This is YOUR competition

I think this article summaries the difference between the BIG candle companies and the human-sized candle makers and candle making businesses.

No more hand-made candles in Northern Lights Candles. A robotic machine is now doing the job. I guess it is now up to the "humans" to show what unique, special and different candles they can make, that no machine can duplicate.

Robotic Equipment Automates Candle Making Process for Northern Lights Candles
When Northern Lights Candles decided to make the transition from hand-made candles to automated product assembly, it turned to Alfred State College’s School of Applied Technology in Wellsville for assistance...

Alfred State - Alfred State College

Eran

technorati tags:candle, making, northern, lights, robot, machine, competition, humans, hand-made, business

Using coffee and a food processor for making candles?

I love reading other people's advice and tips. You can learn so much from experience and share your knowledge.

This time it's Candle Cauldron Tools & Tricks page with the ever-lasting recommendation of the Presto Kitchen Kettle for melting wax, and of course the heat gun. But have you ever thought someone would recommend using a food processor? Read and find out!

On the tricks side, there are excellent ideas for testing colors, removing scents from molds and more. I especially like the tip on how to clear your nose after smelling too many candles: keep a jar of coffee grounds next to you or your craft show table. Sniffing it will allow you customers to keep appreciating the true scent of your candles.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, tips, tricks, ideas, scents, presto, kitchen, kettle, food, processor, advice, clearing, nose, CandleCauldron

Beautiful Decorated Candle

Before you read further, take a look at this amazing candle on the left. It is the creation of Autumn. Just beautiful!

This just goes to show that you can make your candles even more interesting by embellishing or adding things to them. It can also help make candles a more personalized gift.

Here are some embellishing candles tips from Fresh Cuts. Try them and add comment with some of your own.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, autumn, embellishing, candles, amazing, Fresh, Cuts

A highly recommended candle making book

Rated at the top of Amazon's candle making book list both as a best seller and in customers reviews is "Basic Candle Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started" by Eric Ebeling and Alan Wycheck.

Look at these reviews written by people who bought the book:

The author does a great job of explaining the little things that I never would have thought of on my own.

This book takes you step by step through the process to get you started.

This is must have for a beginner or someone who need to freshen up on candlemaking!

Does anyone have other book recommendations s/he would like to share?

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, book, basic, amazon, reviews, recommendation, beginners

There is sand in my candle, and I like it!

When was the last time you built a sand castle?

If you want to have a taste of that childhood, or if you are just looking for a cool project, here's the thing for you - sand candles.

You make these unique sand candles by using sand holes as molds.

The hotter you pour, the thicker the sand crust will be after you dig the candles out. 225 deg F will give you a thin coating of sand, 250 deg F - a medium crust and 275 a thick one.

As David Fisher from CandleAndSoap.about.com explains, this means you cannot use a double boiler to make these candles, so make sure to be extra safe.

It is also a good idea to use sand candles to make outdoor citronella candles and never worry about cleaning the sand off you living room floor.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, sand, candles, double, boiler, david, fisher, candleandsoap.about.com, crust, project

Nice Scent List

Here's another nice and long scent list. This time from Ginger's Garden.

As always there are the "weird and interesting" scents such as: Wine & Roses, or Zen2 (what kind of scent is that?) and even Cucumber.

What is your favorite scent on this list?

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, scent, list, GingersGarden

You can't get easier than this

If you feel like taking a shortcut once in a while, here's an idea for quick scented candles:

Just use pre-scented waxes.

It'e easy: they come with the scent and other additives already inside. Just melt, pour and wick.

Here is Wicks-Wax-Scents' page for their pre-scented wax. I'm sure you can find lots more!

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, pre-scented, pre, cented, wax, easy, idea

Live Your Candle Dream

This is a beautiful story about Linda Crandley from New Port Richey who changed her career and life after opening her own candle store. She's does hand dipping, shell candles, weddings and more.

Read all about it and learn about Linda for yourself.

All about feeling at home
Linda Crandley started making fragrant, hand-dipped candles in her basement years ago as a single mom living in a Philadelphia suburb.

Pasco: All about feeling at home, by Elizabeth Bettendorf

And after talking about coffee candles lately, perhaps you should try Linda's recommendation for a real one: The Wawa Coffee Brew. Sounds interesting...

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, Linda, Crandley, story, pasco, coffee, maker

Coffee anyone?

Have a look at these cappuccinos:

Looks good, right? Would you believe they are actually cappuccino candles? And from what you can hear on Timeless Candles podcast, they smell like real coffee and vanilla.

These candles are the creation of Bridgette of "Candles by Bridgette" who features on the podcast. Listen and learn about her and her unique candles.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, coffee, cappuccino, candles, podcast, TimelessCandles, Candles by Bridgette

Wild Woman Making Candles???

Just found a nice blog by a "Wild Celtic Rose" a.k.a. Lisa. I'm not saying she's wild, it's written all over her homepage :-)

But it does seem like she's enjoying making candles and beeswax ornaments, while what it looks like about a million other things she's up to. Busy lady...

She also put together a Candle Making for Amateurs Page which is worth a look.

I personally like a kitten candle she made. Cute, isn't it?

          

Take a look for yourself, and feel free to comment with your own candles and blogs.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, blog, lisa, wild, celtic, rose, kitten, beeswax, ornaments, amateurs

How many types of wax do you know?

If you answered 2: Paraffin and Soy, boy, you are way behind!

Have a look at Candle Cauldron's Encyclopedia of Waxes for over a dozen types!

Some are sub types of paraffin, different in how hard or refine they are. But others are really unique.

Did you know there's Bayberry Wax made from berries??? It takes 15 pounds of bayberries to make just one pound of bayberry wax! That's probably why it is so rare and expensive.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, wax, encyclopedia, paraffin, soy, baybberry, types, CandleCauldron

Who has a cool embedded gel candle photo?

Who has a cool embedded gel candle photo s/he would like to share?

Either a candle you made, or just a nice photo you saw.

Post its link as a comment!

In the mean time, look at this beautiful gel candle!

Cute isn't it?

To get the maximum out of the embedded object put it close to the glass and far from the wick. That way it will have better visibility and will not interfere with the candle burning.

Remember that when it comes to embedding objects in gel candles, safety plays a crucial part. The object must not be flammable: no wood, plastic, fabrics etc. Glass and ceramic are a better choice.

Read through CandleMaking.org.uk's for these and more embedding ideas, tips and projects.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, embedded, jel, candles, flammable, photo

Start working on your marketing

Are you thinking of opening a candle making business? Or perhaps you already have one?

You'll have to agree then, that marketing is one of the most important aspects of your business. It should be carefully planned and executed.

For example, being in mid December implies you should already think about January and February.

What to get an idea of how to plan for these months?

See this marketing plan draft by Candle Business Corner to get you started.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, business, marketing, plan, draft, CandleBusinessCorner

Let Me Start Your Fire!

What do you do with all the left over wax you have lying around in the house?

Well wax can always be recycled, either to make a new candle, or in this case make fire starters.

If you've got a wood burning stove or a fireplace, or plan a campfire, using fire starters will help you  light even wet wood!

However, as One Stop Candle explains, a fire starter is not a candle, and safety measures should be taken, as its flame can be a lot bigger than a controlled candle flame.

Follow One Stop Candle's instructions for making fire starters with all sorts of variations and ideas.

Stay safe!

Eran.

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technorati tags:candle, making, fire, starter, firestarter, leftover, wax, safety, One, Stop, Candle, OneStopCandle

Pick-Your-Wick HUGE database

Just look at this AMAZING wick database that matches wicks to the container and wax you are using.

It is HUGE!!!

Whether you are using soy or paraffin, container or pillar, thanks to CandleCauldron.com it's SO easy to find your wick.

Suppose I'm using the EcoSoya CB Advanced wax in a standard coffee mug container - using the search utility, I see that the database would recommend the LX 16 wick.

Now, obviously this is a recommendation and cannot guarantee perfect results, but hey! It is a great way to start!

And the best part is that you can add your own entries based on your personal experience.

Go for it!

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, pick, your, wick, database, candlecauldron

Why You Would Want These Candles To Smoke!

Why would you want your candles to smoke?

Well, as David Fisher explains, when we're talking about citronella candles, a bit of smoke would actually help the mosquito repelling effect.

Oh, those nasty mosquitoes!!!

Don't you ever get the feeling they are after you and only you?

Take a look at this FUNNY Mosquito-o-Meter by "OFF!", to find out just a appealing you are to mosquitoes.

But getting back to candles, remember that if you are tired of citronella, CandleAndSoap.About.com suggest other EO you can use repel mosquitoes.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, citronella, mosquito, mosquit-o-meter, david, fisher, candleandsoap.about.com

Candle Up Your Home

"What an amazing looking room!!!"

That is the what you'll hear from people when they see your candle decorated room. And to think it is decorated with your own candles!

Here are good pointers from Lisa Herbik on choosing colors, heights of pillar candles and more when decorating with candles.

Pillar Candle Arrangement Ideas by: Lisa Herbik
Candlelight can be used effectively as one of the most important decorative elements in a room. So, how do you decorate with pillar candles? The possibilities are virtually endless.

Pillar Candle Arrangement Ideas by Lisa Herbik

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, decore, decorating, tips, pillar

Which Tart Do You Prefer?

I know that when I hear "tart" I automatically think about a delicious pastry. Candle tarts, however, can look and smell wonderful, but are not that tasty. And especially those little candle tarts (not the fruit ones) are meant to fill your home with great scent.

   
Which Tart Do You Prefer?

 
These tarts (on the left) usually come in small molds, made of low melt point wax, have a strong scent and are wickless.

Here Candle Cauldron's way of making them.

They are placed on a tart burner with a tealight inside, and when the tart candle begins to melt, it scents the room.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, tart, candles, melt, burner, CandleCauldrons, tealight, scent

A Different (wax) Ball Game

Have a look at this ball of wax candle.
Nice!!! Isn't it?

You can check out Lovina Ferrao's instructions for it, or read her complete slide show filled with more good tips and ideas.

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, wax, ball, project, overview, ideas, tips, lovina, ferrao

Which is better? Paraffin or Soy?

Here is another stand in the old "Paraffin vs. Soy" argument.

"Candle-Licious.com" argues that both paraffin and soy are safe, and there is no reason not to use paraffin, as others claim.

Remember, that no mater what position one takes, it is always important to verify their sources, listen to both sides, and make your own mind.

What do you think?

Eran.

technorati tags:candle, making, paraffin, soy, paraffin vs. soy, wax, safe