Candle ingredients are the core of any candle making activity. The quality of the end product depends on the kind of ingredients used in the preparation. These include the kind of wax, wick, dye, and scented oil.
Wax
The most important candle ingredient is the wax. You can choose from beeswax, soybean wax, vegetable and paraffin wax. The more common and most basic type is the paraffin wax. These are the kind that you see in churches and religious gatherings. Today, there is a direction toward using environment friendly wax and the more common choice is soy wax. This is environment friendly because it does not emit carbon dioxide as it burns and its soot is minimal compared to using paraffin wax. If you prefer to prepare a scented candle, you should not use beeswax. This kind of wax does not blend well with oil. The candle ingredients that you choose depend on the type of candle that you will make.
Dye
Although dyes may be considered as optional candle ingredients, they have a significant effect on the appeal of a candle. The choice of color and the blend that colors make can create an impact on your output. With careful blending of colors as you melt your wax, you can achieve a rainbow effect, a striking color or a simplistic effect on your candle. Depending on the type of wax, you can use an oil based or chemical based dye. Choose the colors that you want, blend with a whisk and the color will be evenly distributed as your wax melts.
Wicks
The wicks are what make candles burn. These basic candle ingredients should also be carefully placed in your candle moulds to ensure that they will work as expected when you burn your candles. Wicks differ in terms of thickness and strength. The thicker the wick, the stronger the flames will be. Although you would want strong flames for your candles, there is an appropriate size of wick for every candle size. The smaller candles require thin wicks.
Fragrance Oil
Just like dyes, scented fragrance oils can also be considered as optional candle ingredients. However, with the growing popularity of aromatherapy, as used in spas and massage centers, the need for scented oils in candles also increases. When you put scented oils in the wax, you have to control and regulate them because if you put too much, your candles will turn out strong scented and can defeat the purpose of aromatherapy when burned.
Moulds
These are the basis of the appearance of your candles. The more creative you are in designing and choosing these candle ingredients, the more attractive and unique your product will be. You should choose the more artistic moulds to make appealing candles.
Now that you know the important candle ingredients that can contribute to the quality of your candles, you should be guided by the tips in preparing and choosing the right ingredients for your great-looking candles.