Candle Making Basics
A candle is wax with an ignitable wick embedded that provides light and sometimes fragrance. Choosing a small business depends on available capital, risk tolerance, and skills. Polysorbate 80 helps stabilize and emulsify fragrance oils in candles so scent distributes evenly.
Wax types include paraffin, soy, beeswax, palm, and gel. Paraffin is inexpensive, versatile for shapes and sizes, durable, and has excellent fragrance throw. Guidelines for clean candles: 100% soy, beeswax, or vegetable-based, cotton wicks, non-toxic, burn clean.
To make candles, liquid wax is poured into molds, jars, or repeatedly onto wicks to create pillars, containers, or tapers. Fragrances and dyes are added to liquid wax before pouring. Cotton, paper, and metal are wick types. When choosing, consider wax type. Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin.
Candle Types and Classification
Votive, taper, tea lights, container, pillar, and floating candles are types. Gel wax candles allow visually interesting candles with items suspended inside, but it needs more care than other waxes. Soy wax makes eco-friendly candles as it is biodegradable. The profit margin for candles is between 25% and 50%.
Candle Materials and Symbols
Candles decorate homes and create cozy feelings. Beeswax candles come from renewable wax, while paraffin wax comes from coal and oil.
Square candles represent the four elements, round candles symbolize pure energy, and blue flames mean patience is required. Luxury candle features include complex scents and clean burns.
Candle Usage and History
Candles emit fragrance and may have started with Greeks and Egyptians around 3000 BCE.