Candles used to be used for light, and nothing else, but over the decades that has changed, and candles are now used to decorate rooms, to add delicious scents to a room, and to add a certain atmosphere too. Candlelight is used to make a setting seem more romantic, as it hides blemishes in its flickering light. In this article, we shall cover some of the uses of candles, some candle tips, and how to make your own candles too.
It used to be that candles were merely a source of light, with a tiny bit of warmth too from the flame, but they did provide some comfort from the warm glow that they gave to a room. In those days there was no other lighting source at night. Since then huge advances have been made in the world, allowing whole cities to be lit up regularly night after night, so the need for candles did decline.
But in time, it was realized that candles still had a value. Our cities did not always stay lit and candles were and still are used as backup for power cuts, and it is reassuring to know that, should we lose power in our homes, and the batteries in flashlights not work either, then we can still have light, courtesy of candle power.
However, the recent surge in candle sales is not due to emergency needs, but rather to the attractiveness of the various candles that are available these days. Candles have become works of art, many of them too intricate and attractive to ever be lit and burned. But of those that are, we now have candles that are better for our health as they burn than the candles of old, and we also have aromatherapy candles whose scent helps us relax, or become invigorated, depending on its aroma.
So let’s take a look first at what candles are made of these days. We now have a choice for our candles. Paraffin wax candles are still available, but we can also purchase soy candles, made from soy bean wax, or make our own beeswax candles, or gel candles, we do have a choice these days. The beeswax candles have a very pleasant smell already, whereas soy and gel candles can have any scent added to them to make them more appealing.
If you are at all concerned about using up the earth’s resources, then you need to stop buying paraffin candles and paraffin wax – and they do produce a lot of soot which is not good for your lungs. On the other hand, soy candles use a renewable resource, soy beans which can be easily grown in many different locations, and one that burns much cleaner, and is far better for our health than the paraffin wax candles. At least nowadays we do have a choice of the kind of candles we light.
Pillar candles, votive candles, or gel candles are all easy to make candles, and give good results. There are many options, and perhaps the best way to start is probably to purchase a starter kit for candle making as this will have all the supplies you need to begin. When you are comfortable with the process of candle making, and you have a little more experience, it is easy to branch out and get candle making supplies based around your own ideas and creativity.
If you are hoping to customize your candles with trinkets and the like, then you need to look for candle gel through which you will be able to see the various objects that you have placed there. The trinkets you use in your candles should not be flammable, so you reduce the chance of accidents with your candles. You could use a small amount of glue to stick them to the inside of the jar you are using for your gel candle, so that your design is as planned, and doesn’t change as you add the gel. One of the advantages of gel, is the wide range of different colors that you can use, creating some wonderful candles.
Now the use of aromatherapy essential oils to provide a scent for your candles is entirely your choice. However, do make sure you get the essential oils, rather than using any other scent.The essential oils will provide a scent whenever the candle is lit, and is designed to mix well with any wax that you use for them. You may choose to use an essential oil that promotes relaxation, or perhaps one to help you sleep. You have a wide variety of options, just make sure that you know which is which before you light a candle with the wrong aroma for the mood you are trying to create!
Don’t be too upset if you do end up with wax on your carpet – accidents do happen, and you will be able to remove it quite easily. This is easy to do by placing a paper towel on the carpet with the wax on it, and then using a warm iron, not hot, run the iron over the top of the towel. It will melt the wax, and the paper towel will absorb the wax.
To extinguish candles without causing the wax to splatter, hold your index finger in front of the flame, not too close, and gently blow onto your finger. This causes the air to go around your finger, blows out the flame, but the molten wax will not spatter – a very useful tip. I’ve also found that this method causes less smoke too.
If you want your candles to last longer, then put them in the fridge for an hour or so first. Wrap them individually in foil or cling wrap to keep the wick dry, and also to reduce any scents transferring from the candles to your food. Candles should not be frozen, just chilled, as freezing could cause them to break.
And that is about all for now. This should give you the chance to look at candles in a whole different light!
Many people have written about the topic of candles and their place in the world today, but none have written quite like this author Steve Jackson. Browse the site candles-alight.com where you can find plenty of useful information all about candles, how to make your own, what to use and various tips like making candles last longer.
