Soy Wax Candles: Necessary Materials to Make Your Own

ALERT! ALERT! UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22 PEAK CANDLE SUPPLIES (I MAKE NOTHING OFF OF THIS, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT INFO) IS HAVING A HALF OFF FRAGRANCE SAMPLE PACKS. THIS IS A DEAL TOO GOOD TO PASS UP. IF YOU'VE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE CANDLES, GET YOUR FRAGRANCES NOW!

Your're ready to make your first candle, but first you need to know what to buy.

You will need dedicated utensils because wax is difficult to remove and you don't want to wash your wax down your drain and clog your sink trying to clean utensils which would be better left coated with wax and placed in your pour pot or a tub containing your candle making supplies.

You will need to find a highly recommended supplier. Read the tips they provide online. Subscribe to free newsletters. Get a feel for the people behind the website. The best way I've found to really get to know suppliers is to ask questions by phone. There won't be a shortage of questions to ask once you get started.

Search Candle Shop websites and when you've found that supplier who meets your needs and purchase:

• Soy Wax
• Pour Pot
• Thermometer glass or digital cooking thermometer
• pre-made wick These come in packets of 10-100 per packet.
• fragrance
• dye (if desired)

Find these things lying around the house or purchase at a discount store:

• wooden or plastic stirring spoon
• Oven mitts
• table cloth which will be ruined
• glue gun or stick ums
• container for candle
• double boiler
• glass jars such as used, clean, dry pickle jars

When beginning, be sure to find a supplier who sells samples of fragrances, usually about $1.00- $2.50 per ounce so you can try a fragrance before purchasing. Some online stores have a deal where you can buy 10 for $20. This is a bargain. Fragrances usually cost $1 -$2.50 per ounce depending on the supplier, the scent and the demand for the scent. Shipping is extra. When purchasing a small set it allows you to try out the smell in small batches and choose your favorites. Otherwise you will waste a good deal of money buying large bottles of fragrance that is not to your liking.

• A one pound candle contains four cups of soy wax flakes.
• An 8 oz candle will need 2 cups of soy wax flakes.
• A 4 oz. candle will use 1 cup of soy wax flakes.

When measuring soy wax flakes use a measuring cup made for measuring solids, like rice and flour not a liquid measuring cup.

If you are fortunate enough to have a candle making shop in your area, shop and ask questions. You are lucky indeed!

If you are like most novice candle makers, shop on the internet. Some of my favorite sites are Peak Candle Supplies http://www.peakcandle.com/

and Candle Wic http://www.candlewic.com/Default.asp .

I bought a kit to get started online from ebay but that seller is no longer on ebay. This is a disappointment because her fragrances were out of this world! Since she is no longer in business I cannot locate the same fragrances. I've tried other suppliers and they just didn't smell the same.