When making any kind of candle, the first thing you need to do is gather all the supplies together.  Review the process in your head to make sure that you have everything ready to go.  No matter what you are doing, safety first.  The great thing about making soy candles, or any candles for that matter, is the cleanup is easy.  Soy candle wax is easier to clean up than other candle waxes.

Here are the essential soy candle making supplies that you should have handy:

Soy wax is all natural, derived from soy beans, burns longer and cleaner than paraffin wax. This is a great renewable source of energy.  You can get this wax in a solid block form or soy wax flakes.

You also need a double boiler to melt your wax. A double boiler is safer to use than a homemade set up of a can, sitting on a lifter, inside of a pot containing the boiling water.  This makeshift setup could work, but safety should be the first priority.  The reason you need a double boiler is because the wax is not in direct contact with the heating element or heat source.  The indirect heat of boiling water melts the wax without scorching or burning it.  Invest in a good double boiler.  It will last a long time.

Thermometer tells you exactly what temperature the wax is at.  Remember that you are working with a ‘flammable’ substance that can catch fire!  So, watch the temperature closely to get to that melting point.

You need a stirring spoon, or something to stir the wax as it melts.  This can be metal, wooden, or a heavy plastic.

Next is the wick. A wick is a thread-like string or cord or wooden object that holds the flame in a candle. As you research your wicks, you will find those that are better suited for soy wax.

Did you know you could make soy candles without a wick?  I didn’t.  Those wickless soy candles works with electric candle warmers that are plugged into the wall.

You need to use a mold or container to shape up your candle. Choosing how your candle will look is a fun part of the process.  Once you start to make soy candles, you will be looking at containers differently!  The molds available will ignite your imagination!

Don’t forget to add a scent or fragrance to your melted wax. Always use quality essential oils for your scent. The manufacturer will tell you what the correct temperature is to add the scent.

Choosing the color is an important part of your soy candle.  The rule of thumb when adding color is less is better.  It may take you a few times to determine the exact amount of color to add to get that ‘right look’.  Try both the liquid color dye and the color chips to see which you prefer.

That’s all the soy candle making supplies you need.  Shopping online or at your local craft shop is fun.  The choices are endless.  Once you master the art of making soy candles you will be ready to buy your supplies in larger quantities or at wholesale prices.

The last thought I want to leave you with is always be careful in making your candles.  Have your fire extinguisher close by.  Don’t leave the melting wax unattended. Remember, prevention is always better than the cure.  Have fun making your first soy candles.

How about a few candle making tips to keep the fun in your projects for both you and your helpers?  This is especially important if you are new to the craft of candle making.  Are you ready for a few surprises?  Prevention and preparedness is the key.

When you start your first few projects, it is a good idea to keep in mind the process all the way through before you begin work.  The candle making tips for today are about accessories that you normally would “not” associate with candle making.  They involve newspaper, cardboard, place mats, and boxes.  See, I told you it would be surprising.  Believe me, you will thank me later, these are important tips for successful candle making projects.

First tip: think clean up!  That’s right, clean up.  If you make a big mess, you may never want to make candles again.  What a shame that would be.

The best thing to do is to take steps up front that will help you make clean up a breeze.  I am a big believer in this tip; prepare your working surface before you even get started.

Pick a nice clear counter top area close to where you stove or heating element is.  Then spread newspapers in the candle making area.

After your counter is covered, you may want to put a second layer of paper.  If you do not have a newspaper, butcher paper works great too and it’s inexpensive.  Next, I like to reinforce my counter protection with additional materials.

You have a couple of options for this.  Lay down some of your old rectangular dinner placemats or old cutting boards.  No cloth, only hard surface materials.  They make great landing pads to organize your work and place your potential spill problems, like coloring agents or scents.  If you spill, it doesn’t do damage to your countertops.  The hard surface pads made of wood, plastic or other materials will withstand and contain spills including hot wax.

No excuses, if you don’t have old placemats or cutting boards, I bet you can get your hands on a big cardboard box and cut out a nice working surface with that.

My husband was a great help when he saw what I was up to.  He went into his shop and cut a piece of plywood into the shape of my kitchen countertop.  Then he cut that piece into three separate sections.  I put it on top of the newspaper; this keeps my counters from getting scratched.

My point here is that proper preparation up front will make it easy to clean up after your project is completed.  More importantly there are no stains or wax on my counter tops.

Are you ready for more candle making tips?  Make a plan for where you keep your candle making supplies, pots, measuring tools, wax and all the other supplies you use.   My advice is to put them all in one place where they will not be disturbed.   Keep an eye out for the cardboard box that is the right size for all your things.  Even better, plastic storage boxes are very reasonably priced, come in all sizes and they have nice lock down lids.  They work great and can be stacked in a closet or out in the garage.  Either way, be creative here and you will find something that will work for you to keep all your candle making supplies in one place.

This is experience talking here.  If a month goes between your projects, you will pull everything out and then disappointment strikes.  There is always something missing!   ”Where is my scale?”  “Where are my measuring spoons?”  Your operation goes on hold as you begin your search for what is missing.  Murphy’s Law – you discover you are missing something important just when your wax is melted and at the perfect temperature.

So remember, plan success by setting up your work area properly and when you are done, have a place for all of your materials where nobody will get in them and move your things around.  I hope these candle making tips have been helpful.

Have fun!

For some reason, beeswax candles are intimidating to many candle makers.  It’s a love/hate relationship.  Either you are going to love beeswax candle making or you won’t like it at all.

When you think about beeswax, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  Did you think about flowers, honey, the smell or the bees?

When bees collect the pollen from flowers it is converted to either the honeycomb or honey.  Honey not used as food is stored for the long winter months, hence the honeycomb.  The honeycomb is designed to raise their brood and store excess honey and pollen.  How the honeycomb is made is fascinating.  Nature’s perfect engineering uses the least amount of wax to hold the maximum amount of honey.

Beeswax is easy to work with, having a lower melting point than other waxes.  Beeswax burns brighter, longer and cleaner than paraffin wax.  Beeswax also puts negative ions into the atmosphere to clean the air and energize the body.

For those who are allergic to scent, beeswax has a sweet natural scent so you don’t need to add more scent in your candles.

Beeswax candle making is an easy process that requires very few materials. When you want to make a beeswax candle, you first need to define what type of beeswax candle you are going to make.

There are two types: the rolled up beeswax and the dipped beeswax candles. These two types both use beeswax but both have different procedures.

Making Rolled Beeswax Candles:

Working with rolled sheets of beeswax is a great way to involve kids.  The supplies you need are sheets of beeswax, wick, a sharp knife and a cutting board.  Beeswax needs to be soft and pliable.  You can warm your beeswax sheet up with a hair dryer or passing over a pot of boiling water.  Make sure not to melt the wax, just warm it up a little.  Also, make sure the room is warm when you are ready to start.

The process is easy.  Basically, it is 4 easy steps.

1. Place the beeswax sheet on your cutting board or work surface.  Placing a piece of wax paper underneath helps you work with the sheets.
2. Measure and cut the length of the wick, allowing a one each excess on either end.  Place the wick on the very edge of the beeswax sheet, approximately 1/8^th of an inch from the end.  Press down gently making sure the wick is surrounded by wax.  (Note: A word about the wick – use a cotton wick for even burning.)
3. Roll wax sheet, being careful of the honeycomb pattern, making the rolled candle.  Press the edge to secure it to the rolled candle. (Make sure not to roll up the wax paper.  It will burn!
4. Choose the best end for the top – trim the wick to ½ inch.  On the bottom of the rolled candle, remove the exposed wick.

Remember to store your completed candles in a cool, dry area.  The rolled up or the pillar beeswax candle is the most simple to make.

The dipped beeswax candle is more complicated than the rolled up kind but not as complicated as what you think. What makes it complicated is that you need more tools and time to make it.

Before you actually make the dipped beeswax candles, you must gather the materials needed like the beeswax, wicks, double boiler, thermometer and a stirrer.

First, you need to melt the wax using your double boiler. Use the thermometer to determine the temperature. Keep it on a temperature recommended by the manufacturer (about 145 to 150 degrees). If you want to use additives like dyes or coloring, mix it in the melted wax. Use a wooden spoon as a stirrer to mix all the ingredients.

After the wax is prepared, you now dip the wicks. You will find equipment that holds your wick while you dip it in the pot of melted wax for a few seconds. Repeat this until you have the desired thickness of your taper candles.  (Note: Look for taper candle dipping molds or taper candle dipping systems at your favorite candle supply store.)

Then let the candles cool completely after dipping. After cooling the candles, then you can light it up and enjoy its wonderful beauty and its aroma.

As you can see, beeswax candle making is relatively easy, and with a dose of creativity, you can use multiple colors or cut different designs to give them a unique look. If you have not tried using beeswax you are in for a great surprise.  There is no feeling quite like enjoying the soft glow and smell of a natural beeswax candle.

Candles make perfect gifts.  Candles are perfect presents for any occasion; consider them for Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother’s or Father’s Day, Halloween, bridal showers, weddings, new homes; the list is endless.

Soy candle wax is made from renewable, natural ingredients. Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil, burns cleaner and longer than the petroleum based paraffin wax.  Michael Richards invented soy wax in 1992.  Richards wanted to find an alternative for the more expensive beeswax and tested different natural plant waxes. He ended up with vegetable waxes made from soybean oil, coconut oil and palm oil. He also blended beeswax with soy wax to make a clean natural wax candle, with an amazing smell and easier to work with.  It was discovered that soy wax mixes well with fragrance (essential oils) to produce natural scented candles, used in aromatherapy candles.

There are those that prefer making soy candles over using other candle wax.  Here are some benefits of working with soy candle wax:

1. Soy wax candles are reasonably priced to make. Beeswax, another renewable natural wax, however is more expensive to work with.  The soy bean is a great renewable source and easy to produce.
2. Soy candles are natural. It does not emit carbon dioxide when it burns, like petroleum products do.
3. Soy candles produce less ash. Ash is unhealthy and dirty.  Soy candles produce approximately 90% less ash than paraffin candles.
4. Soy candles last longer. Since the soy beans undergo a hydrogenation process; this process makes the candle harder and last longer than paraffin candles.  A soy candle stores for long periods of time in a controlled, cool environment.  Because of the hardness of the candle, you can use it even on a hot day.
5. Wax spills are easy to clean up, using hot soapy water.

I hope you see why soy candles are so popular.  The process to make soy candles actually is simple.  You need soy wax, a mold or container, a thermometer, a wick, some scent and dye (or color), a stirrer and a double boiler.

Basically, melt the soy wax in a double boiler. While you are melting your wax, preheat your mold or container so that it is ready to pour wax into it.  Once your wax starts to melt (using your thermometer to get the right melting point), stir in the scent and dye.  Use the stirrer to mix it so that the color and scent are all mixed in.

Prepare your wick. Hold the wick in the center of the mold or container. Once your wax is ready, pour it in the mold or container slowly and carefully.  Allow your candle to cool and then trim your wick!

There you go. You’re done with your soy candle.  It really doesn’t sound hard, does it?  The trick is to prepare all your ingredients and supplies ahead of time so that you are working in a smooth rhythm.  Once you make your first candle, you will be hooked at how easy it is to make!

To make it a perfect gift, wrap a ribbon with an artificial flower glued on the outside of the container. Or place it in a box or in a gift basket.

Now that you know all about soy candle wax and how easy it is, enjoy making your very own soy candle!

Soy wax is made from the soybean – which is a all natural, American product.  Remember that any candle emits smoke, but soy wax does not burn the black soot that paraffin wax candles do.  Soy candles have a lighter soot, almost white in color.

Once you are ready to try making soy candles at home, you will find other than the wax, the process is much the same.  You will use your existing double boiler.  A double boiler is the safest way to melt soy wax.  Using your thermometer, monitor the temperature to around 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.  (Candle making tip: once you reach this temperature, do keep it that hot for any length of time or you will end up with a yellowish candle.)  Once the wax is fully melted add your color and mix well.

Next take the wax off of the heat source to add your scent.  Let it cool to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.  Scent and soy wax works well together.  At first, be careful not to add too much scent.  The general rule of thumb is to add 5 to 7 percent fragrance by volume of weight.  Translated: 7% is a little more than 1 ½ ounces per pound of essential oils.  (Candle making tip: if your candles have beads of moisture when you are all done, you may have too much scent – it will bleed through to the outside of the candle.)

Pour your wax (with color and scent) into your preheated molds.  The temperature of the wax should be no less than 95 degrees.  (Candle making tip: never try to speed up the cooling process by putting the molds in water!  Your candle will crack – this also happens when you pour your wax into the molds when the temperature has dropped below the 95 degree mark.)

You will discover a few differences between soy and paraffin wax candles.  One, soy wax candles are softer and may not work for some types of candles. The larger pillar candles and taper candles work better with paraffin wax.  Paraffin candles work best in really hot weather so you would want to make sure to store your soy candles in a very dry, cool place.

Now that you have made paraffin candles, you are ready to try your hand at making soy candles. Don’t be afraid to experiment to see what types of soy candles end up being your favorites.  Learn how to work with the color and scents to make truly elegant soy candles.

You set the mood of any room or house by simply lighting a candle, the soft glow, the alluring smell that fills the air.  If you want a romantic ambience, there are dozens of essential oils to choose from.  You are going to love working and experimenting with scents; because once you do your first scented candle, you are hooked!

How do I know what scent to add?

Finding essential oil to work with is the easiest part, selecting the scent will be more difficult.  My solution; just try them all!  The supply is unlimited, either through your local craft store or online.  You will want to use the oil based scents, as your wax is oil based instead of water based fragrances, hence, oil and water don’t mix.  You don’t want to be left with all your scent floating to the bottom of your candle, or as your candle burns, to have pockets of scent ruining it.

The rule of thumb with adding scents is less is better.  If you were mixing a pound of wax (16 oz.) you would never want to add more than one ounce of essential oil to your batch.  I like to start out with a smaller amount, and work my way up to the full ounce.  I have a very sensitive nose, so I am very conservative on the amount of essential oils that I use.

When do I add the scent?

Choosing the type of wax is important.  Soy, palm or beeswax mix great with essential oils.  Paraffin is another wax that mixes well with scents, especially if you are just beginning.  Gel wax will work with the higher density, but you have to work with the right percentages.  Your recipe will give you guidelines for adding the right amount of scent. Then experiment to see what you like best.

The process is the same for making scented candles as regular ones.  Melt the wax, using your double boiler or wax melting pot, closely watching the temperature.  Then you cool it to the temperature that the recipe suggests to add the scent, mixing it thoroughly with the wax.  Have your container or mold ready to go, and then place your wick. Gently pour your wax into your mold or container.  Position your wick and cool.

Keep a Record

It is a good idea to keep a record of the recipe – so that you can go back and make notes about your finished candle.  I like to take a picture, especially if I’m making a new type of candle.

Making scented candles is fun and easy.  Finding the right colors and scents to consistently make your favorite candles is so rewarding.  Once you feel comfortable making your candles, you will start to give them as gifts.  Last year, by sisters and I all agreed that all our presents for Christmas was going to be homemade.  I have to tell you, my scented candles were a hit!

See!  I told you making scented candles is easy.  Now it’s up to you. Experiment and have fun with designing the right candle for the right situation. Let me know how you do!

The candle mold holds the hand poured wax until it cools and sets up.  Once it has cooled completely, your candle retains the shape of your mold.  Be sure to look for durable, reusable molds.  Here is a brief rundown of the different types and uses of candle making molds

Aluminum molds are a popular choice. They are reasonably priced, durable and heat resistant.  They are also easy to clean up after each use.  After you finish, all you have to do is place these molds upside down (on a lined cookie sheet) in a warm oven (150°F) and the wax melts right off.  These are popular molds for making votive, pillar and floating candles. You can get these in round, square and octagon shapes and many different sizes.

Latex molds are so flexible you will need to take care that they don’t tip over.  Create a stand, usually made of card board, for safety purposes.  The best way to use a latex mold, once you are more experienced, is to create your own.  This is actually an easy process.  Basically, you paint latex onto a candle model right at home.  This will take many layers to create your handmade mold.

Metal molds have a history of long life and fast cooling rate.  Most metal molds are for cylinder shaped candles (votive and pillar candles), giving a smooth appearance.

Plastic molds are the most reasonably priced, but not the highest in quality.  They do not last as long as many of the other molds.  There is a great variety to choose from.  For the beginner candle maker, this is a great way to perfect your technique, still enjoying the candles that you make.  The cleanup is easy, warm soapy water and you are back in business.  (Note: Just make sure that your plastic molds are completely dry before you use them again or you may get water bubbles in your candle.)

Polyurethane is another kind of mold, however, they have a strong odor, which may be passed along to your beautiful candles and you will also have to add a releasing agent.  Favorite molds are for tealight candles, pillar, taper molds, and beeswax candles. These specialty molds also have unique shapes, like animals, that are one piece with slits on the side

Silicone molds are the top of the price range.  They have the highest quality, leaving no seams on your candles.  Their flexibility allows you to release your candles after cooling without any releasing agents.   Once you determine your favorite design of candle, these molds are worth the investment.  Silicone is especially suited for making your pillar and taper candles.

Whatever the type of mold you choose for making a candle, the selection is great.  Try all different kinds so that you can find which candle making molds you like best.

You should already have the right equipment from making the paraffin candles.  The process is almost identical, except the temperature of the molten wax.  Here is an overview of the easy instructions for making beautiful aromatherapy soy candles.

First, decide on the type of candle you want to make so that you can calculate the amount of soy wax flakes you will need.  For example, if you were going to make votive candles, each one requiring 2 oz. of wax, a pound could make 8 candles.  Prepare your candle molds, making sure they are clean and dry.

Next you melt the soy wax using the double boiler system. Stir the wax while it melts.  At this point, you will want to add your color, a candle dye, stirring the wax with a wire whisk or a chop stick until evenly distributed.  Remove from the double boiler to let it cool.

Now you are ready to add your fragrance.  If you are using the pound of wax, you would want to add one and a half ounces of essential oils for your fragrance.  Let it cool to 125°F – stirring the fragrance for at least 2 minutes to fully bond to the wax.

Warm your votive molds in a warm oven, around 100°F, to prepare them for the wax.  Slowly lower the wax temperature to 115°F.  When the wax is ready, use your pot pour to hand pour each mold to within ½ inch from the top.  Pour slowly and evenly, avoiding bubbles.

It’s time to place the wick.  Slowly lower the wick to the bottom of the mold, keeping the wick straight and centered.  Leave the candle to completely cool, about 5 to 6 hours.  Gently tug on the wick and the candle should come out easily from its mold.

Here is one last thought; a special note about aromatherapy soy candles.  Experiment with different essential oils until you find one that you really like.  Different fragrances have different effects on us.

Consider using a combination of essential oils to:

• Cool and refresh, especially in hot weather, use spearmint, peppermint or palmarosa
• Relax, reduce stress, use lavender, rosewood or rose geranium
• Woodsy smell, use Rosewood, Cedarwood or Ylang Ylang
• Soft, Sensual mood, use Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang and Veltiver

There are over 100 essential oils.  Finding the fragrances that you enjoy can make your aromatherapy soy candles truly elegant and delightful.

The candle mold holds the hand poured wax until it cools and sets up.  Once it has cooled completely, your candle retains the shape of your mold.  Be sure to look for durable, reusable molds.  Here is a brief rundown of the different types and uses of candle making molds

Aluminum molds are a popular choice. They are reasonably priced, durable and heat resistant.  They are also easy to clean up after each use.  After you finish, all you have to do is place these molds upside down (on a lined cookie sheet) in a warm oven (150°F) and the wax melts right off.  These are popular molds for making votive, pillar and floating candles. You can get these in round, square and octagon shapes and many different sizes.

Latex molds are so flexible you will need to take care that they don’t tip over.  Create a stand, usually made of card board, for safety purposes.  The best way to use a latex mold, once you are more experienced, is to create your own.  This is actually an easy process.  Basically, you paint latex onto a candle model right at home.  This will take many layers to create your handmade mold.

Metal molds have a history of long life and fast cooling rate.  Most metal molds are for cylinder shaped candles (votive and pillar candles), giving a smooth appearance.

Plastic molds are the most reasonably priced, but not the highest in quality.  They do not last as long as many of the other molds.  There is a great variety to choose from.  For the beginner candle maker, this is a great way to perfect your technique, still enjoying the candles that you make.  The cleanup is easy, warm soapy water and you are back in business.  (Note: Just make sure that your plastic molds are completely dry before you use them again or you may get water bubbles in your candle.)

Polyurethane is another kind of mold, however, they have a strong odor, which may be passed along to your beautiful candles and you will also have to add a releasing agent.  Favorite molds are for tealight candles, pillar, taper molds, and beeswax candles. These specialty molds also have unique shapes, like animals, that are one piece with slits on the side

Silicone molds are the top of the price range.  They have the highest quality, leaving no seams on your candles.  Their flexibility allows you to release your candles after cooling without any releasing agents.   Once you determine your favorite design of candle, these molds are worth the investment.  Silicone is especially suited for making your pillar and taper candles.

Whatever the type of mold you choose for making a candle, the selection is great.  Try all different kinds so that you can find which candle making molds you like best.

With any handmade candle, the wax is most important ingredient.  The innovations in candle wax are amazing, even over the last 100 years.  There are many different kinds of candle making wax that you can choose from.  Here is a breakdown of the more popular candle wax used today.

Paraffin wax: The vast majority of candle wax today is a highly refined petroleum product, the paraffin wax candle.  The more refined the wax, the higher the quality of candle. The availability and economical cost is the reason why it’s the most commonly used wax today.   We suggest that you use paraffin wax at first until you become familiar with working with wax as a medium.

These candles have an odorless smoke, but do have some soot.  The melting point tells you how refined the paraffin wax is.  It should be between 121° F to 160° F.  Anything below that is called slack (less refined) and of poor candle making quality.

As you become more experienced, you will learn at what temperature the molten wax is best, how long to cool before pouring into a mold, and for the type of candle you are making.  Work with paraffin wax that already has additives mixed in.  Steariac, for example, aids a candle in retaining its shape even during warm weather.  Another additive might be vybar, which enhances the addition of scents in some candles.

Soy wax: Soy candle wax is fast becoming very popular. Soy candles burn slower with less soot than a paraffin wax candle.  Soy’s properties are sung due to being good for the environment and are a product of the United States.  Soy candles last twice as long as paraffin wax candles.  They also have less soot, as well as, the ease of adding scent and color to the melted wax.  This wax melts at temperature of 155°F.  You will find yourself quickly moving up to working with soy wax.

Beeswax: You are going to love working with beeswax, not only for the ease of working with it, but the smell and that golden glow.  The rate of burn of a beeswax candle is much slower and cleaner than both paraffin and soy candles.  Because of their purity, for centuries, this is the only candle making wax that is used in many churches.  When burned, beeswax candles emit negative ions that actually clean the air.  OK, back to the wax.  Beeswax comes as a solid or in sheets.  The sheets are great for rolled candles.  Once you learn this technique – they will be your favorite!  You have to be careful to watch the temperature closely.  The melting range is 144 to 147° F.  If you heat to 185° F or above, discoloration occurs.

Bayberry wax: This wax is made from the berries on the bayberry tree, grown predominately in the New England states.  The wax is brittle and may acquire a white powder on your candle after several months in storage.  It is important to store these candles in a cool, dry place to protect their shape.  The appeal of the bayberry wax is the distinctive natural scent.  Due to the rarity of this wax, it is very expensive, typically with a natural olive green color.  The process to get the wax is to simply boil bayberries, skimming off the wax, after is has risen to the top of the water.  Dating back to the colonial times, these candles were used only around Christmas and the Holidays and saved for special occasions.

Gel wax: Gel candle wax is really a mineral oil mixed with an agent that makes it thicken.  The mixture of 5% polymer resin and the rest is mineral oil.  Gel candle wax can catch fire, so temperature control is of the utmost importance.  Gel candle wax is available at your craft store in convenient buckets.  The appeal is that you can add nonflammable decorative items to personalize your candle.  The melting temperature of gel candle wax is 190° F.  It looks more like syrup than melted wax.  If you use this wax for candle projects with children, become very familiar with how to work with this wax before you include children.  The great thing about gel wax is if you don’t like it – it’s easy to re-melt it and start all over again.  (Note: Good decorative items are glass, rocks, seashells and pottery, and used as a container candle. Never, ever, try to melt this wax in the microwave oven!)

Palm wax: Palm wax is another wax that is clean burning and lasts a long time.  It is eco-friendly, with little to no soot.  It is not a by product of petroleum and is another natural agent.  The final product is very hard, hence the slow burn, making it a great candle for the hot summer months.  You will get a candle that is hard, dry surface, smooth and is stable.  Palm oil melts at 199 to 203° F.

Palm oil is processed very much like olive oil, stream pressed; the end result is a flaked, hard white wax.  When combining the palm wax with scents and color, they mix well due to the natural minerals in the palm wax.  Because of the crystalline structure, there is a beautiful play of light and color when lit.  This is an expensive wax to purchase, but once you are experienced, they make elegant candles. (Note: Palm wax is an excellent choice for pillar and container candles.)

Wax can come in chunks, beads, sheets and blocks.  You can find wax that already has color in it.  As you explore the different kinds of candle making wax, you will discover your favorite.

A special note; get in the habit of keeping a journal.  In the journal, record your recipe, the amount of wax used, the exact amount of color and scent and be sure to keep a record of your best candles.  Take a picture!  Follow instructions closely.  This will document your journey to becoming a candle making expert!  Enjoy!