Before beginning to describe this project, it may be best for us to describe what a "grubby candle" might be. While you probably will not find an official definition for a grubby candle, many people use the term to refer to the look of the candle, appearing like the surface of the candle is frosted or a layer is missing.

Unlike mottling, where the finish is actually "internal" on the candle, the finish on this candle will actually impact the surface. This candle is always a favorite among candle makers since it is relatively easy to make. The level of "grubbiness" can be controlled.

Any size aluminum mold can be used for this candle. We find the most popular is the 3 x 4½. You begin this project by chilling the mold for about 10-15 minutes. You then take the 4045H wax and add about 10% stearic acid to the formulation. Melt your wax to around 150-155 degrees Fahrenheit and pour it into the chilled mold as any standard pillar. Top off where needed and remove from the mold when the candle has completely hardened. Due to the peeling of the wax, the candle may have to be placed in the freezer for removal.

 

A big part of Candlewic's manufacturing capacity is making all of our Pre-Wick Assemblies. This is the process where we take the raw wick, wax it and then put it in the Wick Sustainer machine. This machine can cut the wick to any length from 1" up to a height of 9". The machines can run 15mm, 20 mm and even 33mm clips.

Order custom candle wicks.

We previously posted 5 Luminary Candle-Making Secrets, but did you know just how easy it is to make a luminary candle? I'll show you in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Select a votive to use. For making this project you can use one that you made or a standard 15-hour votive.

Step 2: Fill a luminary bag with enough sand to prevent the bag from blowing away in the evening. Place the votive in the bag and light. Naturally, these candles should only be used in outdoor displays.

Step 3: Line along a driveway or a sidewalk.

Enjoy!

Beeswax Candles

The other natural wax which is commonly used and has been for hundreds of year is beeswax. This product is used in all type of candles including tapers, pillar, votives and even containers. Beeswax is one of the best all around waxes on the market.

Bayberry Wax

The final wax is Bayberry and is derived from the bayberry bush and can be used at 100% or blended with beeswax. Bayberry wax offers you a very rich and unique smell. Bayberry tapers are traditionally burned during New Years. Bayberry is also used at many colonial, pioneer and other historical events.

Granulated Wax

The final type of wax which is used more for crafting and easy candle making is the granulated wax. This wax is a 140 Melt point paraffin that is formed into little beads. These beads can easily be poured into containers and a wick inserted for an instant candle. This activity is great if you own a candle shop, if you teach classes or when you do shows it is an activity the kids would want to do while the parents shop your candle selection.

No matter which wax you are currently using it always helps to know what options are available if you are adding another line or looking to change things up.

Soy Wax

The first wax we will feature is soy. Soy wax is simply hydrogenated soybean oil and the best application for this wax is in containers. When using soy wax it is important to note that there is definitely performance and appearance differences between paraffin wax and wax and soy wax.

• First and foremost is the appearance of the candle. Soy wax in general produces candles that have a “flat” or pastel shade to the candle. This can play very well to the scents used; in the fall nothing is better than harvest colors and fragrances.
• Soy wax will always require more dye to get to the desired color.
• It is as close to one a pour wax as exists in the market. It will still require some topping off if poured too hot or if the container is too large.
• Another very positive feature of the soy wax is that the pouring temperatures have less impact on the finished candle than paraffin waxes.
• Depending on the scent load you are using, in most instances no special additives will be needed.

By now you have to be asking yourself if it is that good then why not just switch to this wax while I read this article? The main reason is that the scent throw that candle makers achieve with paraffin just cannot be at the same level when using soy wax. As these waxes get better at scent throw or fragrance companies improve the scent throw that can be achieved, the soy market will continue to grow.

Palm Wax

The other natural wax to consider would be the Palm wax. This wax is produced by hydrogenated Palm Oils. These waxes are great because of the unique textures which can be produced with these waxes. In most instances there is a crystallizing pattern which is available for both containers and freestanding candles. In addition there is a feathering pattern which is available for free standing candles.

One of the best natural waxes we offer is the CSP wax. This is an all natural blend of soy and palm wax which creates a very nice creamy finish. This wax is excellent for pillars, votives and tarts.