The final choice to be made in the candle making process always seems to be the wick. Those that have gone through this experience know well that if the proper wick isn't selected, it doesn't matter if you picked the best fragrance, wax or even container because the candle will not burn properly. And if the candle doesn't burn properly, the consumer won't come back.

When choosing a wick, there are some important criteria to follow. You should strive to achieve:

• consistent flame size
• moderate container temperature
• minimal or no blooming (carbon deposits)
• well-formed wax pool with no dripping
• minimal glow after the candle has been extinguished

Where do I start?
The issue any candle maker has is where to start when choosing the proper wick. In today's marketplace the possibilities are endless and that can be overwhelming at times. The frustration for many is that there is not a magic formula to determine what wick is right for the given application. There are over 300 different wicks! The best one for your application will vary depending on the wax you are using, the fragrance load, candle diameter and even the color.

So the question is, where do you start? Below are some highlights of the most frequently used wicks:

• RRD--is a round directional wick with a cotton core and tension threads. It has been designed for optimal burn in solid-colored, scented votives and containers. This series may be one of the more popular due to its versatility in working with both paraffin and soy waxes.

• HTP--Are otherwise known as high-tension paper wicks. These wicks have a paper core wound into the wick to offer rigidity. These wicks are specially designed for use in votives and containers.

• CD--Also have a paper core wound into the wick and are very well suited for votives and containers.

• LX--is a flat braided wick with stabilized threads that help the wick "curl" during the burning process. These wicks will work in votives, containers and pillars. This wick is also an excellent choice for pillars made of the ECO-Soya PB and the Pillar Palm waxes.

• Zinc--This core has always offered rigidity in the "hot pour" process. The down side is that zinc is prone to mushrooming and carbon deposits. This series is very popular with paraffin waxes in containers.

Candlewic Wick Choice Resources:

• Candlewic offers many standard wick assemblies and a broad selection of spooled wicking.
• For a summary of all the wick series, be sure to check out this section of the Candlewic website which lists all of the wick series from smallest to largest.

http://www.candlewic.com/candle-wicks/pop-spools.asp

• Don't forget about our Custom Wick Builder! Watch this video to see how it works!

It is important that you spend time selecting the proper wick so you can really showcase the fragrances you have selected. The staff at Candlewic can help you with this process and we encourage you to take advantage of their expertise.

Gel candles are an extremely popular and versatile type of candle. They allow for a lot of artistic possibility. One popular gel candle creation you've probably seen is the "Fruit Preserve." This is where a jelly jar is filled with wax fruit inserts (shown right), then filled with gel. You can even create champagne glasses, beer mugs and other "drink" candle creations with gel. In some respects, gel can be easier to learn with than most candle materials. It's important to know the requirements and properties of gel,
however, before you venture into the process.

Gel, as previously defined by Penreco and now Calumet, is:

A specially selected, processed mineral oil that is gelled with copolymers that give them a clear rubbery texture. Similar to traditional wax candles, clear gel candles are commonly produced from a hydrocarbon base stock.

Instructions for Selecting the Proper Gel

The selection of the proper gel is limited to three different densities. The determination of the proper gel for your application will be dependent upon the type of gel candle you will be making and how much fragrance will be used.

1. 

   The low density (Candlewic's CG-1) is generally suited for gel candles with 0-3% fragrance loads. Generally, the low density can be poured at lower temperatures, ideally 195°-205°F.
2. The medium density (Candlewic's CG-2) is generally suited for candles with 3-5% fragrance. This density is a good gel for embedding many of the wax inserts. This particular gel is quickly becoming the most popular gel.
3. The high density (Candlewic's CG-3) is best suited when embedding heavier wax inserts and higher scent loads.

When making gel candles there are no additives needed, and in most instances, anything you add to the gel, including fragrance sometimes, can cloud the finished product.

Safety Precautions for Making Gel Candles

Before making gel candles for resale it is important that you review all of the safety precautions for manufacturing these candles. These safety precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Must use fragrances that are non-polar. (If you are not sure, check with your fragrance supplier)
• Fragrances must have a flash point higher then 170° F
• Proper wick selection is critical. In some instances you may want to undersize your wick. This can create a unique "glowing" effect as the candle burns. It is important to test burn wicks in all your containers.
• A wick assembly should have a wick base that has a 9mm neck.
• Depending upon density, do not go over the recommended percent usage for fragrance.
• Always have burning instructions.
• Make sure gel embeds are not flammable. (It can be surprising at times what objects are flammable.)

One of the most intriguing aspects of the gel candle is its endless ability to create new and interesting designs. The gel candle has brought a whole new level of "art" to candle making. Glass containers filled with "scenes" and other designs make this product as popular as ever.

Want to know more? Check out our Gel Candle Making Tips for Beginners.

Need a good gift for the holidays? What about a home-made candle? Tri-color candle jars are easy to make and beautiful too!

Materials Needed:

• 2 lb of Palm 1 wax
• Pouring pitcher
• Thermometer
• Burgundy liquid dye
• EVO-12
• Apothecary jar
• RRD-50 wick
• Wooden popsicle sticks

Step 1

Add 1 lb of the Palm 1 wax into the pouring pitcher.

Step 2

Clip the thermometer onto the top of the pouring pitcher with the thermometer inside.

Step 3

Place the wax filled pouring pitcher into a large pan of boiling water. This will create a double boiler for you to heat your wax. Do not allow the water to boil dry.

NEVER HEAT WAX DIRECTLY ON A HEAT SOURCE. Heating wax on direct heat can cause the wax to overheat and possibly ignite.

Step 4

As the wax melts, monitor the temperature with the thermometer. For accuracy do not allow the bottom of the thermometer to touch the bottom or sides of the pouring pot. Tip the pouring pot until the bottom of the thermometer is covered with the liquid wax. When the wax temperature reaches 185° F add two teaspoons of the liquid EVO-12 Burgundy color and stir.

Step 5

Now you are ready to pour the first layer into the Apothecary jar. Monitor the temperature making sure it is at the pouring temperature of 180° F. Pour the first layer of colored wax into your jar to a height of 1”. After approximately 5 minutes place the RRD-50 wick into the jar. Make sure the wick tab is centered on the bottom of the container. The hot wax will cause the wick to lean so use wooden popsicle sticks or wooden coffee stirrers to prevent the wick from falling toward the sides of the jar. Place the stick across the top of the jar to support the wick. Two sticks may be needed. Place the wick between each stick until it is centered.

Step 6

Allow the wax to cool for approximately 3 hours or until the layer is solid and firm.

Step 7

To prepare your second layer you will add 4 oz of Palm 1 wax to the colored wax that remains in your pour pitcher and repeat the melting and pouring process above (remember do not add any color).  We are increasing the wax amount so that the original color will decrease in intensity.

Step 8

Repeat the cooling time for the second layer.

Step 9

Last layer, add 4oz. of Palm 1 wax to the remaining wax in the pour pitcher and repeat the melt and pour processes, making sure that the pour temp is at 180° F. Repeat the cooling process.

A unique candle project sure to hypnotize buyers!

Ingredients

• Polycarb Pyramid Mold
• 6" (15 cm) – 2/0 Wick
• General Purpose Wax
• Gel Wax
• Liquid Gel Dye – Red
• Mold Release
• Mold Sealer

Instructions

STEP 1

In separate pots melt the General Purpose Wax and the Gel Wax.

STEP 2
Prepare mold by securing wick, applying Mold Sealer on the bottom and spraying the mold with Mold Release.

STEP 3
When the paraffin wax is approximately 175-200°F (80- 93°C), pour into mold. Fill the mold one-half to three-quarters full to leave room to pour the Gel Wax into your candle.

STEP 4

While the paraffin wax is cooling, prepare the Gel Wax. Add approximately two to three drops of red dye to 1/4 of a cup of Gel Wax and stir. You may want to dye your gel wax in a separate measuring cup, so that you only have to dye a small amount of your Gel Wax. Make sure the Gel Wax is quite hot before dying because you do not want it to harden before you have time to dye it and pour it into your mold. Make sure to dye your gel only after the paraffin wax has cooled for several minutes.

STEP 5
Let the paraffin wax cool until there is about 1/4 inch (6 mm) of hardened wax on the top. Puncture this skin on the wax and pour your dyed Gel Wax through the hole.

STEP 6
Let the candle cool completely, and remove it from your mold. No two candles will ever look the same, so every time you complete this project, you will make a 100% unique candle!

ALTERNATIVES
Try dying your parrafin wax before you add

your Gel Wax to the candle. Be sure to use complementary colors as the waxes will mix as they cool!

Use this swirl method as a layer in a container candle!

Add glitter to your Gel Wax before pouring,and watch the sparkle spread throughout your candle!

So paraffin wax isn't your cup of tea. Many candlemakers are developing a growing interest in all natural candles and these days there are more choices than ever. Choosing the proper one can be a daunting task. In this post, we will highlight some of the natural waxes to help you choose what might be right for your needs.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is definitely the most popular of all the natural waxes. Some of the reasons for its popularity are the ease of use (in most instances a very low shrink wax), the competitive cost advantage over paraffin wax, and the returning interest in using domestically produced products. Soy can make for great candles with a rich creamy look and can also achieve decent retention to containers. Here's a summary of some of the best selling soy waxes:

Candlewic Soy 125

Soy 125 is made with 100% natural soybeans that are domestically grown. Soy 125 is a blend of soy and soybean oil that will hold higher fragrance loads than the Soy-120. This wax is also an excellent choice if you want a paraffin/soy blend.

EcoSoya® CB-Advanced Soy

EcoSoya® CB-Advanced Soy has extreme resistance to bloom (white frosting) and "wet spots." It contracts slightly to produce a uniform beautiful appearance, requires only one pour, has good scent throw with fragrances, and a creamy white appearance.

EcoSoya® CB-Advanced Soy is made from pure soybeans and carefully selected botanical oils. Candles made with CB-Advanced Soy resist frosting, have a smooth top surface and an even burn pool with consistent color retention.

Golden Wax 444 Soy Blend

Beautiful soy candles with all-natural wax! This Golden Wax 444 soy blend is composed of 98% soy wax with 2% natural additives. It mixes very well with paraffin wax at any level and has a higher melt point than the Golden Wax 464 which enables it to retain a higher FO load to give you a stronger scent throw.

While Soy has many positive attributes we do like, soy wax does not offer the maximum fragrance throw - much to the disappointment of many. If soy could deliver better fragrance throw, more candle makers would make the transition to soy wax.

While it does compromise the natural part of candles, a growing and popular trend is blending soy with paraffin to get the strengths of both products. Many call these hybrid waxes and they are worth exploring if you have not already.

Palm Wax

If you are looking for the complete unique look, the palm waxes are an excellent choice. With patterns of both crystallizing and feathering, each candle looks completely different. This wax is also all natural and, in most instances, has better fragrance throw than soy wax.

Palm-1 is an excellent wax that will produce a Crystallizing pattern designed for use in jars.

Palm-2 will create the same crystallizing pattern as Palm 1 but is designed for use in Pillars and votives.

Palm-3 will create a feather patter for pillars. Unfortunately will be to hard of a wax to use in containers.

Smooth Pillar Blend. If you want a basic all natural pillar this wax is the best choice. A very high-performance, all-natural smooth pillar blend of 100% soy, palm, cottonseed and other vegetable-based wax products has excellent burning properties.

Beeswax

This all around best natural wax has been around for centuries and is great for almost any type of candle. White and Yellow beeswax can be used in containers, pillars and tapers. The natural aroma makes this wax a winner in all of those applications. However, the price of beeswax is always the factor in why this wax is not used more often.

In addition any of these waxes can be blended together at any percentage so you can create your own truly unique and all natural candle.