Are you new to candle making? Don't know where to start? Do you have lots of questions like:
- There are different types of waxes! Which one should I use?
- What kind of wick should I use? Cotton or Wood? Boosted? CD? HTP?
- There are even different sizes of wicks! How do I know which size to start with?
It can all get overwhelming very quickly. At least we thought so when we started our candle making hobby - which ignited the idea behind Creators Journey btw! Since we're not exactly candle making experts - at least not yet anyways, we won't pretend to have all the answers (we'll happily share tips along the way from those that do though!)
What we can do is share a few pieces of wisdom that we wish someone had shared with us when we started out. Trust us, it'll save your bank account and your sanity! So here they are:
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Pick one type of wax. Start by asking yourself "What type of candles do I want to make?". There are a few different types of candles out there. Some of the more popular ones include container candles which are poured and set in the vessel they burn in. Pillar candles, which are free-standing candles that burn on their own without the use of a vessel. Or votive candles which are sold as free-standing candles and then melt into the vessel they're burned in. Once you've decided what type of candle you want to make, research what kind of wax is typically used for that type of candle. Some are more environmentally friendly than others while others might be cheaper or more readily available. Some waxes are simply easier to work with too. So be sure to take each of the factors that matter to you into consideration when making your choice!
- If you're making container candles, pick one style and size of vessel. Because the size of your vessel will affect your candle recipe, we recommend starting with one vessel style and size. The diameter of your vessel will also affect the wick size you use, which we'll get to in a minute. Our 12oz vessels are a great starting point by the way. This will help you eliminate as many variables as possible while you work on perfecting your base candle recipe.
- Once you have your vessel and your wax picked out, you should be able to determine what size wick to start with. Start by measuring the inside diameter of your vessel. Using that measurement you can refer to the manufacturer's wick guide for the recommended wick size for that diameter of vessel. While wicks can present some variability, they're fairly easy to control, with lots of literature on whether to size up or size down if you're still working on the optimal burn for your candle. Because did we mention there are even harder to control variables than wick sizing? Speaking of which...
- While this might be an unpopular opinion, start with only one fragrance oil. Generally, the amount of fragrance oil used in your candle recipe is dependent on the recommended fragrance load for the type of wax you use. However this can be slightly affected by the composition of your fragrance oil, causing some variation from one fragrance oil to the next or one manufacturer to the next. Because of this we recommend using one scent combined with the wax you chose (and vessel for container candles) to control those variables as much as possible and perfect your base candle recipe. Otherwise, your testing phase could consist of having to make many small tweaks from one batch to the next to accommodate a new fragrance oil just to achieve the optimal burn for your candle - which can also be quite costly in the long run. Master one scent then move on to the next!
While we didn't answer all of your burning questions this time, we hope that the wisdom we shared at least helps you (and your hard earned money) on your candle making journey. There are a ton of great resources out there but most importantly we recommend joining a candle making community - there are so many available - this way you can connect with other creators just like you. Also be sure to check back here for other candle making tips, education and inspiration in the near future.
Let your journey begin!
Written by Creators Journey