Things Not To Do When Making Candles
What Not To Do When Making Candles
1) Do not melt your wax in the microwave.
You cannot be able to check properly the temperature of the wax. When inside the microwave, you can’t see what’s happening and the wax may not melt evenly. You even run the risk of scorching the wax in some parts. Scorched candle wax has an obnoxious smell similar to burned popcorn.
2) When you want to dye your candles, don’t use crayons.
Crayon wax is not designed to burn like candle wax. Crayons can even clog your wick and make the candle burn poorly. Crayons also have an effect on the scent that the candle gives off and it doesn’t smell good.
To be sure, always use dyes that are purposely made for candles to guarantee that your final product will burn well and also will give off a pleasant smell.
3) Don’t make it a habit of burning your candle for more than 4 hours.
After this time period, the candle’s wick will need to be trimmed.
It could be foolish to continue the burning process after the 4th hour because lots of soot and smoke will develop and there will also be mushrooming at the end of the wick. It could even enlarge into an unmanageable flame which could be difficult to extinguish.
4) Don’t use perfume to substitute for fragrance oils.
Perfumes, just like crayons, are not designed for burning. They could clog your wick. Follow established guidelines in making candles by always using fragrance oils. There are a lot of choices of fragrance oils if you know where to look.
5) Don’t use too much fragrance oil.
It is not a guarantee that the more quantity of fragrance oil you put in into a candle, the more this ensures a stronger scent throw. It’s a false notion because each wax already has an advised fragrance oil proportion. If you go beyond what is recommended, it could make the fragrance oil separate from the wax.
When this happens, you are creating ugly looking spots and also a potential fire hazard. Too much of the fragrance oil will also clog the wick, leading to a disappointing scent throw.
Recommended fragrance loads are indicated on the labels of the wax.
6) Do not put the candle in the refrigerator.
Allow your candle to develop properly by cooling down in a slow and patient process so that you will not run into various problems.
You might have the noble intention of speeding up the cooling process but this damages the candle by shattering or cracking the glass, make its wax shrink, produce sink holes and wet spots, and weaken the scent throw.
Abide by the slow cooling process that the candle needs and you will have no problems.
7) Don’t start selling candles straight away.
When you’re new to candle making, don’t jump into making a big candle right away. You’ll be on a trial and error basis and making huge mistakes can create fire hazards. Start with creating small candles.
8) Don’t be impatient when stirring.
Stirring is very important in the process of candle making. You should stir deliberately but gently, the fragrance oil may not bind properly to the wax if you do not stir enough.
When that happens, the oil may go down to the bottom of the wax. This will have an effect of a weak scent throw.
Things To Avoid When Making Candles
What To Avoid When Making Candles
1) Avoid not measuring candle making ingredients.
Buy a scale! Don’t do guesswork. You should always know exactly how much of each ingredient you are putting in when making candles.
If you mess up, even by a few ounces when adding fragrance oil it could ruin the entire batch.
2) Avoid forgetting to trim your wick.
You don’t want soot, smoke, and mushrooming to develop and cause a large fire. These are the results to expect when you forget to trim your wick.
For paraffin candles, the wick should ideally be trimmed down to 1/4 of an inch. For soy candles, it should be 1/8 inch, and above 1/4 inch for wood wicks.
3) Avoid the practice of not monitoring the temperature.
The thermometer should always be available when making your candles. Knowing the temperature at any given moment will avoid you from scorching the wax. This practice always makes you alert on the right temperature to add the fragrance and pour the wax.
4) Avoid mass producing candles without a test run.
There are many different factors which could affect the way your candles burn or how well they throw their scents. You can control these through test runs to see where you could perfect the process before mass producing them.
If you have perfected your procedure, you should know that if everything goes well, candle making could be a profitable business. It usually has a profit margin of 100 percent or more. It is also one of the easiest ventures to start as a home business.
What You Need To Know When Making Candles
What Do I Need To Know When Making Candles?
1) You need to know the correct formulas.
It is important to know the formulas and measurements for making candles. If you are off then you can experience a variety of candle-making problems.
Make the candle making process easier on yourself by using our candle making calculator.
2) You need to know the right size and type of wick.
Use a wick that is just right for your container so that the wax will burn across the full diameter of the candle, and the scent throw will be strong. For example, you need to know that zinc core wicks are not suitable for natural waxes like soy because they don’t become hot enough to properly burn the wax.
3) You need to know and be clear on your quality expectation.
Are you aiming to create a high end candle with superior wax or do you simply want to make candles that are functional? When you have decided, you have to know where to source the materials you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not use plastic jars for candles. A plastic jar can melt and become a fire hazard endangering you and your home. Candles should be placed in heat-resistant and crack-resistant containers in order to minimize the chance of a fire starting.
Do not use wood as a candle holder. Wood is flammable and carries with it the potential to start a fire if something goes wrong with the candle. The best candle holders are made of metal, they are heat resistant and flame resistant.
Dough bowls can catch fire under the right conditions. Do not use dough bowls for making candles. Dough bowls are made of combustible material and making a candle in a combustible container is asking for trouble.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a lot of stuff you should be aware of when making candles, and a lot of stuff that you should avoid doing. Some of it is quality related but the vast majority of it is safety related. When you are making something like candles, safety should always be your top priority.
The best advice I can give you is to go slow, make dozens of practice candles. Try them out yourself, let friends and family help you test them. Eventually, you will work up the experience and knowledge you need to be a proficient candle maker.