Candle making instructions are really simple and uncomplicated, but a little practice and experience will help make the hobby more enjoyable. Beginning candle makers can benefit from the experiences of veteran candle makers. Listed below are 5 top tips that experienced candle makers have found to be helpful.

1. Use a double boiler to melt the wax. Candle wax is sensitive to heat and needs to be evenly and gently heated to avoid breaking down. A double boiler keeps the heat even across the surface of the melting pot, eliminating hot spots. It also makes it easier to keep the wax at its recommended working temperature while you add dyes and/or fragrance oil.
2. Heat glass containers before pouring in the wax. Heat glass containers in the oven to about 150 degrees F. before pouring wax into it. This will keep the glass from cracking when hot wax is added and will also help the wax adhere to the inside of the container, avoiding unsightly frosty or wet looking spots. Use an oven mitt or light gloves when removing the glassware from the oven.
3. Use wicks that have tabs attached to aid in centering the wick in the container. Candle wicks are available that have a small metal disk attached, making it easy to set the wick in the center of the container. Using a hot glue gun, put a liberal amount of glue on the bottom of the tab and place it in the center on the bottom of the container. A firm straw or thin walled aluminum tubing can aid in pressing the tab to the bottom. Simply place the straw or tube over the wick, running the wick up the center of the straw, and press the tab firmly to the bottom of the container.
4. Pour the wax into the container slowly. After the wax has been heated to the required temperature and the dye and fragrance oil have been thoroughly mixed in, slowly pour the wax into the container. Using an aluminum melting pot with a spout does away with the need to dip the wax out of the pot to pour into the candle container. If you don’t have this type of melting pot, a pyrex measuring cup can be used. Just be sure to warm up the cup first so that the wax won’t harden on it when you dip out the wax. Pour slowly to avoid trapping bubbles in the wax. The candle should sit on a level surface as it cools.
5. Hold the wick tightly centered in the container. Take a wooden stick, such as a popsicle stick, and put a hole in the center large enough to thread the end of the wick through. Rest the stick on the top of the container, pull the wick up so that it is tight, and clip the wick to the stick using a spring type clothespin or something similar such as an alligator clip. As the wax cools, it contracts and will form a small sink hole in the middle of the candle. If the wick is not held tightly in the middle it will tend to be pulled crooked.

Many more tips will probably be discovered with experience, but hopefully these five tips will help beginning candle makers create beautiful, fragrant soy container candles on the first try.

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You can start making candles for profit in your kitchen, garage, or basement. Supplies are simple, and you will want to do a little research on your own to find the best prices. Your profits will be maximized by finding the lowest prices for your supplies and by selling your candles for the highest price the market will support. In general buying large quantities of candle making supplies will result in lower costs per candle. Shopping for supplies on eBay® may occasionally result in good, low prices.

What supplies will you need? My previous blog describes the contents of a candle making kit that I purchased over the internet. It has all of the items needed to make soy wax container candles. The only item you need to supplies is a double boiler for melting the wax. Here is a list of supplies that are needed for candle making:

• Wax – paraffin, beeswax, soy wax
• Containers – tins, decorative glass jars, mason jars
• Wicks
• Coloring – liquid, solid
• Fragrances – essential oils, fragrance oils
• Thermometer
• Melting pot
• Pot for bottom of double boiler

In addition to these supplies, you will also want to have labels printed with the candle information and your business name. Packaging and shipping materials round out the items needed.
Once you have your candle making supplies and the creative process under control, where do you sell them? The first place to research is eBay®. A search for candles returns over 67,000 results. Categories include “Home & Garden”, “Collectibles”, “Crafts”, and “Health & Beauty”. Most of the candles listed for sale appear to be in the “Crafts” category. Another option would be the “Health & Beauty” category if you wanted to speicialize in spa related candles such as aromatherapy and environmentally friendly soy candles.

In the “Crafts” category, types of candles listed vary from flower-shaped candles to pillar and container candles. Looking at only the completed listings we can see what price the candle sold for, if it sold at all. Small flower shaped tart candles are generally selling for around $0.99 each. Medium sized jar candles sell for around $2.00 each and a large pillar candle is seen to have sold for $7.00. Unique and seasonal candles are good sellers and some may bring in a higher price than simple tart and pillar candles.

This research has only touched the surface, but there is a potential to make money selling hand made candles online. Other places to sell would be your own website with shopping cart, other online marketplaces, or local businesses. Make some extra money and have fun with the family while you pursue your home based candle making business.

Technorati Tags: candle making business, home business, soy wax