When I first started candle making, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know what questions to ask or where to start learning the basics. So, I started researching and crafting my own candle making journey. I read candle-making forum posts, browsed tutorials on Pinterest, watched candle making videos on YouTube, and even got creative with how I used social media to find answers.
It took some time but eventually, with enough exploring and trial-and-error attempts, I was able to pick up the fundamentals of candle making. That’s when I decided that could be a valuable resource for other candle makers who were just starting out too.
Top 10 Candle Making Secrets for Beginners in 2024
Secret Number 1
Don’t Rush the Process. It can be tempting to rush in making candles, but it’s best take your time when candle making.
There are many moving parts and complex steps involved — from choosing the right wax, wick size, scent combination, and more. Taking your time allows you to perfect each step of candle making until you’re able to create a candle that burns cleanly without any issues or problems.
Rushing the process might lead to mistakes that could cost time, money, and resources that would have been better spent creating great candles!
So don’t rush candle making — take your time and enjoy the creative process!
Secret Number 2
My second candle making secret is the importance of continuous stirring.
When working with candle wax, you need to combine different elements and heat them up accurately. To ensure your candle has a consistent temperature throughout, it is crucial to stir the blend continuously as you work. This will also help you obtain more accurate readings when measuring the mix.
It is important to be careful not to stir too hard or too fast, as this can introduce too much air into the blend which can cause issues further down the line.
Gentle and consistent stirring should be done for best results.
Secret Number 3
For candle making beginners, my third secret is to ignore the flash point.
Many candle makers are intimidated by the flashpoint listed on the bottle of fragrance oil, as it is often close to what they are heating the wax to. However, this does not mean that the oil will explode if added to hotter wax.
The flashpoint only indicates whether or not a product can be shipped in an air or ground vessel, and doesn’t have much relevance for candle making itself. In fact, adding fragrance oils at too cool of a temperature can actually become a safety hazard.
When beginning candle makers make their candles, they should focus on creating a safe environment and maintain high quality standards during their candle-making process.
This includes monitoring temperatures, using proper containers and materials, and making sure that everything is done in a safe place.
Secret Number 4
When candle making, it is best to measure ingredients by weight rather than volume.
This ensures that the wax can hold as much as possible of its own weight and that any fragrances or oils are used in the correct proportions.
To do this accurately, a kitchen scale should be purchased for accurate measurements in grams or ounces. Following a set of equations allows candle makers to precisely calculate what amounts will be needed for each candle design.
Using this method provides an efficient way of creating candles with the desired effect every time.
Secret Number 5
Community is Key. It’s hard to learn everything on my own, so I’m thankful for those who have gone before me and can act as mentors.
The internet has many candle making communities which are a great resource for advice, support, and feedback. Being part of a community not only provides accountability but also allows you to receive honest feedback on your candle making efforts.
From burning candles to get an idea of the scent profile to critiquing label designs, having someone you trust to give insight and constructive criticism is invaluable in candle making — it can make all the difference when creating the perfect candle!
So don’t venture into candle making alone; find like-minded individuals or join a candle making group that will help you to learn as much as possible.
Secret Number 6
Number six on the list of candle making secrets is taking notes.
As a candle maker, it is important to track your environment, inputs, outputs, and process in order to be able to replicate the same candle design again.
Taking notes helps you remember everything that contributes to the candle’s design and ensures that you can scale out any candle making projects with ease. Without taking notes, candle makers would have a hard time reproducing their desired designs with accuracy.
Therefore, note taking is an essential secret for candle making beginners.
Secret Number 7
One of the top candle making secrets for beginners is creating a system for labeling candles.
This way, you can easily identify what wax blend and wick you used, how strong the fragrance percentage is, when the candle was poured, and when it was burned. Having all this information at your fingertips makes candle making much easier and more efficient.
It also allows you to connect all of your notes with the candle in question for future reference. A good labeling system is essential for any candle maker who wants to make life simpler and more enjoyable.
Secret Number 8
My eighth candle making secret is that I test my candles in four distinct ways.
- Firstly, I perform a safety test to ensure that each candle meets the strict criteria and guidelines I have set out before burning it from start to finish.
- Secondly, I do a performance test to evaluate how enjoyable the candle is – for example, checking its hot throw in different room sizes for various amounts of time.
- Thirdly, I send samples of my candles off to people within my community who can provide me with honest feedback on their experiences.
- Lastly, I conduct what I call a ‘chaos test’ or ‘power burn’ by burning my candle continuously over 6-12 hours (under supervision).
This helps me understand how the candle will behave under extreme conditions, such as if it is left burning overnight.
Finally, I also do a ‘normal test’ by burning the candle in my normal candle-burning habits – this allows me to see how the candle behaves in an everyday setting.
By testing my candles in all of these ways, I can be sure that each candle I create and produce is safe, enjoyable and reliable.
Secret Number 9
Secret number nine is that I use a heat gun to hide my candle making mistakes.
Heat guns are a versatile tool that any candle maker should have in their shop. They can be used for pre-heating containers, melting down candle tops, cleaning, and other tasks.
However, I primarily rely on it when candle making goes awry. With soy wax candles in particular, they can come out irregular or bumpy and need a little facelift.
A heat gun allows me to flatten the candle top without having to remake the entire candle or simply throw it away due to its unattractive appearance. To say the least, it has saved me from many embarrassing candle-making accidents!
Secret Number 10
The tenth candle making secret for beginners is that customizing your candle experience can be incredibly rewarding.
With candle making, there is an abundance of creativity available and it’s easy to get stuck in a routine of only using one type of wax and fragrance oil. However, exploring different options provides unique results and greater satisfaction with the end product.
Try experimenting by blending different waxes together or combining various fragrance oils to create something truly special!
The outcome will be all the more exciting when it remains a mystery until you unveil the finished candle.
Candle Making Secrets for Beginners – Conclusion
Again, candle-making is an art and science, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With these top 10 candle making secrets for beginners, you’ll soon become a candle-making master!
Remember to experiment with wax and fragrance combinations, use quality materials and tools, practice safety precautions, and take notes along your candle-making journey.
You’ll be creating beautiful candles in no time!
Have fun and enjoy the process!
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