October 2001 How to Make Candles, Candle Making Newsletter

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The En-Light-ener
Candle Making Newsletter

"The En-Light-ener" October 2001
Candle Making Newsletter

Welcome to the En-light-ener, Candlewic's newsletter for the candle making community.

We wish to thank everyone for their continued support and positive feedback that we have received regarding our new website and newsletter. We truly appreciate these comments and it helps us to address the various needs of our customers. As you may have noted, our product line continues to grow to meet the continued changes in the candle market. Because our business is devoted solely to the candle market, we are able to address any needs you may have as a candle maker.
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The New Candle Market
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It is no secret these days that the candle market has become more competitive. Retailers and consumers have become “price sensitive” on many type of candles. One of the essential requirements to grow a candle company in this new market is to expand your product offering. This will assist to grow your company in two ways. First, it allows you to grow the products that you are offering to your existing customer base; and secondly it allows you to market to new accounts, which previously where not purchasing your products.

These days, many of the non-traditional candle retailers now offer some type of candles to the consumer. Supermarkets now offer candles in three or four different departments, hardware stores now carry a line of candles, health stores and even the local stores selling tobacco products offer candles. With these “new” retailers you can, in many instances, cater your new products to those specific markets.

The new product offering can be as simple as offering a new line of fragrances, filling new containers or providing new shapes or sizes of pillars. Popular sizes now include squares and octagons. And in the very near future, Candlewic will offer a new 3-inch aluminum ball mold that’s sure to create a lot of interest.

If your specialty has been in filling containers, you may now want to look at offering a small line of pillars and/or votives. While many candle companies struggle to find a cost-effective means of producing votives, they have almost become an essential offering because it is a product the consumer can purchase as a “test” of your candles. This may lead to future sales of larger containers and pillars. For some candle companies the votive has become the equivalent of a “loss leader.”

Other ways of expanding your product offerings include exploring new types of candle products. These would include natural wax candles, gel candle, special quartz-look waxes (Astorlite Q) or some of the past types of novelty candles which are beginning to make a resurgence.

Many of these products offer unique opportunities for the smaller candle companies to utilize their strong attributes such as the ability to react quickly to hot trends, capture local interest and fully utilize the artistic ability of their staff. The gel candle is the best example to identify. Candle companies can create candles to match the local economy, beach designs can be very popular, fruit candles and flower gel candles in coordination with local events are always popular.

The use of natural waxes in your candle allows you to take your products to a whole new market. The offerings in natural wax continue to expand. It now includes products such as beeswax (yellow and white), soy based waxes (votive and pillars), palm based waxes and newer products such as Astorlite Q and Astorlite P.

One of the important things to note when expanding to some of the newer products is that there will be a new learning curve required. Each of the products identified above have different manufacturing requirements and burning issues than standard paraffin candles. Always make sure you review the manufacturing requirements of each and test burn your finished product.

In the upcoming issues we will focus on some of the unique candles that have been made in the past and some of the popular themes that can be introduced today. Some of these products include chunk candles, ice candles, sand candles and embed candles using gel.

For more information or to purchase products mentioned here use these links:

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HOW TO KEEP THE WICK CENTERED IN A VOTIVE
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One of the most common concerns of companies hot pouring votives is how to keep the wick centered in the candle. We would offer some of the following suggestions.

- Use a pre-wick assembly with a 33 mm sustainer base. Sometimes called a self-centering sustainer base, this fits perfectly in the bottom of the votive cup and ensures that the wick remains centered.
- Use a votive pin (M-63-P) which will ensure that the wick is centered through the entire candle. An added advantage to this is that it will also allow you to use a cotton, paper or cordless wick.
- Many of the large candle companies will drill the candle after it is completed. This offers the same advantage as above. In order for this method to be effective it will require the right equipment.

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FAQ
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How Do I Know Which Gel To Use?
Penreco offers three different grades of gel in their Versagel line: Low Density (CG-1), Medium Density (CG-2) and High Density (CG-3). The type of candle you are making, amount of fragrance you anticipate adding and in some instances your shipping destinations will determine which gel you should use. In general the CG-1 allows the smallest quantity of fragrance to be added (2-3%), but with larger wicks it will allow the largest burning pool in the candle. One concern when using this product may be shipping during warmer months. The CG-2 allows about 3-4% scent be introduced and seems to work best for wax embeds. The CG-3 allows 4-5% scent be introduced but because of the density even using the largest size wick will only allow a burning radius of about 2 inches.

For more information or to buy candle gels online, go to: http://www.candlewic.com/gels.htm

What Is Causing “Sweating” Or Beads On Top Of My Candles?
Generally, when you are getting liquid beads on top of the candle or the inside the glass container it is the fragrance which is “leaking” out of the wax. If you are already adding Vybar, increase the usage slightly, if you are not using Vybar start by using a small percentage--somewhere between one-half and one percent. You may also want to decrease the amount of fragrance used in the candle.

Another solution if the candle is sweating from the scent is to try using the Scenti-Masterbatch, a patented, solid fragrancing system designed for heavy scent loads. This could solve the problem without adding Vybar and you could actually increase the fragrance level rather than reducing it.

Issue Index

November 2009 -- Tom Turkey on Candle Making, Candle Kits vs Buying Indidual Supplies, and more...

October 2009 -- Taking the Scary out of Candle Making, Snowball Candle Project, and more...

September 2009 -- 4 Quick Tips to Improve Your Candle Line, Layered Candle Project, and more...

August 2009 -- Is Big Always Better?, Cookie Cutter Candle Making Project, and more...

July 2009 -- How to Set Candle Prices, All Natural Beeswax Garden Flare Candle Making Project, and more...

June 2009 -- 5 Tips for Avoiding Margin Drain, Tri-Color Candle Making Project, and more...

May 2009 -- How To Select a Candle Wick, Chunk Candle Making Project, and more...

April 2009 -- Candle Making Ideas for Summer, Candle Making Projects, and more...

March 2009 -- Mold Techniques in Candle Making, A Simple Candle Project, and more...

February 2009 -- Setting the Right Mood Year Round, Tealight Candle Project, and more...

January 2009 -- Reacquainting Yourself with Candle Making Waxes, Tri-Color Candle Project, and more...

December 2008 -- 12 Days of the Candle Making Business, Candle Making Projects, and more...

November 2008 -- Candle Making Business Cliches, Miracle Molding Material Projects, and more...

October 2008 -- Candle Making Terms Explained, How To Make Mottling Candles, and more...

September 2008 -- Adding on to Your Candle Lines, How To Make Candle Luminaries, and more...

August 2008 -- Candles & Their Fragrances, How To Make Pillar Candles, and more...

July 2008 -- Sunscreen For Your Candles, How To Make Dipped Tapers, and more...

June 2008 -- Fall Candle Season Starts Now, Extraordinary Candle Making Project, and more...

May 2008 -- Green Candle Making, Green Candle Projects, and more...

April 2008 -- Recent Candle Industry Price Increases, Aluminum Mold Candle Project, and more...

March 2008 -- Straight Wax, Exciting New Candle Making Products, and more...

February 2008 -- Business Side of Candle Making, Ice Candle Project, and more...

January 2008 -- Basics of Blended Wax Candles, Rose Floater Candle Project, and more...

December 2007 -- 12 Days of Business, 2007 Candle Making Projects, and more...

November 2007 -- Show Time for Candle Making, Making Snow Candles, and more...

October 2007 -- Ready, Set, GO candle making, Candle Luminaries, and more...

September 2007 -- GREENING Your Product Line and Your Bottom Line…, One-Pour Candle Tins, and more...

August 2007 -- Candle Making's Center of Focus, Making Streak Candles, and more...

July 2007 -- The Latest in Candle Making Products, Votive Candle Project, and more...

June 2007 -- Setting Your Candles' Sale Price, Summer Candle Projects, and more...

May 2007 -- Determining Your Candle Making Costs, Using Extra Candle Wax, and more...

April 2007 -- Natural Wax Buzz Part 2, Layered natural candles, and more...

March 2007--Crucial details of candle making, Candle projects with no melting required, and more...

February 2007--How to choose a candle making mold, Making custom candle molds, and more...

January 2007--"Green" Candle Making, tri-color jar candle project, and more...

December 2006--Looking into the candle making future, 2006 candle projects, and more...

November 2006--Introducing...a candle making introduction, candle projects, and more...

October 2006--Prime time: candle wicks, taper candle projects, and more...

September 2006--Clearly still here:Gel candle making, one-pour tins, and more...

August 2006--Fragrance - the driving force of candle making, a new contest, and more...

July 2006--Planning your production, using granulated wax, and more...

June 2006--Our 35th Year, using aluminum candle molds, how much candle fragrance to use, and more...

May 2006--Summertime candle making, making natural lemon candles and more...

April 2006--Choose the candle wick, making tealight candles and more...

March 2006--Choose the right wick base, blending soy wax with paraffin, making palm wax candles and more...

February 2006--The roll of wax additives in a blended wax world, UV additives, making grubby candles and more...

January 2006--The secrets of soy wax candles, more ways to use candles, making soy wax container candles and more...

December 2005--Planning for the new year, announcing our new home, secrets about wicks, and more...

November 2005--Holiday candle making, ideas to sell more candles, making luminaries and more...

October 2005--Temperture issues when making candles, how to start making candles and more...

September 2005--Choose the right candle mold, ASTM safety standards, and more...

August 2005--Color and Fragrance trends, choosing the right candle making tools, and more...

July 2005--Planning for efficient production, Marketing your Candles, Making Swirl Candles, and more...

June 2005--New market trends in candle shapes and textures, Making Textured Candles, and more...

May 2005--The trends and science of candle fragrances, Making Mottled Candles, and more...

April 2005--How to select the proper candle wick, Top Colors, Making "Earthy" Chunk Candles, and more...

March 2005--Selecting the right wax Part III, Our Top Waxes, Making Floral Candles, Our History and more...

February 2005--Selecting the right wax Part II, Our Top Fragrances, Making Fruit Candles and more...

January 2005--Selecting the right wax, Using blended wax, Coloring wax, Making Layered Jar Candles and more...

December 2004--All about candle making fragrances, Making Grubby Candles and more...

November 2004--Choosing Color for your candle making, Making snowball candles and more...

October 2004--Candle Making Busy Season, Making Palm Wax Candles, Speeding Up Candle Production and more...

September 2004--Candle Wax Melters, Making Sense of your Candle Scents, Making Taper Candles and more...

August 2004--Getting Ready For The Season, Using Votive Pins To Make Votive Candles, No Melt Candle Making and more...

July 2004--Some History & What's New, Paraffin Myths, Making Golf Ball Candles and more...

June 2004--Choosing the Right Candle Wax for Your Needs, Making One-Pour Tins and more...

May 2004--Investigating New Products, Burn Testing, Making Freestanding Gel Pillars & Novelties and more...

April 2004--Candle Making Trends, Rolled Candles with Beeswax Sheets, Making Taper Candles and more...

March 2004--Color Theory & Techniques, Floating Candle Molds, Making Tealight Candles and more...

February 2004--Mold Techniques, Computers and Candlemaking, Making Easter Egg Chunk Candles and more...

January 2004--Marketing Natural Wax and Paraffin Candles, Layering Natural Wax Candles and more...

December 2003--Holiday Greetings, 2003 Year in Review, The 6 P's, Making Icicle Candles and more...

November 2003--Building Your Candle Product Line, Making Holiday Ornaments & Soap-on-a-Wick and more...

October 2003--Marketing Your Candles, Polyurethane Molds, Making Lemon Candles, and more...

September 2003--Packaging & Labeling, Essential Oils, Making Rolled Pillars with Beeswax Sheets, and more...

August 2003--Using Palm Wax, Increasing Your Profit Margins, Using Aluminum Molds, and more...

July 2003--Ultra Violet Light Absorbers, Reducing Shipping Costs, Dipping Techniques, and more...

June 2003--Choosing the Right Wick, Using a Wick Stick, Making Floater Candles, and more...

May 2003--New Products Review, Pouring Temperatures, Finishes For Your Candles, and more...

April 2003--Selecting Paraffin, Natural and “Hybrid” Waxes, Using Pillar Pins, and more...

March 2003--Selling & Marketing Candles, Making it Easier to Make Pillars, Wax Art Crystals and more...

February 2003--Pouring Temperatures, Votive Tips, Making Grubby Candles, and more...

January 2003--Candle Making Safety Tips, Instruction Labels, What To Do With Extra Wax and more...

December 2002--Polycarbonate Molds, Making Clear Snowball Candles, and more...

November 2002--Candle Making as a Second Language, The Story of Chandler, Natural F Wax, and more...

October 2002--Candle Making as a Second Language, Projects Review and more...

September 2002--Accessorizing Your Manufacturing, Making Clear Pillar Candles, and more...

July/August 2002--Making Cinnamon Roll Candles, Clear Pillar Base, New Products, and more...

May/June 2002--Back to Basics, Making F Wax Candles, and more...

April 2002--Making Streaked Candles, Wax 101 part 3: Natural Wax, and more...

March 2002--Making Crackled Candles, Wax 101 part 2: Gel Wax, and more...

February 2002--Making Easter Egg Candles, Wax 101: An Overview, and more...

January 2002 --Review of 2001, Frosty Snowman Candles, New Products, Safety Info and more...

December 2001--Botanical candles, making white candles white and more...

November 2001--Chunk candles, clearance sale!, candlemaking books and more...

October 2001--The new candle market, choosing gels, votive wicks and more...

August 2001--New products, new location , new web site and more...

July 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles (part 3), Candle Burn Times and more...

June 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles (part 2), UV Light Absorbers, Wax Additive Recommendations and more...

May 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles, Burning Instructions, Selecting Sustainer Bases and more...

April 2001--Natural Waxes, Candle Burn Times, Wax Pouring Temperatures and more...

March 2001--Making Wax Inserts, Blended vs. Non-Blended Waxes, Colors, Fragrances and more...

February 2001--Whipped Wax, Wax Art Crystal Wax, Gel Candles, Using Containers and more...


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The Candlewic Company
Supplies the candle making industry with candle making kits, molds and accessories including candle wax, gel, and wicks.

3765 Old Easton Road
Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901
800-368-3352 | Local: 215-230-3601
Fax: 215-230-3606

info@candlewic.com

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800-368-3352 | Local: 215-230-3601

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