Making Scented Candles
Would you like to try making scented candles?
Candles of all types are wonderful for decorating your home and to give as gifts. But sometimes you want something a little different from the run of the mill, plain Jane candle. The good news is there are tons of scents out there that you can add to your candles to make them stand out from the crowd.
Buying Scents for Candles
There are many companies that make scents especially for use in candles. You can probably find a small selection at your local craft store, or there will be some resources for a dizzying array of candle scents later in this article.
It's important to use scents that are made for candle making because they are designed to take the heat that is required of a substance that is going into melted wax.
Some candle makers use essential oils, those plant essences popular in aromatherapy, to scent their candles. Essential oils are all natural, usually much more expensive than fragrance oils, and they tend to have problems blending into the wax and burning properly.
It is possible to use essential oils in candle making, but they can be troublesome. For that reason (as well as the expense of essential oils and the ease of using commercial fragrance oils) I recommend using fragrance made for candles.
Making Scented Candles
The main thing to know about commercially produced fragrance oils for candles is that they tend to be very strong. Just a few drops should be enough fragrance to make any sized candle nicely scented without being overpowering.
Some candle makers use a tablespoon of oil per pound of wax melted, or ¼ of an ounce, or three percent of the candle's weight. Measuring isn't all that much fun, though, so it's OK to guess, put in a few drops and see what happens.
There is actually a point at which there is too much scent in a candle, such that it won't burn properly and will have pools of liquid in the candle. Earth Guild suggests this point is reached at more than three percent by weight of scent or more than four ounces to ten pounds of wax.
If you're worried about using too much scent, start with just a few drops and keep good records on the size of the candle, how much scent you used and how you liked the smell. Then you can experiment and find the level that you like.
The above website offers another suggestion for the scent-phobic: just use an eyedropper to place a couple drops of fragrance oil in the pool of melted wax your candle makes as it burns. This will act like a diffuser and allow the scent to permeate without being a part of the candle itself.
Where to Buy Scents for Candles
As mentioned earlier, you can find some basic scents for candle making at your local craft store. But there are a number of wonderful sites on the Internet that can offer you tons of different kinds of fragrances, which are sure to pique your imagination and your taste buds.
Lonestar Candle Supply has numerous scents available in sizes ranging from one ounce to twenty-five pounds. Fragrances are arranged in categories from holidays to seasons, botanicals, fruits, etc. There are also brand name duplications of scents from Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Yankee Candle and a few designer fragrances, so you can make candles that match your perfume.
Candlewic is a great source for all things candle. It has its fragrances organized by price; you can also browse bestsellers, new fragrances, seasonal smells or scents that are safe in gel candles or for skin care. Check out the ultimate liquid candle scent line for fragrances that you can smell even when the candle is cold.
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