| Making candles is a traditional craft and right up until | | | | 1. A pot (or preferably two to create your double |
| the early twentieth century candles were still the | | | | boiler) |
| single source for artificial light. | | | | 2. A thermometer - if you don't have one specifically |
| Early candles were made from tallow, an animal fat | | | | for candle making, then a candy thermometer will do |
| extracted mainly from cattle and sheep, which | | | | the trick. |
| burned poorly and didn't smell much better! The | | | | 3. Kitchen scale - useful for when you are using |
| greatest advances in candle making took place in the | | | | additives such as color and fragrance. |
| nineteenth century. An Englishman, Joseph Morgan, | | | | 4. Baking pan - handy to clean your molds after use. |
| invented a machine that could make molded candles | | | | 5. Scissors, razor blade or craft knife - you'll certainly |
| at the unbelievable rate of 1,500 per hour and for the | | | | need some sort of cutting instrument, but you'll find |
| first time ever, candles became an affordable | | | | with practice what you prefer for which job. |
| product for just about everyone. The craft became | | | | 6. Candle molds |
| more of a production line! | | | | 7. Releasing agent for your molds |
| Nowadays, when we take the availability of a wide | | | | 8. Dipping can for making taper candles - if your |
| range of candles made from a variety of waxes | | | | melting pot is at least 12 inches wide you won't need |
| very much for granted, there is growing interest in | | | | to have a special dipping can. |
| finding out more about and becoming involved in the | | | | 9. Plenty of wax paper to protect your working |
| traditional craft. As making candles at home becomes | | | | surfaces |
| increasingly more popular, it has become easier and | | | | 10. Fire extinguisher - for emergencies |
| easier to get hold of the necessary supplies as | | | | Today the candle market offers candle making |
| specialist candle making suppliers have sprung up to | | | | crafters a wide variety of waxes: paraffin, vegetable |
| meet the demand. It's still the case that you should | | | | waxes including soy, beeswax and the newest trend |
| be able to get your basic supplies from your local | | | | of gel waxes, and there is no end to the variety of |
| hardware store, but as your candle making becomes | | | | candles you can make. Candles have come a long |
| more experienced and adventurous, you know you | | | | way from being the sole source of light and they are |
| will always be able find the supplies you need. | | | | now desired for their ambiance, home decoration and |
| The basic equipment you will need include the | | | | fragrance. |
| following: | | | | |