Making scented candles is becoming more and more popular each year. Whether it's for personal enjoyment or as a business venture, making scented candles can be fun and rewarding. With the down turn in the economy over the last couple of years, many people have been forced to stop and evaluate what is really important. Because of this more people are looking for inexpensive ways to spend time with the family, particularly around holiday time when they can make gifts for less money than they would spend buying them. Many more are looking for a way to make a residual income or to get out of the corporate world altogether. Making aromatic candles is perfect for all of these people.
Making scented candles is relatively simple in theory. It's really a formula, much like baking, wax+ fragrance+ candle. But if this was all there was to it, everyone would do it. There is a certain degree of instinct and finesse involved in making scented candles of the highest quality. Here we'll share a few tips on how to make the best quality candles possible.
First, you need to select your products carefully. What does this mean? Well you should get the best possible quality of wax, wicks, fragrance, color, molds and so on. The reason is simple. The better the ingredients, the better the finished candle will be. When you are working within a certain budget, and this is especially important for those who are making scented candles as a business, that you buy the highest quality ingredients, even if that means that you get a smaller quantity. If you were to go with the larger quantity of lower quality, your customers would notice and wouldn't likely return. However, if you can demonstrate the quality of your product, you will keep your customers returning and they will also refer new customers to you. This will allow you to buy larger quantities over time.
Second, when you are purchasing your supplies, be mindful of how much you will use in a short period of time. While it is often cheaper to buy large quantities at a wholesale rate, it isn't worth it if the supplies deteriorate before you can use them. In that case, it's just a whole lot of cash in the trash when you have to throw them away. Things like wicks, fragrance and color do have a shelf life so you should only purchase what you can use in a short period of time.
So what if you aren't making aromatic candles as a business, but as a hobby? Well the very same tips apply. However, there are a couple more things to be mindful of. First, be aware of the type of candle mold you choose, should you decide to use one. Jar candles are the easiest type of candles to make, but if you decide to make molded candles, be sure to use a mold that is sturdy and completely smooth on the inside. Any rough spots will show up in the candle. Also, always hand wash molds, never stick them in the dishwasher and never put them away wet.
Once you learn the basics, the sky is the limit, so give it a try and see if making scented candles is the craft for you.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Special Tips For Making Great Scented Candles
Making scented candles is simple. Wax+ Scent+ Color=Scented Candle. But how do you make those candles stand out from the sea of other scented candles out there. One way is to corner the “green” market. With a little bit of research you can be making scented candles that appeal to those who are more eco-conscious.
A few of the elements of your candles that will appeal to the “green” community include things like renewable wax sources and natural fragrances. Another thing you can do to help your “green” marketing efforts is to package your candles in biodegradable or recyclable materials such as glass or recycled paper or card board. Play up these points and you’ll be well on your way. So now let’s talk about actually making scented candles for this demographic.
One of the attributes that make environmentally sustainable candles so marketable is the wax. Waxes such as soy and beeswax are environmentally friendly. Soy wax is made from soy beans, and soy beans are one of the most widely farmed products in the country today, providing everything from food to oil to biofuel. Soy wax burns at a low temperature making it a better choice to have in a home with families, as it’s less likely to cause burns. Making scented candles with soy wax also has another unique benefit. When warm the wax, which is somewhat oily, is used as a great massage oil since it’s beneficial for the skin. Beeswax is a much more dense wax, but it has advantages as well. Making scented candles from all natural beeswax is very simple as the wax already has a natural sweet scent and color that is characteristic of the wax. If you get the wax directly from the bee keepers, the wax will often still contain flower pollen, adding to the sweet smell.
The other attribute of “green” candles that makes them so marketable is that they are usually scented with pure essential oils. These oils provide a variety of healthy benefits through aromatherapy. Making scented candles with pure essential oils allows for the oils to be suspended in the wax, which makes it last longer than using it in any other way.
The final thing to consider when you are making scented candles that really appeals to this particular demographic is the packaging. The packaging should be recyclable or made of post-consumer recycled material such as card board boxes and raffia ribbons. Be sure when labeling your products for sale that you play up the eco-angle and you’ll be sold out of those eco-friendly scented candles in no time.
A few of the elements of your candles that will appeal to the “green” community include things like renewable wax sources and natural fragrances. Another thing you can do to help your “green” marketing efforts is to package your candles in biodegradable or recyclable materials such as glass or recycled paper or card board. Play up these points and you’ll be well on your way. So now let’s talk about actually making scented candles for this demographic.
One of the attributes that make environmentally sustainable candles so marketable is the wax. Waxes such as soy and beeswax are environmentally friendly. Soy wax is made from soy beans, and soy beans are one of the most widely farmed products in the country today, providing everything from food to oil to biofuel. Soy wax burns at a low temperature making it a better choice to have in a home with families, as it’s less likely to cause burns. Making scented candles with soy wax also has another unique benefit. When warm the wax, which is somewhat oily, is used as a great massage oil since it’s beneficial for the skin. Beeswax is a much more dense wax, but it has advantages as well. Making scented candles from all natural beeswax is very simple as the wax already has a natural sweet scent and color that is characteristic of the wax. If you get the wax directly from the bee keepers, the wax will often still contain flower pollen, adding to the sweet smell.
The other attribute of “green” candles that makes them so marketable is that they are usually scented with pure essential oils. These oils provide a variety of healthy benefits through aromatherapy. Making scented candles with pure essential oils allows for the oils to be suspended in the wax, which makes it last longer than using it in any other way.
The final thing to consider when you are making scented candles that really appeals to this particular demographic is the packaging. The packaging should be recyclable or made of post-consumer recycled material such as card board boxes and raffia ribbons. Be sure when labeling your products for sale that you play up the eco-angle and you’ll be sold out of those eco-friendly scented candles in no time.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Make Scented Candles: Aromatic Candles Sell!
Perhaps the most popular type of candle on the market today is the scented candle. Not only do scented candles add beauty and atmosphere to your home, they also make your space smell nice. Smell is the most powerful sense that humans have because it is the only sense that has a direct pathway to the brain.
To make scented candles, you need a few basics. Of course you’ll need wax, molds, wicks and fragrances but how do you select the fragrance? Well, that will largely depend on the purpose of those candles. For instance, if you are just making candles that will smell good and look good, then you can use commercially available fragrances that are chemically based. However, if you want to make scented candles to use for aromatherapy, you will need to use pure essential oils or you won’t get the benefits.
There is a lot of experimentation involved when making scented candles. Just like baking, you will be using a formula to make scented candles, instead of just guessing. This will ensure that each batch of candles will be uniform, bringing your customers back again and again because they know that they will always get a quality product.
When you begin your scented candle making, keep a log of each batch you make and be sure to note things like the type of wax and the amount of scent and color used. Also note things like how well the candle burns and what the candle smells like when it burns. It is common for scented candles to smell differently when burned than they do when they are made. This way, when you want to make scented candles again in that particular fragrance, you won’t have to try and recall it all from memory.
So what if you want to make scented candles to use for aromatherapy? Well the process is the same, but the scents are different. Aromatherapy is becoming a very popular alternative or complimentary therapy for everything from insomnia to depression and one of the most popular modalities is the use of scented candles. However, for aromatherapy candles to be effective, you must make scented candles with pure essential oils. They contain all the beneficial properties of the plants that they are made from and they are highly concentrated. They evaporate quickly, which is why using them to make scented candles is ideal. The wax keeps the essential oils suspended until the wax is melted, thus releasing the scent.
To make scented candles, you need a few basics. Of course you’ll need wax, molds, wicks and fragrances but how do you select the fragrance? Well, that will largely depend on the purpose of those candles. For instance, if you are just making candles that will smell good and look good, then you can use commercially available fragrances that are chemically based. However, if you want to make scented candles to use for aromatherapy, you will need to use pure essential oils or you won’t get the benefits.
There is a lot of experimentation involved when making scented candles. Just like baking, you will be using a formula to make scented candles, instead of just guessing. This will ensure that each batch of candles will be uniform, bringing your customers back again and again because they know that they will always get a quality product.
When you begin your scented candle making, keep a log of each batch you make and be sure to note things like the type of wax and the amount of scent and color used. Also note things like how well the candle burns and what the candle smells like when it burns. It is common for scented candles to smell differently when burned than they do when they are made. This way, when you want to make scented candles again in that particular fragrance, you won’t have to try and recall it all from memory.
So what if you want to make scented candles to use for aromatherapy? Well the process is the same, but the scents are different. Aromatherapy is becoming a very popular alternative or complimentary therapy for everything from insomnia to depression and one of the most popular modalities is the use of scented candles. However, for aromatherapy candles to be effective, you must make scented candles with pure essential oils. They contain all the beneficial properties of the plants that they are made from and they are highly concentrated. They evaporate quickly, which is why using them to make scented candles is ideal. The wax keeps the essential oils suspended until the wax is melted, thus releasing the scent.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
How To Make Scented Candles
Candle making can be considered an art form because there are so many different candles that you can create. You can make holiday candles, gel candles, hand rolled candles or even twisted candles. Whatever type of candle you want to make, it is always a good idea to add a nice scent to make the candle more appealing.
When you make scented candles, you have a plethora of choices. Usually if you are creating a candle that is shaped like a pie or an ice cream, you would want to choose a scent to match the look of that candle. Whatever scent you might want, essential oils make the best scents for candles.
Many people like to have a certain scent for the bathroom or the living room. Candles are perfect for filling the air of your home with a certain aroma. Sometimes if you just buy a candle it's hard to get the scent that you were longing for.
If you make scented candles at home, it's much easier to create the scent that you were hoping for. If you want a citrus scent or a something a little more fruity, you can easily create just about any scent with the right oils. If you look online at some candle making sites, there are specific mixtures of oils that create certain scents.
Many candle making sites have fragrance oils right on their site for people that want to make scented candles. They also have some scent mixing ideas. If you want a Carmel apple scent for example, then you mix a carmel scent and a Macintosh apple scent. If you are looking for a dusty rose smell, then you mix 1 part baby powder to 2 parts rose bouquet. Any scent that you can think up, they probably have an idea of how to make it online. There is even some strange ones like masculine and rainbow skies, for people that want to be a little more original.
For people that want to make scented candles, the choices are endless. There are the regular scents like vanilla or cinnamon, or you can easily get creative. Check out some scent mixing ideas online before trying to create your own. They may already have a recipe for the the scent that you are looking for. If they don't then you could look at a scent that is similar and go from there. Scented candles are very popular because they are a very easy and appealing way to get the mood that you want, at home or anywhere else.
When you make scented candles, you have a plethora of choices. Usually if you are creating a candle that is shaped like a pie or an ice cream, you would want to choose a scent to match the look of that candle. Whatever scent you might want, essential oils make the best scents for candles.
Many people like to have a certain scent for the bathroom or the living room. Candles are perfect for filling the air of your home with a certain aroma. Sometimes if you just buy a candle it's hard to get the scent that you were longing for.
If you make scented candles at home, it's much easier to create the scent that you were hoping for. If you want a citrus scent or a something a little more fruity, you can easily create just about any scent with the right oils. If you look online at some candle making sites, there are specific mixtures of oils that create certain scents.
Many candle making sites have fragrance oils right on their site for people that want to make scented candles. They also have some scent mixing ideas. If you want a Carmel apple scent for example, then you mix a carmel scent and a Macintosh apple scent. If you are looking for a dusty rose smell, then you mix 1 part baby powder to 2 parts rose bouquet. Any scent that you can think up, they probably have an idea of how to make it online. There is even some strange ones like masculine and rainbow skies, for people that want to be a little more original.
For people that want to make scented candles, the choices are endless. There are the regular scents like vanilla or cinnamon, or you can easily get creative. Check out some scent mixing ideas online before trying to create your own. They may already have a recipe for the the scent that you are looking for. If they don't then you could look at a scent that is similar and go from there. Scented candles are very popular because they are a very easy and appealing way to get the mood that you want, at home or anywhere else.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Scented Candle Making Tips
So you want to learn the art of scented candle making. I don't blame you! There is nothing like the sweet smell of a scented candle. Whether it is burning and flickering with light or has just been extinguished, the smell is wonderful. Once a room is filled with the beautiful fragrance of a candle it changes the entire atmosphere.
A wonderfully sensational fragrance has the ability to change your mood as well. It has a calming effect, with the ability to reduce your stress level.
Some fragrances will even make you feel energized. There is nothing like returning home from a long day at work to the smell of fragrance coming from your candle. It is even more satisfying if it is a candle that you made yourself!
If you want your home-made creations to have that effect on you as well as others, then you'll have to check out the range of fragrances available to you.
Candle fragrances come in several forms: liquid, natural herbs, and solid wax perfume chips. But that's only the start of your choices. You have nearly an endless array of fragrances from which to choose. Just do a quick search on the internet to see what's available to you. Scents vary from summer rain to Amish harvest to candied apples.
With the choices available you will be able to make the most inspiring candles! Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind with your scented candle making.
1. Wait until you're just about ready to pour your melted wax into the pouring pot before adding your scent.
This act keeps evaporation to a minimum. In this way, you can actually use less fragrance and enjoy it more!
2. Don't add too much scent.
It's a common mistake -- especially for those of us who are new to scented candle making. I know I certainly made this mistake (several times over!) when I began making candles. Adding too much fragrance may cause mottling or pitting to the candle wax itself. Not only does this detract from the attractiveness of your candle, but it also makes it harder to remove your candle from the mold.
Scented candle making is very satisfying. A beautiful candle is a thing to behold. But when you add a wonderful fragrance it is transformed into something out of this world!
A wonderfully sensational fragrance has the ability to change your mood as well. It has a calming effect, with the ability to reduce your stress level.
Some fragrances will even make you feel energized. There is nothing like returning home from a long day at work to the smell of fragrance coming from your candle. It is even more satisfying if it is a candle that you made yourself!
If you want your home-made creations to have that effect on you as well as others, then you'll have to check out the range of fragrances available to you.
Candle fragrances come in several forms: liquid, natural herbs, and solid wax perfume chips. But that's only the start of your choices. You have nearly an endless array of fragrances from which to choose. Just do a quick search on the internet to see what's available to you. Scents vary from summer rain to Amish harvest to candied apples.
With the choices available you will be able to make the most inspiring candles! Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind with your scented candle making.
1. Wait until you're just about ready to pour your melted wax into the pouring pot before adding your scent.
This act keeps evaporation to a minimum. In this way, you can actually use less fragrance and enjoy it more!
2. Don't add too much scent.
It's a common mistake -- especially for those of us who are new to scented candle making. I know I certainly made this mistake (several times over!) when I began making candles. Adding too much fragrance may cause mottling or pitting to the candle wax itself. Not only does this detract from the attractiveness of your candle, but it also makes it harder to remove your candle from the mold.
Scented candle making is very satisfying. A beautiful candle is a thing to behold. But when you add a wonderful fragrance it is transformed into something out of this world!
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