Candle Making

Candle making has a long history of over a thousand years and this is not surprising considering that for a long time, it was the only source of light available and it also has a long association with many religious traditions.

Candles are still an integral part of our homes and the craft of candle making has increased in popularity over the years as obtaining the required materials has now become much easier and candle making offers the chance to make use of genuine creative inspiration. They were originally made from tallow in Roman and Egyptian times and tallow is an extract from cattle and sheep. They did not burn well and their aroma was equally poor so fortunately for the candle makers of today, there are a variety of other ingredients available which is far superior and much more pleasing on the senses.

Candles these days are broken down into different categories such as:

- Votive Candles
- Container Candles
- Tea Lights
- Taper Candles
- Pillar Candles

There are a variety of waxes available for those interested in pursuing this hobby and they are:

- Beeswax
- Vegetable waxes
- Gel waxes
- Paraffin

Candle makers can now also enjoy the additional creativity of making differently shaped candles and these make lovely gifts to family and friends or indeed other candle enthusiasts.

There are many good candle making products available in arts and crafts shops or these can be also be purchased over the internet. Candle making kits are easily sourced and are a fantastic introduction to the art for beginners and it is worth realising that it is a hobby which is suitable for all, from small children (with supreme guidance) to those adults who are looking for a way of being creative at home without having to invest too much in the way of financial outlay.

They can be fairly easy to make but the degree of difficulty tends to increase along with the candle-makers confidence and abilities.

For the candle maker, there can be nothing more immensely satisfying that creating a beautiful scented candle and sitting back and watching the flickering flame and enjoying the gentle chosen scent.