Jars are different from candle making molds because the former is meant to permanently contain the candle wax, while the latter may only be used to shape the wax.  Some jars may be used as molds because of their beautiful shape or size, but for the most part, you should use candle making jars only when you intend to create container candles.  One of the perks of creating candle making jars is that you’re not only selling functional candles, you’re also selling elegant decorations that people can use as décor, whether or not they burn the candles.

If you don’t want to spend too much time placing dyes on candles, you can still artistically “theme” your candles by using motif jars.  Plain paraffin candles will look like high-end Christmas decorations when contained in a Holiday-themed glass jar.

Before you start mass producing jar candles, there are some things you need to know about candle making jars.

• Specialized candle crafting jars don’t really exist.  Any functional jar that is able to withstand heat can be a great vessel for your candle wax.  In most cases, even plastic jars that are durable enough are good for jar candle making.  There may be really nice jars out there that have been specifically designed to hold candles, but in reality, the jar you choose depends entirely on your aesthetic taste.
• How about non-heat resistant containers?  For safety reasons, I suggest you refrain from using containers that melt at high heat.  Candle wax can be extremely hot when melted.  Most candle makers prefer using glass or earthenware.  Clear glass jars will showcase the beauty of your candle wax, particularly if you took the time to dye your wax to increase its aesthetic appeal.
• When using jars for candle making make sure to clean the jar beforehand.  You must also dry the jar to prevent wax from coming into contact with water that might be present inside the jar.  Dirt or stains inside the jars will also mar the beauty of your candles, particularly if the container is see-through.  One good way of drying the jars is to microwave them for a short duration before usage.  Some candle makers simply expose the insides of their jars to air so that the liquid inside these jars can evaporate.
• Qualify the jars you are going to use for candle making.  Check for cracks inside and outside the jar containers.  Cracks and dents on jars that are not meant as decorations may become bigger when you pour the wax, or when the wax expands.  Chips on your candle making jars may also let the wax seep out during the cooling process.
• Preserve the beauty of your candle jars by pouring just the right amount of wax.  I’ve seen jars that overflow with candle wax and cringe.  If you inadvertently pour too much wax inside one of the jars, scoop out the extra wax before it solidifies.

Candle making jars will make your production experience more pleasant.  You can unleash your creative side by simply decorating the jars you’re going to use for candle making.  Place stickers, draw patterns and tie ribbons around your jars to make them look better.

Why do some people prefer oil candles to wax candles?  Oil candles are cleaner burning than wax candles.  They are also convenient and cheap.  Business minded individuals like oil candle making over wax candle making because of the low cost of oil candle making supplies.

Oil candles also have a consistent flame height, which means you don’t have to spend time trimming the wick in order to get the flame you want.  The best feature of oil candles is longevity.  These oil candles can last for a long time, regardless if you use them 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  This is because of the refillable nature of oil candles. If the oil level is low, you can simply pour more oil and keep the container. 

Wax types last long, but you will be left with a lump of misshapen wax after a few hours of burning.  In a sense, oil candles are lighting fixtures you can really use.  They’re not just for decoration.

But some individuals have found ways to turn ordinary oil candle lamps into quaint decorative items!  Some ways of doing this include putting seashells inside the glass containers, placing colored rocks at the bottom of the containers or using containers with beautiful patterns engraved on them.  Oil candles provide a low-maintenance way of decorating your homes during special occasions.  You only need to buy a particularly exquisite piece, use it for years, and pass it on to the next generation.  Because of the long-lasting nature of oil lamps, some families use the same lamps for decades.  Like wax candles, oil candles can be manufactured at home.  What’s more, you can design your handcrafted oil lamps to your heart’s content.

Here are the basics of oil candle making.

• Fill a simple glass jar or an ornate decorative glass bottle with special candle making oil.  Put a wick in a glass tube, preferably positioned using a wick holder.  Make sure that just 1/8 of the wick is protruding above top of the jar or bottle.  Let the wick absorb enough oil before you light the candle.
• There are several types of oil candles, but for your oil candle making business, you can try the most common type.  Get a refillable glass container and fill it with paraffin oil.  Be mindful of the initial oil level, which should at least reach the middle part of the container.  Also, you need to install a special wick to finish creating your oil lamp.
• One of the most important aspects of oil candle making is deciding on which type of wick to use.   Go for cotton types, with a good braiding design.  You can also try wicks that combine hemp and cotton for a longer lasting burn.  If you’re going all out with your oil candle making, try the fiber glass wicks with holders attached.  Most oil candle making kits include a glass flame protector that you can place over your oil candle jar to prevent the wind from putting out your flame.  This is convenient for those who use oil candles or oil lamps to light their doorways during a power failure.  After you learn the basics, you can try creating scented oil candles by simply adding essential oils to the candle oil.  Some people go one step further and place rose petals inside the oil bottles for better aesthetic appeal.

Soon, people started making candles in bulk.  With the advent of so many religious practices, candles have marked their place in history as a part of every holiday and spiritual event.  But people have found more uses for candles.  They can be used to beautify a room, make another person’s heart leap with joy, and help weary workers deal with stress.

Not only the function, but the procedure for making candles has also evolved.  From makeshift wax melting equipment (think cauldrons or pots) to fancy double boilers created specifically for candle making, people have used modern technology to mass produce beautiful candles that sell in so many markets.

If you’re a candle enthusiast or if you’ve even thought of creating candles for a living, here are some candle making equipment tips for you.

• First of all, set up a stage for your art.  Devote an area in your home for creating candles.  The flooring must be furnished with non-slip mats that will help you move around your work room without worrying about slipping while you’re handling hot, melted wax.
• Next, make sure you have the right cooking equipment for your candle making; namely, a stove with moderate flame and a double boiler for melting wax.  In some cases, you don’t need a double boiler (like when you’re making soy candles), but it’s best to have one at home just in case you’re short on soy wax and you have to use paraffin.
• One school of thought tells us to keep kitchen utensils and equipment away when you’re handling candles.  This is to prevent using the same equipment for processing food and wax.
• You can easily guess what equipment you need by taking note of the difficulties you’re having during the actual candle-making process.  If you’re not comfortable handling the inner container of your makeshift double boiler (a smaller container inside a larger one), you can get a pouring jug to help you transfer wax from the boiler to the containers or molds.
• Next, you will need an assortment of containers.  You can look around your house for decorative tin cans, or even old food containers for inspiration, but if you really want to produce candles that stand out, go to a hobby shop and choose from a wide array of specialized candle containers.  The best thing about buying special candle containers is that you can get them personalized.
• Molds can either be made of aluminum, rubber or plastic.  If you want to keep using the same molds, you can go for aluminum ones, which stack well and will last long.  Rubber molds are convenient in that the cooled wax can be taken out of the mold easily, but the rubber can leave a certain smell on the wax in some cases.  Plastic molds are cheap and can be bought by the hundreds, but some plastics crack easily and won’t last long.  If you’re using molds instead of containers, you will need to find some special equipment to help you release the solidified wax from the mold.  These are called releasers.
• Wick placement is another thing to consider.  Get some wick pins to help you center your wick on your candles.  There’s nothing more annoying than purchasing candles with wicks located to the side or too far from the center.

Don’t buy too many utensils at the onset.  You will soon learn which equipment you can do without.  It’s better to stick with the basic ones so that you can start on your business fast and sell more candles, before you need to upgrade your stock of candle making equipment.

Making a soy candle is as simple as melting the wax and then choosing a wick to use and placing the melted wax in containers to cool.  The resulting product will be functional, with the natural beauty of soya making the task worthwhile.  But it doesn’t stop there.  Once you realize that soya can hold scents well, you will start thinking about using fragrance oils and dyes to enhance the natural elegance of your homemade soy candles.

Creating your very own soy candles is a very gratifying hobby… and the fun is just starting.

There are two ways of starting to create soy candles.  You can buy the materials separately from craft shops in your area or over the internet.  You can also get a pre-supplied soy candle making kit.  If you’re a beginner, I suggest going for the second option.  Your enthusiasm for candle making will greatly increase if you have all the basic materials in front of you.

Use a candle kit to practice creating your first soy candles.  Once you get the hang of the process and the tricks to creating better candles, you can start visiting specialty stores and even thrift shops for more containers, candle molds, bargain soy candle waxes and wicks of all sizes and types.

Check your kit for the following materials:

1. Soy wax in granules, flakes or in blocks.  Check for the amount of wax present.  Usually, beginner’s  candle kits contain a pound of wax and a container that can accommodate that much wax.  From experience, the granule type is easier to use for obvious reasons.  It’s easier to melt and you don’t have to worry about cutting up a block to fit your container.
2. Check for the presence of the wick.  At the onset, you might even forget to place the wick in the container before pouring your candle, which is fine. But having the wick positioned very close to the container in your work area will make sure you don’t repeat the same mistake.  Don’t worry if you create a wickless candle… you can always melt the soy wax again and start over!  You should also check for the material of the wick.  Usually, cotton is the wick material of choice.  If there’s a wick, check if the wick is primed.
3. Most candle making kits contain fragrance oils.  This is one way of ensuring that your first candle experience will be awesome.  Think of making a scented soy candle on the first try!  It will also prepare you for what’s ahead in your career as a candle maker.  You will soon be curious about which scents go well with which dye and what containers are suitable for a certain candle design and motif.
4. Wax dye.  Your candle’s color will dictate what your motif is.  It will even be the basis of what scent you will use for your candle.  A purple dyed candle asks for a lavender scent, an orange candle needs a citrus scent, and so on.

Making your soy candles is easy.  At medium heat, melt the soy wax in a pan.  This will remind you of melting butter.  You have to stir every once in a while.  Lower the flame and keep stirring while you add the fragrance and the dye.  Gently pour the melted soy wax inside your jar or mold with the wick in place.  Trim the wick, and in less than 24 hours, you can light your first homemade soy candle!

Organic materials such as soy wax and beeswax melt more slowly compared to paraffin.  As a result, beeswax and soy candles last fifty percent longer than a paraffin candle.  Candles made of beeswax and soy candle wax also emit less sooty smoke compared to candles created using paraffin wax. These factors contributed to the increasing popularity of soy wax and beeswax candles, making them the standard materials for creating high-end, beautifully designed handcrafted candles.

Soy candle wax is beloved to many candle makers who are looking for alternatives to bee’s wax.  Bee’s wax is a good candle making ingredient, no doubt about it, but it is rare and costly.  Soy wax, on the other hand, is made from soya oil, which was processed by hydrogenation.  As the name implies, soy wax is a byproduct of soybeans, the same plant that produces tofu.  Soy wax is now available in most craft stores and online hobby shops.  Soybean oil is abundant in most soybean-growing regions. Not only did the candle makers find a less expensive alternative to create organic candles, they also found a way to create a thing of beauty from a regular commodity.

Soy candle wax has an extremely low melting point, which makes it the ideal wax for container candles.    You can use an old tea pot to hold your soy candle wax and you can light the candle every night while you’re having your tea without worrying about excessive wax spills.

Needless to say, this type of wax is ideal if you’re creating candles for ornament or for creating a romantic, surreal ambiance inside a room.  You really don’t want to keep changing the candle sets in your living room while a formal party is in full swing, do you?  You can create tiny tea lights using soy wax and watch them last the whole night during your event.

For longer lasting candles, trim the wick or use braided wicks for your candle crafting.  The combination of good wick style and low melting soy candle wax will make sure your candles last for a long time.
Soy wax is also highly prized by aromatic candle crafters.  Scented soy candle wax emits aromatic scents easier.  The raw material holds fragrance oil well, without diluting the fragrance. When you light a lavender-scented soy candle, you will smell the lavender fragrance more poignantly than when you light a lavender-scented paraffin wax candle.

Perhaps the biggest benefit to using soy wax for your candle production is the fact that you don’t even need a double boiler to melt soy wax.  You can melt soy over direct heat without worrying about the wax burning.

Beeswax is a byproduct of the honey-creation process in beehives.  Worker bees create honey and wax simultaneously, making it possible for beekeepers to harvest wax and honey simultaneously.  However, the creation of beeswax is dependent on how fast the honeybees worked, and how often the beekeepers harvested these materials.

Throughout history, candle makers have known that beeswax is the best candle raw material for making church candles.  Before molds were invented, beeswax candles were painstakingly created by hand, which was time consuming and labor intensive.  When container candles and molds came in, beeswax candles became easier to create, and has been the candle material of choice for religious rituals.

One of the main reasons why specialists still used beeswax despite the cost of buying the raw materials is the scent.  Honey gives off a peculiar sweet scent that is almost hypnotic in its essence.  You can never get tired of smelling it.  The best thing about the scent of beeswax candles is that it’s not cloyingly sweet; but rather gives a pleasant and gentle olfactory stimulation.

Beeswax turns into a sticky mass when melted, so most candle makers have created strategies to maximize the flexibility of beeswax. 

With beeswax, you can melt beeswax and create candles according to the usual methods used for other types of waxes (paraffin, soy, etc.), or you can take the beeswax sheets and create candles by rolling them (appropriately called “rolled beeswax candles”).  In the latter method, you don’t have to melt the beeswax all the way, so you can use whole sheets as is.  In the former, you can use granules or blocks of beeswax (usually cheaper than sheets).

Melted beeswax can be poured in containers or molds to create uniquely shaped candles.  You might need to invest a lot on releasing agents to prevent the sticky beeswax from clinging to the mold, but on the whole, beeswax candles form well and take on the shape of the molds easily as soon as poured.

The “easier” method of processing your beeswax is rolling it.  You don’t need to heat the already flexible beeswax sheet but you will need to knead very carefully to ensure that you don’t break the honeycomb pattern on the beeswax.  This will require patience and firm but gentle handling.

Here are some more tips on how to craft “rolled beeswax candles”.  You will need to cut the sheets of beeswax into rectangular shapes, around 8 by 16 inch sheets.  You will have to prime your wick before usage.  Wick priming simply means coating the wick in melted beeswax and letting it dry.  The wick should be 1/3 inch longer than the width of the beeswax sheet so measurements and cutting should be precise.  Place the wick at the end of the sheet and roll the ends firmly around the wick.  This is probably the only time you will have to use a firm pressure on the beeswax so that the wick can be snugly enclosed in the fold.

If you’re familiar with baking and have tried rolling dough in the past, you might discover that you’re good at making rolled beeswax candles.  The question is, “what if you end up pressing too hard and breaking the beeswax?”  If this happens, you might want to consider trying the traditional method instead.  Just take the broken or damaged beeswax sheets and melt them for container candle making.

If you’re like me, you probably want candles that last longer, are not too expensive to make, give off a heavenly scent and burn cleanly with no sooty emission.  For these qualifications, there’s one type of candle that fits the bill… soy candles!

The equipments and techniques for soy candle crafting are the same as those you use for paraffin candle making.  We’ll recap the soy candle making supplies you’ll need.

• You will need a double boiler to heat the soy wax. 
  A double boiler is a cookware with a smaller pot inside a bigger pot.  If you don’t have a double boiler, you will need two pots of different sizes.  Fill the bigger pot with water and “float” the smaller pot inside it.  The water boils around and under the smaller pot.  This set up melts and heats the wax inside the smaller pot without burning it.  Your wax will melt beautifully and you can leave the heat at low to medium (150 degrees Fahrenheit up to 180 degrees) for more efficient wax melting.  Be careful not to go beyond 170 degrees for more than 10 minutes to avoid charring.
• Thermometer for measuring the temperature of the wax
  Most stores that sell soy candle making supplies also sell thermometers for measuring the temperature inside the double boiler during the melting process.  Your soy wax must melt in a consistent manner without clumping to get the ideal texture for your soy candle.  Proper melting will only occur if the temperature inside the double boiler is maintained.
• Pouring jugs and Wick holders
  Prepare the wax for the cooling room.  If you’re creating candles inside your kitchen, achieving a stable room temperature should be easy.  When you’ve turned off the flame, you can prepare your wax for cooling.  Make sure that the soy wax has cooled to about 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit before you transfer into the molds. Pouring the wax at a higher or lower temperature can result in candle cracks of uneven cooling.
  Set the wick using the holders and pour the soy candle wax carefully using a special candle-making jug.  Move your pouring jug around the container to evenly distribute the wax inside.  Let the wax cool naturally, which means you shouldn’t use water or ice to hasten the process.  You might need a screen to prevent insects or impurities from coming in contact with the wax or the wick while the candle is cooling.
•  Medicine droppers, gloves, safety goggles, an apron and other accessories
  Some of the supplies you will need to have on hand when crafting soy candles are medicine droppers with gradations and small containers for combining scents and dyes.  You will also need gloves to handle the dyes or aromatic oils.  Fragrance oils and dyes can stain your hands and clothing so make sure you’re protected by wearing goggles, gloves and a heat-resistant apron.  Use the gradations on the medicine dropper to measure the amount of the reagents.  These components should be mixed with the wax during the melting process.  Putting too much or too little will create a bad color or a too-strong fragrance, so be careful to just add bit by bit until you’re satisfied with the hue and the aroma of your soy candles.

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.

Scented candles don’t contribute much to a room’s light, but it adds poetry and beauty to a room’s ambiance.  If you’re wondering how to make scented candles that stimulate a person’s romantic mind, you’re not alone.  Many entrepreneurs are on the prowl for the best methods of creating the most elegant and fragrant scented candles at home.

First, decide on the fragrance oil you’re going to use.  Oil based fragrances are better for homemade candle making compared to water or alcohol-based perfume because oil blends easily with wax.

If you use fragrant oils to add scents to your candles, the fragrance from your candle will continue to spread across the room while the candle is lit.  This is because the aromatic components are thoroughly interspersed with the wax.  Moreover, the fragrance from oils will pervade any room even after you stop burning the candle.

In reality, the process of handmade scented candle creation is similar to the process of making ordinary candles.  The only difference is the addition of scented oils.

You have to be extra careful with the type of wax you use for making your scented candles.  Some wax types already have an innate fragrance, which could blend with the scent of your oils and create a strong aroma that is hardly pleasing.  You can choose between soy, beewax, palm, paraffin, and gel types.  Most of the inexpensive scented candles you see being sold in shops are made of paraffin.  This is the most common type, and the easiest to make.

However, if you want classier scented candles, you must invest in getting gel waxes as your raw ingredient.  High density gel wax types can hold more fragrance, and can last longer than low density gel wax types.

Steps to Creating Your Scented Candle

• Melt your wax.  Begin by using a double boiler to melt your wax.  If you don’t have a double boiler at home, you can use two pots, one smaller than the other.  Fill the bigger pot with water, but do not exceed the middle line.  The water will overflow when you place the smaller one inside the bigger pot.  Next, slice the wax for easier melting and place the wax inside the smaller pot and turn up the heat.  Watch the wax melt as the water around the smaller pot heats up and starts to boil. 
• The double boiler set up is for protecting your wax.  Never heat the pot with the wax in it directly because the wax will burn instead of melting gently.
• When the wax is melted, pour the scented oil according to the proportion stipulated in your recipe.  If you don’t have a recipe, just use an ounce of oil per pound of wax.  Be careful not to use too much oil so that the wax will not be too soggy.  Wax that is too soft is hard to mold in the right shape.  This is also the best time to add dye.  Stir the wax and then pour in candle molds (don’t forget to add the wick before the wax solidifies).
• Let your scented candles cool for the rest of the day.

You should keep a record of how you did the last batch of scented candles so you can replicate the process again.  If the scented candles come out beautifully, you can mass produce your candles just by using the same process and proportion of materials.

Candle making molds come in different sizes, shapes and styles, and are made out of a variety of materials.  Choosing the right molds for your candle business is important if you want to become globally competitive.  You can make the most elegant designs just by manipulating the shape of the wax using various types of molds.

The most common candle making molds come in geometric shapes.  You can buy these molds in bulk if you plan on mass producing your homemade candles.  One main thing to consider when choosing molds for creating geometrically shaped candles is symmetry.  Triangular molds should produce perfectly formed triangles.  The same goes for round, rectangular and square-shaped molds.  There are custom molds that you can purchase at a higher price.  These are designer molds that will let you create more unique candles.  Asking a designer or a metal artisan to create custom molds for you is a given if you want to stand out as a top candle brand.

The Different Types of Candle Making Molds

• Aluminum and Steel
  Aluminum molds are used widely by candle makers because they are relatively cheap and readily available.  Aluminum can resist extreme temperatures, which means that it won’t get deformed easily even with repeated use.  Aluminum molds are widely used in creating votive and pillar candles.  Besides aluminum, steel is also a heat-resistant material you can use if you don’t want your candles to come out deformed.  Aluminum is more lightweight than steel, and can be stacked together when not in use.
• Rubber
  Rubber molds are also used by candle makers.  It’s easier to remove the wax from the rubber mold after cooling, which makes rubber the material of choice if you don’t want to waste too much effort creating candles that come out chipped, deformed or cracked.  The rubber can be stretched to release the candle after the wax has set.  The only downside to using rubber for molding is the smell of the candle wax after cooling.  The pungent smell of rubber transfers to the candle wax while the wax is hot and the smell lingers even after the wax has cooled, which can affect the quality of your scented candles.
• Polyurethane, Latex and Silicon
  Polyurethane, latex and silicone molds are used for taper candles and tea lights.  These are used to lessen the probability of release lines from forming on your candles.  As a result, your candles will have a smoother finish that looks elegant on a formal dining table.  Latex spray can be used to create custom molds.  All you need to do is spray latex on the inside of a container you want to use as a mold.  This is useful for creating specialty candles for special occasions (Christmas, birthdays etc.).
• Plastic Molds
  Plastic is the most brittle among the candle making mold materials, but it is also the least expensive.  There are strong plastic variants that can last for months, but most of the cheaper plastic molds give out after a few sessions.

In summary, get the metal molds for mass producing block, votive and pillar candles.  They will last for years if cleaned and stored properly after each use.  Rubber candles are great for making unscented candles or the ordinary type of candles meant for religious ceremonies, rituals and processions.  Plastic molds are good for practicing your candle making skills.  Plastic molds are relatively easy to clean, and suited for home use.