| If you are going to take up candle making you will | | | | wax which makes this an expensive wax. |
| need to know about the different kinds of candle | | | | Bayberry wax was also made and used by the |
| making wax. There are important differences | | | | American Colonies but again because of the difficulty |
| between the waxes that will produce different | | | | in making it its use was limited. They mostly stuck to |
| qualities in the candle. | | | | the tallow wax candles. |
| Would you be surprised to learn that candle making | | | | Tallow wax and beeswax have been used in candle |
| wax consists mostly of oil? Yes it's true. Gel candles | | | | making for thousands of years. Tallow is derived |
| consist of 95% oil with 5% resin powder added to | | | | from livestock fat like cattle and sheep. It has the |
| form a gel. Gel candles require different equipment | | | | drawback of having an unpleasant odor when it |
| and are slightly more difficult to make then the | | | | burns. |
| typical wax candles. The melting point of gel is very | | | | Paraffin wax is probably the most widely used. It is |
| high usually being around 200 degrees F. However it | | | | easy to work with, has a low melting point and is |
| varies depending on the density of the gel. | | | | readily available. It is produced by the refining of |
| The high density gel is the most difficult to work | | | | petroleum believe it or not. Some candle makers put |
| with because it is thick and hard to pour. Wax | | | | it down because it is a "synthetic wax." But for many |
| candles become liquid when they reach their melting | | | | reasons including the fact that paraffin wax is |
| point making them easy to pour. Gel doesn't become | | | | biodegradable this is questionable. |
| liquid but rather a thick syrup and if is not poured | | | | One wax that is also popular is soy wax because it is |
| right will create bubbles in the candle. One way to | | | | a "natural wax" even though it comes from |
| prevent this is pour melted gel down the side of the | | | | genetically altered soy beans (ha). This is a wonderful |
| container when making the candle. | | | | wax for scented candles because soy wax works so |
| The great advantage of working with the high | | | | well with scents and really brings out their fragrance. |
| density gel is that it is clear, yes you can see through | | | | Scented candles are good for adding a nice scent to |
| it, and you can suspend things in it like decoration | | | | a room they are also used for therapeutic purposes |
| which will then be visible. You can put coins in it or | | | | with aroma therapy, which is probably a bigger |
| pretty stones, or marbles or beads and they will be | | | | business then you realize. Probably because aroma |
| seen suspended in the candle. How amazing is that? | | | | therapy does have physiological and psychological |
| That's what makes gel candles a lot of fun to work | | | | benefits. Also soy candles have a nice glossy sheen |
| with. And because of this gel candles make great | | | | to them. |
| gifts. But then again all candles make great gifts. | | | | If you know someone's favorite color and scent you |
| Beeswax is another popular candle making wax. It is | | | | can design a nice soy candle around that and give it |
| usually white or yellow and already has its own | | | | as a nice gift. |
| natural sweet smelling scent. It is more expensive | | | | Palm wax comes from palm trees. Palm wax will give |
| then other candle waxes. | | | | you candles with nice crystalline patterns in the wax. |
| Bayberry wax is derived from the surface wax of | | | | A very nice feature. |
| the bayberry fruit. It has a dark green color and also | | | | These are the commonly used waxes and their |
| has its own natural pleasant fragrance. The problem | | | | different benefits so at this point you are now |
| with bayberry wax is it takes about 50 pounds of | | | | educated on candle making wax. |
| bayberry fruit to make a single pound of bayberry | | | | |