Make your own candles

1. Calculate the amount of wax needed by filling the mould/container with water and measuring it. 3 ounces of wax are needed for every 3 1/2 ounces of water.

2. Put the wax into the top of the double boiler

3. Fill the bottom part of your double boiler about 1/3 full and heat on a medium low heat. If the water begins to boil rapidly, reduce heat to a gentle boil to prevent water from splashing into the container.

4. Melt the wax to the correct temperature (for general candle making this is between 1750-1850F. Different melt point waxes can be bought and some types of candles need a higher melt point, but for the moment, this is what you need to aim for).

5. Prime your wick. This is done by placing the required length of wick into the melted wax until it starts to release bubbles. This means that it has absorbed sufficient wax. Carefully remove it (not using your fingers - the wax is hot! I use an old knitting needle) and pull it tight. Then place it to dry flat.

6. When the wick is hard (only takes a couple of minutes) insert it through the small hole at the top of the mould and pull it through. Secure it around a pencil or wick support at the open end and be sure to plug up the small hole with mould seal.

7. When you have reached the desired temperature, add wax additives (optional) plus your colour dye and if you are making a fragranced candle add the scent last. You should use 1 weighed ounce of fragrance oil for every pound of wax.

8. Pour into your choice of mould.

9. Before wax sets, tap the sides of the mould several times. This is done to release the trapped air bubbles that will marr the surface of your finished candle.

10. When wax has set to a tacky consistency, poke small holes in the candle around the wick. This will help to reduce the natural shrinkage that occurs with candles.

11. Leave to set for a few hours. You can place the candle in a water bath to cool quicker, but if you do this, make sure that the water is deep enough to go all the way up the mould or you will find a water line around your candle. Also ensure not to get any water in the setting wax.

12. Your candle will probably need topping up as the wax retracts and shrinks as it cools. Melt your left over wax if you have any, otherwise melt and colour some more and top up your mould.

13. That’s it! When it is set, remove it from the mould.

14. You may want to level off the bottom of your candle to make it smooth and even. This is easily done by heating the top part of your double boiler or your top saucepan and carefully placing the candle in it. Move it around a few times so that the bottom is nice and even and then carefully remove. Be careful of the steam from the boiling water as you can easily be burned doing this.

15. Leave for at least one hour before lighting. Then get started and make another!!

Candle Shapes
Container: Any candle that is poured into a container and intended to be burned in the container is a container candle. These candles are often made of soft wax and would not be able to stand on their own outside their enclosures. The container also prevents soft wax from dripping. Since these candles are safely contained in a vessel, they are often used in restaurants and in religious rituals that require long-burning candles.

Pillar: A thick candle with a geometrical cross section such as a circle, oval, or hexagon is called a pillar. It is usually referred to by its diameter followed by its height. For example, a 3-by 6-inch pillar would be 3 inches in diameter and 6 inches high. Some pillars come in standard sizes for commercial and religious use but you can make many variations of pillars by using moulds.

Novelty: These are irregularly shaped candles made by moulding, sculpting and/or pouring.

Taper: These are the long cylindrical candles that kindle memories of historic candle-dipping. Tapers can be made by dipping wicks into melted wax, by pouring wax into a mould, and by rolling wax around a wick. No matter the method, the result is always candles made to fit into a holder. Tapers are generally made 1/2 inch or 7/8 inch in diameter at the base because most holders are designed to fit these two sizes. There are, of course, exceptions, such as birthday candles (3/16 inch) and Danish tapers (1/4 inch). Some specialty candleholders are designed to hold a taper larger than 7/8 inch.

Votive and Tea Lights: Although these candles originated in the church, the term now refers to small plug-type candles that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter by 2 to 3 inches high. This shape has become popular for scented candles because their small size allows them to fit easily into small rooms, such as bathrooms. As votives melt and become liquid in their containers, the wick uses up all the liquid fuel. If you burn a votive on a plate, the burn time will be shorter because the wax will drip and the wick will be unable to use it.

Tea lights are small votives used to warm pots of potpourri and to heat food. They fit in smaller-than-standard votive cups.

CANDLE SAFETY

1.NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED!

2.Always burn candles on a heat resistant surface. Candle holders may become hot and damage furniture. A good heat resistant surface can be made from a ceramic tile (cover bottom with felt to protect furniture).

3.Keep all burning candles away from children and pets.

4.Position candles away from flammable objects.

5.Place freestanding candles in a shallow dish or bowl to catch the wax in case of a blowout.

SPIN CONTROL
Following the safety rules above should minimize the chances of needing the following instructions.
I.Wax on Carpet - this procedure may cause stains, if in doubt call in a professional carpet cleaner.
1.Let harden, then break up and remove as much wax as possible.
2.Place paper towels on area.
3.Apply a hot steam iron to wick wax into the paper towels. Protect iron with tin foil.
4.Repeat as needed.
5.Check iron for wax residue before using for clothing again.
2.Wax on Clothing - may cause stains, if in doubt consult a professional.
1.Remove Garment.
2.Let harden, then remove as much wax as possible.
3.Pour boiling water through affected area.
4.Repeat as necessary.
5.Do not use carpet method on clothes as it could set the candle dye in the fabric.
S. Kanchana
Designer- Seventh Sense
Designer Candles
15, 4th Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Ph : 4412476