Handmade Soy Tealights

Handmade soy tealights burn more cleanly and last longer than traditional wax tealights, and are widely available from local crafters. Soy tealights come in the same variety of colors and scents as most other candles, or you can get unscented white candles if you prefer.

Blue soy tealights.

Soy wax is a more natural product than paraffin candle wax, which is derived from petroleum products. Soy burns cleaner, giving off less smoke and creating less soot. It also releases fewer toxins into the air than paraffin wax.

Handmade candles are made by skilled craftspeople who enjoy the art of candle making. Generally speaking, you can count on attention to detail and careful application of these skills in each of their products.

It's also economically sound to support local businesses, and you can feel good knowing that your money will be kept in your own neighborhood, rather than supporting a mass merchandiser.

Soy tealights are both practical and decorative. Because of their small size, they can fit in tiny candleholders, or small glass bowls. They are also perfect for centerpieces or decorative accents, as their flames burn brightly but they don't take up a lot of space.

Some perfect ways to use soy tealights are:

• Inside a carved pumpkin at Halloween
• In clear or frosted glass bowls
• In pretty tealight holders anywhere in your home
• Inside a partially hollowed out fruit or vegetable, such as artichokes or apples
• As part of a tabletop arrangement
• In tart warmers or scented oil burners

Candle makers can be found in almost any city or town. Large craft fairs are usually held in a central location that can accommodate many different crafters, and are widely advertised. Conversely, smaller craft shows can generally be found at smaller venues like churches and schools. Both are great places to find local candle makers, many of whom will have handmade soy tealights for sale.

Other good places to look locally are:

• The telephone book's yellow pages
• The newspaper classified section
• Local gift shops and boutiques

Once you find someone whose candles you enjoy, make sure you keep his or her business card so you can reorder as necessary.

There are several retailers online who sell homemade soy tealights. Here are just a few of them:

• The Soap Farm – Unscented, white soy wax in traditional metal tea light containers.

• Art Fire – Many crafters sell their wares here. Try these colored soy teal lights that come in some really yummy scents.

• Rogue Valley Soap and Candles – Lovely scents and colors that burn for six to eight hours.

• Luminessent – If you're in Canada, these soy tea lights are made in Toronto, Ontario and come in plastic or aluminum cups, or even cupless.

If you find other candle retailers online, make sure to check out their "about us" or "history" pages to make sure that their candles are indeed handmade, and not packaged by a third party manufacturer.

If you want to try your hand at making your own handmade tealights, it's simple to learn how. Here are some suggestions to get your started:

• Do a little research on candle making and soy candle supplies
• Make sure you have all of the candle making equipment you'll need
• Set aside a block of time to practice making tealights

If learning the basics and getting supplies from scratch seems daunting, there are soy tealight candle making kits available at craft stores or specialty candle supply shops, both in person and online.

Handmade soy tealights make lovely gifts, especially if you purchase a variety of colors and scents. You can bundle them together with a couple of small tealight holders, or a tart warmer and some wax tarts for the recipient to enjoy. Share your love of candles with your family and friends!

• Cheap Candle Rings for Christmas
• Angel Tealight Candle Holder
• Embossed Rose Candle

• Yankee Candle Outlet Store
• Outdoor Candle Lanterns
• Floating Candle Centerpieces
• Floor Standing Candle Holders
• Making Homemade Candles

• Battery Operated Yard Light Candles
• Beeswax Candles
• Battery Operated Taper Candles
• Aromatherapy Soy Candles
• Candlelight Centerpieces