Candle Making

When I was a kid, both my parents smoked. and my parents (mostly my dad) went through these phases where he’d make an attempt at making the house smell better by recycling candles. Any candles my mother would get from work as gifts would get melted down and placed in a large mason jar. Well, that was the intention anyway. Until our long haired cat got into the wax and knocked the whole thing onto the floor. It was the first and last time any candles were attempted.

Is that why I started making candles? Doubtful. It wasn’t even a thought until I was in Maryland cleaning up my dads room when he passed away and found a good chunk of candle making supplies. and when it comes to crafting I just hate getting rid of it. Even when I got back the wicks sat for a while. The thought of making candles just seemed intimidating.

I experimented with making candles about a year ago or so. A good friend of my husbands passed away and we were given some cups, glasses and I had a bunch of half melted candles I just had to do something with, plus a few large Pillar style candles. so, I decided since I had the summer off anyway, i might as well make the best out of it, and I Started using the mugs and teacups and things as vessels, and called them recycled soy candles, cause that’s what they were.

I’m still learning the in’s and outs of candle making. How to stop the sink holes, how much fragrance oil to add, Nowhere near perfect yet. I have discovered that the temperature of your vessel, and your wax, its all important. Personally, I’ve been pouring my wax into my vessels at 130 degrees, and if I can warm up the vessel ahead of time, I do. Any extra scent I add I take the wax off the heat first.