There’s little that gives you a warm sense of comfort than the soft glow of a delicately burning candle.  It dances and flicker’s as the natural currents and breezes that gently kiss the warm flame.  Candles do indeed create an certain sort of ambience unparalleled with any other light source (that is if you don’t count a roaring open fire, of course).

Candles have served their time as functional and necessary light sources but in the modern world, their necessity has obviously been replaced with electric light sources.  However, candles are by no means redundant.  They help to create a calming, restful, peaceful and romantic ambience that makes you feel cosy and warm inside.

Our candle needs have changed and we now look to candles that are more decorative, interesting and are lovely to behold.  Candles can be so decorative that some find they would prefer not to light them for this will surely ruin their beauty.

To actually make a candle is fairly straightforward if you have the right materials.  Creating different effects, such as using scents, colours and decorative effects is much more skilled that may require practice & lots of note taking (to reflection on what works & what doesn’t).  A successful candle will burn well, even and be relatively smokeless.

A candle will consist of a wick enveloped by solid fuel (wax/fat).  At one time, the fuel would have been materials such as animal fat or beeswax.  Many commercial candles are now made with paraffin wax that is not only cheap but, very functional.  However, some of the most luxurious candles contain a mixture of waxes, particularly vegetable waxes such as soy, that can enhance the overall burn time/quality of a candle.

Candle Types Include…

Pillar Candles – These are thick candles that come in a variety of heights & shapes.  An example would be church candles.

Container Candles – These are normally made with a much softer wax that is poured into containers such as candle tines.  Tea lights are small container candles.

Novelty Candles – Created by moulding or sculpting into various shapes and sizes.

Dipped Candles – These are often tall, slim and tapered.  They are created by repeatedly dipping wick lengths into wax to create a tapered candle.

Moulded Candles – Made by pouring melted wax into a mould which can be specially made or as simple as old cartons and boxes.

Votive Candles – These are small candles that are useful for using in small spaces.

Rolled Candles – Created by rolling sheets of wax around a wick length.