The practice of making candles dates back several thousand years. Egyptians were making candles from beeswax three thousand years before the advent of Christianity, and the practice has continued throughout history using whale fat, insects, seeds, and herbs such as cinnamon for lighting and time-keeping, as well as an incense in ritual ceremonies.While beeswax candles are probably the oldest type of candle, the more common source of candle wax has been the fat derived from rendering fish and animals. This type of candle material is generally referred to as tallow, which is made by melting animal fat and then forming it into a taper shape, usually by the use of a mold, and inserting a wick during the drying and cooling process.Beeswax has been harvested for thousands of years for candle making wax as well as for use as a lubricant and a protective material. Worker bees create wax by masticating (chewing) honey and secreting a waxy substance that is then used to seal the combs in the hive. Beeswax is collected from the hives and melted down in boiling water to be used for candle making. In some cases, mineral oil is added to add a better consistency and uniformity when burning.Paraffin wax came into use after the identification in 1830 of certain alkaline hydrocarbons in petroleum that, when solidified, would hold a form but would then liquefy at a melting point of approximately 115 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Paraffin wax has been widely used as a candle making wax due to an ability to maintain its form while melting at a slower rate than tallow or beeswax. This consistency of form lends itself well to making a variety of candle shapes.Bayberries were discovered for candle making by early American colonists who sought an alternative to the excessive smoke and soot that is created by burning tallow. The berries from bayberry shrubs are collected and boiled down, and the liquid is then allowed to dry into a waxy substance that was used for candles. Although bayberry wax has a pleasant natural scent and produces less soot, it requires somewhere between 5 to 15 pounds of bayberries to make one pound of wax.Soy has been recently discovered to be a viable source of candle making wax. Soybean wax is a derivative by-product of the oil found in soybeans, and is generally much softer than any other candle making wax. It is more often used to make container candles because for this reason. Soybean wax is also colorless and odorless, and therefore dyes and fragrances are often used in the candle making process when using soybean wax. So thats it , just a little history on the evolution of candle wax

By Lee Martin http://www.EasyMadeCandles.com

By: Lee Martin Resource : http://www.EasyMadeCandles.com

Soy Candles are natural and burn cleaner then paraffin candle wax. The popularity of them is growing. Although soy wax is a little bit more expensive then paraffin wax, people who have used and made soy candles are quickly becoming addicted to them.

Soy Candle Making is like a Recipe.

If you can make candles with paraffin wax, you can make candles with soy wax. Making candles is kind of like trying out a new food recipe; sometimes you have to try things one way then the other to see which works best for you. The bottom line is that soy wax and paraffin wax both hold scent and color the same in candles but, it is great to learn how to make a new kind of candle and offer a variety in your candle making whether you are making candles for pleasure or a business.

How to Make Soy Candles.

The only thing that is really different about making soy candles then paraffin candles is the wax. They both use the same techniques and equipment. You can use a double boiler to melt the soy wax. A double boiler is a smaller pot with the wax is placed in a larger pot full of water that is placed on the stovetop. Heat the soy wax to 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful not to keep the melted wax above 150 degrees Fahrenheit for too long because it could burn which will give the wax a yellowish appearance. Ounce the wax is fully melted you can add the color you would like. You can then remove it from the heat and add the fragrance. It is best to use 7% fragrance by weight. That simply means that for every one pound of soy wax, you can use 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil. If the fragrance concentration is too high, it may bleed through the candle. The soy wax can be about 140 – 150 degrees Fahrenheit. You can then pour the wax into the mold to cool. Be careful not to pour the wax at too low of a temperature or the candle could crack. The wax should be between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also not use water to cool the candle quickly. This could also cause the candle to crack.

Soy Candle Wax and Where to Find.

Soy wax is a vegetable wax that is made from soybeans. The oil is extracted from the soybean flakes and hydrogenated. The majority of the world’s soybeans are grown in the United States. You don’t have to go that far to buy yours. You can find your soy wax in your local town or city in many if not all hobby or craft shops without paying for an expensive airfare ticket or foot the bill for mail order costs.

Happy Candle Making

Almost any glass jar can be used to make candles. Tall , thin, short, fat whatever. If you are using various colored waxes the tall clear jars make a beautiful impression. Just make sure you have plenty of clearance between the burning wick and glass so it does not get to hot and break. For more information on this visit the web site at the bottom of this article. So to do your own homemade candle making, you’ll need a crock pot or double boiler to melt the wax to 160 degrees. Then you can add scented oils and food coloring. Put a dot of glue on the bottom of the metal part of the wick and place it in the candle making jars. Then pour the melted wax into the candle making jars or glass containers that you’ve purchased. Let the wax cool to a semi-hardened crust and then you can straighten out the wicks and get it centered. Let the candle cool at room temperature completely, which will be about 6-8 hours.

You’ll see that the wax has sunken a little in the middle. Now you are going to re heat the leftover wax to about 185 degrees and pour some in to your jar to level it off. Let that cool again and trim your wick to about a quarter inch, and you now have your very own homemade jar candle.The possibilities are endless; you can use any type of glass containers for your candle making jars that you like, so let your imagination go wild! Have fun with it!

By: Lee Martin     Resource:  http://www.EasyMadeCandles.com

Standard Types of Candle molds

Glass molds cool down quickly and offer a smooth finish and rarely stick, but are delicate and prone to scratching and cracking, which will lead to breakage.

Metal molds are known for their longevity. Because metal molds do tend to stick, however, it is recommended you lightly spray metal candle molds with a store-bought silicone mold release spray, designed for just this purpose. To prevent the metal molds from rusting and eventually leaking or cracking, spray a light coating of the same silicone on the inside and outside of the mold before storing.

Aluminum molds are extremely durable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What most candle maker’s love about aluminum candle molds is that they do not have seams like some other molds have, so you don’t have to worry about trimming your candles once they are cooled.

Rubber candle molds are more flexible and offer you the added benefit of more intricate designs. As the candle cools it is advisable to keep a close eye on these types of molds. During this timeframe, candles may distort due to the flexibility of the mold. While rubber molds begin to break down over time, they create a nice matte finish on the candle and are sought after for both the different designs they offer and the ease in which the candle comes out of the mold.

Plastic mold is rigid, will not bend and is the least expensive of the candle molds available today. Intricate designs will not work well with this type of mold. However, since plastic molds can be reused many times without worry of damage or cracks, they are also the perfect mold for the beginning candle maker to use. Plastic molds offer a unique chance for the crafter to perfect his or her craft before moving on to the next type of mold or to a large candle.

Rigid molds can be made from glass, metal or plastic. Rigid molds are used to make unusual shapes such as bold geometrical shapes. Plastic molds are often used as they are the cheapest. However you cannot use rigid plastic molds with candle scents or fill them with wax heated to over 80 degrees Celsius (175 deg Fahrenheit) as this can cause damage to the mould.

Latex molds are very popular as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are quite versatile. Latex is very stretchable and is often used to create more complex shapes such as animals, fruits and flowers.

If you decide to create your own candle molds, here are 13 items you probably already have at home that can be used as molds:

Yogurt pots

Milk cartons

Drinking glasses

Cake tins

Bowls

Strong cardboard are fantastic as candle molds.

Plastic cup

Pringles can

Chinese take-out containers

Frozen juice cans

Oatmeal boxes

Egg containers not the Styrofoam type

Larger tomato cans

Regardless of what type of candle making molds you use just have fun making your candles.