How To Make Candles

Down through the ages, candles have always held a special place in our existence. What once lit our homes and streets and permitted our forefathers the read and write after dark, has always been a symbol of specialty for holidays and ceremonious occasions. Whether a small decoration on a birthday cake, to a religious symbol of holydays to the symbol of life itself, the candle remains special.

Candles are mostly made from wax today and have a wick usually made from string. The wick is lit and draws the wax up. Some people make their own candle for personal use or for sale. People have been making candles as far back as the ancient Egyptians, and the materials used have changed a lot. Early candles used fish oils, insects and seeds to make the wax, and cultures all over the world have different methods of adding perfume.

The candle making process is relatively simple. First a candle maker needs to melt wax. Many different materials have been used to make wax these days, from parafin to soy. Moulds can be purchased with which to shape the candles. These usually have a hole through which the wick is fed. The mould is turned upside down and the other end of the wick is secured. This is to keep the mould vertical so that it will run from one end of the candle to the other straight down the middle. The holes in the mould are sealed, and the wax is poured in. As the wax dries it will shrink, so holes must be made in it to allow it to shrink without trapping air. These holes are filled in later with more wax.

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