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Candles have been a basic need of mankind for many thousands of years. Historical and archaeological findings have proven this. Candle fragments have been found in caves in France. It is believed that cavemen used them while painting and etching on the walls. (They probably can be credited with making the first "all natural" candles since they would have been made out of animal fat.) The Egyptians are said to have made candles by dripping beeswax onto leave stems while the ancient Romans are said to have improved on the candle making process to aid night travelers and light homes.
In today's society, candle making is both a fun hobby or craft and a lucrative business. Candle making provides you the opportunity to use your imagination and creativity to make wonderful and uniquely designed candles. With the wealth of things that can be used or bought for candle making, there is really no limit to the size shape or color of candles that you can make.
Now a days candles are used for celebrations, ceremonies or simply as a small source of light or fragrance. Candles have become very popular for their wonderful aromas more so than for their ability to produce light. Huge store chains have come in to existence to satisfy our love of fragrances (and light). Fragrances which run the gamut from smelling like food (chocolate, pumpkin, freshly made buns) to the ever popular vanilla, peppermint or jasmine.
The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax although it can also be made out of beeswax, soy wax or even gels. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that actually comes from plants but is processed by petroleum refineries or specialty wax processors into a wax which can be made into candles.
Beeswax is also considered a natural wax and is taken from honeybees. This is the substance the bees use to construct their honeycombs.
Soy wax is a modern development invented in the 20th century. It is a natural wax which is made from soy beans.
More modern yet is the gel candle. Wonder and unique candles can be made from gel candles with one example being a miniature aquarium.
The other essential component of a candle is its wick. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but very powerful. If a larger flames is desired, a wider wick is often used.
Safety is a very important part of candle making both in the making and final enjoyment. Many a house have burned down due to neglect with candles. On the other hand, making candles involves temperatures which can easily burn a person. Making candles can also cause fires so make sure your work area is set up properly to avoid any calamity. And as always, when working with hot items or temperatures make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby. Spill should be cleaned up immediately because they can become both messy and slippery when wet.
Candle making is a simple process to learn and can be quite fun. To start out, you don't need very much or any special equipment. Just some molds, wax, wick and pans to melt the wax. After assembling the basic needs, start making some simple candles. Learning to melt the wax, how hot to make the wax, how to pour the wax and how to cool your candle are all really easy to learn but it takes a little practice to gain a little experience. After you make a few simple candles you will be ready and confident to move on to more ambitious candle types.
But before you tackle to great a candle, make some candles and experiment with different colors, scents, shapes and types of wax. After gaining a little experience with these, you will have enough experience to probably tackle any kind of candle you desire.
Candle making is really easy to learn and do if you take your time and learn from your mistakes. Impatient and multi tasking people will probably not make good candle makers unless they lose these attributes. Candle making is not really expensive (so buy the best things you can), is enjoyable and allows you to express your creativity and imagination. In the end, it is also quite enjoyable to sit back and relax and enjoy the fruit of your labors.
Carol Short is a candle making enthusiast who enjoys candle making, talking about candle making and teaching candle making. Her new ebook " Secrets To Scentsational Candle Making " shows you everything you need to know to make candles.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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