Master the creation of homemade candles at your fingertips
With the development of DIY and interior decoration, the candle market has experienced a real boom. Whether for leisure or to develop a business, recent years have been marked by an explosion of the phenomenon all over the world. The various lockdowns due to COVID-19 have accelerated this growth.
Today, candles are used for many occasions , including lighting, decoration, meditation, relaxation... This creates a pleasant atmosphere in the home. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The best known, scented candles, allow you to obtain olfactory renderings that will awaken your senses.
For us, candle making is like cooking. Ingredients, recipes and meticulous and complex know-how to acquire over time. Gradually, you will notice that your only limit is your creativity!
However, it can be very daunting at first and we understand! That's why we've put together a huge guide on candle making. We'll give you all the techniques!
Complete beginner's guides to help you make your own candle
We have deliberately not included fragrances. The reason? The fragrances are valid in candles, soaps and mood creations. Our dedicated guide is now available. You will find all the secrets of our fragrances there.
The history of the candle through the ages
Candles have been used since ancient times to provide light and warmth, but also for religious rituals. The first candles were made from raw materials such as animal fat (tallow).
In the Middle Ages, candles were made from beeswax and were a luxury reserved for the nobles and the clergy. The common people used oil lamps or torches for lighting. Over time, the methods of making candles evolved and this allowed them to open up to a wider audience.
In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution introduced new methods of candle making, such as mass production and the use of raw materials with paraffin wax. These innovations made candles even more affordable and contributed to their growing popularity.
The different types of candles
Of course, it is the scented artisanal candles that are the most successful. They are ideal to offer or to embellish your interior at an affordable price. But do you know all the types of candles? We present them to you!
Candles poured into containers
Your preparation is poured into heat-resistant glasses/containers. The mixture will burn in this same container.
Most scented candles are candles poured into containers. We also find:
- The tea light candle which can be considered as a poured candle. It is used for decoration or for fragrance burners.
- The massage candle which is also made by this process based on a wax with a low melting point. After being extinguished, it can be used to take massage oil without risk of burning. It is ideal for sweet moments for two!
Molded candles
Molded candles are obtained after demolding a mixture in a silicone, latex or polycarbonate mold.
If you're looking to add a touch of originality to your creation, know that there are a multitude of original shapes and options to explore! You can even perfume them, although this can be limited, as the fragrance may fade quickly when cold. In any case, they are mainly used for your interior decoration.
There are different types of molded candles:
- The classic molded candle called pillar. We also find its little sister which is the votive candle. It is identical, but has a much smaller size, suitable for table decoration.
- Tea light candles. These are small round candles. The wax tea light provides a comfortable atmosphere and can be used as a decorative touch for a table. Its burning time is longer.
- The screen candle. It allows you to filter a light source. They are more widespread today in LED.
- The candle. It is long and tapered. It is often found in religious monuments. The candle can also be obtained by dipping.
Dipped candles
Dipped candles are obtained after immersion in wax baskets. They can be dipped several times for different renderings with several layers.
This is also the principle of a sculpted candle. Based on paraffin, this technique consists of preparing your immersion baskets with one or more colors. The sculpting and superposition of layers of colors allows for a rendering of great artistic beauty. However, they are less in vogue today.
As mentioned above, the candle can also be obtained by dipping.
Conclusion
We have now introduced the world of candles with all the main types of candles. Explore our guides and master candle making. To get started, please know which wax is to be used with which type of candles. For this, we invite you to consult our wax guide.
