is a craft that you can take on if you’re creative and patient. You might even discover that you have the soul of an artist just by creating a few designs, which you can mass produce and sell. Even a beginner can do it with some candle making tip (like what you’ll find here.)
Candles are consumer items that people cannot live without. People use them for religious rituals and family traditions, and they make nice table top accents. The most amazing candle designs have been made by hand by ordinary people. Anyone who can turn a lumpy piece of wax into something quaint and lovely can join the ranks of the globally renowned artists who have the talent to create and share beauty to the world.
But before you can become a candle maker, there are some essential things you need to know about this art. Here are some candle making tips you can use if you’re up to the challenge of producing art from ordinary wax and wick.
I. Learn the Process
At the onset, candle making may not seem easy, but once you master the basic process of deciding on a color or a design theme, melting and cooling wax, choosing the right candle mold and sculpting your design, you can create homemade candles effortlessly. Don’t be disheartened by initial failures. You may be disappointed when your first candles don’t form properly, but if you’re willing to start over until you get the hang of it, you will be able to master the techniques of candle making and be an expert in no time. The key is to meticulously follow the formula on your guidebook, much like baking. You also have to follow your gut feelings, or should I say your artistic intuition, to create candles that truly represent your unique style.
2. Prepare Your Workroom
If you’re just starting, your own kitchen can serve as your workroom. This means you have to double check the valves and wirings of your equipment (kitchen stove, double boiler, industrial thermometers, cooling equipment, etc.). Most of the candle making tips you will receive from friends or fellow enthusiasts will emphasize the need for an orderly work room. It’s easy to get confused and disoriented when you’re handling volatile substances so you need to divide your workroom space in such a way that you won’t feel lost while you’re creating candles.
Designate an area solely for preparing the ingredients; ideally, you can use a separate table just for inventory and prep work. Also, find a suitable place for cooling the wax so you can segregate the batches that have cooled down considerably and the batches that are still hot.
3. Workroom Safety
Workroom safety is particularly important when handling hot wax and open flame. You have to make sure you wear protective clothing, such as a long sleeved shirt that’s gathered at the wrists for a snug fit (so the ends don’t dangle and touch the hot wax). Wear old clothes so that you won’t feel bad about throwing them away just in case they get stained by the dyes.
Keep a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit near your workplace just to be safe. Also, have lots of sturdy, non-slip mats around your cooking area and on your sink so you don’t have to worry about your equipment sliding and causing injury.
4. Choose Your Dyes and Scents Wisely
One crucial part of candle making is choosing dyes and blending the colors. For starters, you can buy a dark shade of your color of choice and then mix it with something lighter later (pure white or black dye should always be in your grocery list for blending). Have fun experimenting with scents by using a small amount initially then increasing the volume according to your preference. Note that some scents overpower the user and may even cause nausea. Plan your scents and colors carefully by testing different blends on separate batches.
5. Have a Theme in Mind
Always consider the end user of the candles you’re creating. Create different designs for a variety of functions. Utility candles are a lot simpler to make, but if you want to target the people who are looking to use candles as living room accents, you have to invent designs that will complement a particular look (e.g. minimalist, modern, trendy, etc.).
Candle making is fun. Keep it that way. Start a new project when you are in a good frame of mind. The process can sometimes generate frustrations. If you start in a great mood, you can handle a few setbacks and still be happy with the overall process. If you start when you are not your best, it will only go downhill from there. Make candle making your happy time.
