Soy Candles

Tallow is made from rendered fat from animals.  Beef is the primary source of tallow.  A vegetarian version is available, made from the tallow tree, but its composition is slightly different.  With the many uses of tallow, it is a product in consistent demand. 

Tallow begins with the process of extraction of suet from a carcass.  Suet is hard fat found around the kidneys and other organs.  Suet can be used as it is but the shelf life is very short and it will turn rancid.  Suet contains many impurities.  Rendering the suet produces tallow.  Tallow can be kept for an extended period of time if kept in an airtight container in a cool place. 

Tallow can also be rendered from pigs, horses and sheep.  Tallow is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, has lesser amounts of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.  Due to the composition of fats in tallow it is solid and at room temperature is odorless and tasteless. 

Uses of tallow: fuel, treatment for leather, base for soaps, base for candles, in lubricants and cooking oils.  It can be turned into bio-fuel, used as a food supplement for animals, and is used in leather dressings and waterproofing compounds designed for leather. 

Making tallow at home is possible but messy and smelly.  It is made by cooking diced fat in water, cooling it, straining it to remove impurities, skimming off the top layer of fat which accumulates after a night of chilling.  It is also possible to purchase plain tallow, removing the mess and smell.

Tallow used as a base for candles was used in our past history.  Now as new products have made it easier to make candles, tallow is not used as much.  Soy wax is a relatively new base for making candles.  It is made from the soybean grown in the United States and other countries that produce soybeans.  It is a renewable resource and helps promote the American farm industry.  It is also easy to clean up with just soap and water.  Soy wax can be dyed and scented producing many soy candle fragrances.  Scented soy candles made from only soy wax  are non-toxic, produce little to no soot  and burn 50% longer than paraffin candles.  You can also make and purchase unscented soy candles.

Simply put, votive candle holders are designed to hold votive candles.  The holders come in an array of  sizes and shapes.  The material used to make them can be from metal, wood, stone, glass, or ceramic.  You can find them in home supply stores, from companies who deal in candles and lighting, or even make them yourself. 

A votive candle is a small round pillar candle of standard size, usually 2 inches high by one and a half inches.  They can come in other sizes and shapes also.  A votive candle is used in religious services in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.  They can be made from paraffin, beeswax, soy wax or other waxes.

Candle holders made to hold votives are designed to allow the candle to burn freely without guttering in the wind.  A classic holder is tall and cylindrical with a closed bottom, is made from glass that is clear or colored.  Since the flame is contained in the tall glass holder, making it relatively safe, you can use votives in a large display for parties.  Since a single votive doesn’t give off much light, used in large numbers you will have a nice lighting effect.  A votive candle holder can also be found shaped like a lamp, a candlestick, a candle tray, and a candelabra.  Many holders are versatile and can also hold tea-lights, and taller pillar candles.

For a truly economical and environmentally safe votive candle, try one made of natural soy wax.  Scented soy votive candles are non-toxic and clean up with just soap and water.  They produce little to no soot and burn 50% longer than paraffin wax candles.

Those nubs of left over candle wax in the bottom of the jar are excellent for fire starters.  Simply melt the nubs of candle wax and reuse them.  A great idea is to coat a pine cone with the melted wax by dipping the pine cone into it.  Let it dry and now you have a wonderful fire starter for the fireplace or bonfire outside.  If your nubs were scented, you have a wonderful aroma filling your home as well.

Another use is to take a cardboard egg carton and fill the spaces with dryer lint.  Melt the nubs and pour the wax over the lint in each space.  Let the candle wax harden.  Then cut the egg carton spaces into sections, you will have 12 of them, and use one to start your fire.  Once again if your wax was scented it will give off a pleasing aroma. 

Remember using scented soy wax candles makes good sense.  They are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, produce little to no soot, burn 50% longer than paraffin, come in many fragrances and clean up with just soap and water.  Be sure your nubs are soy wax.

Ever have a candle that won’t burn all the way down and you have wax left in the bottom of the jar?  One reason for this happening is that the wick fell over because there was not enough wax left to support it.  Once the wick is toast the candle won’t ever be able to finish its burn.  Well don’t throw that jar and wax away.  You can reuse them.  Simply fill a pan with water and sit it on the burner to get hot.  Put your candle jar into the water and let the wax get soft.  Remove the jar from the water and then you can easily pry out the wax from the jar. 

Now you have a nub of wax and an empty jar.  If your candle was made of soy wax, your jar can easily be washed out with just soap and water and reused for many creative ideas.  The nub of candle wax if scented can be used in a candle warmer to still melt and give off a pleasing aroma.  If you don’t have a candle warmer, you can place the nub of wax in a dresser drawer to give your clothes a fresh new aroma, or in your closet to freshen it up.  You can even save those nubs and make your own candle, once you have collected enough nubs. 

Not only are soy candles a renewable resource, non-toxic, produce little to no soot, burn longer than paraffin candles, and burn at a lower temperature, now your soy candle nubs are a renewable resource as well.  Who ever thought that there was life left in the candle nubs.  Be creative and see what ideas your nubs might have. 

An unscented candle is just the opposite of a scented candle.  This candle was created for the purpose of not having any fragrance, scent or aroma.  If burning candles is for the only purpose of providing light, then maybe an unscented candle is the best choice.  Unscented candles tend to be less expensive.

For anyone with allergies, unscented candles are the way to go.  Scented candles can cause headaches and breathing problems if you are sensitive to certain scents.  If storing the candles for a period of time, unscented candles will not attach their aroma to the drawer or cupboard being stored in.  Scented candles will leave behind their aroma and will even spread it onto neighboring candles in the same area, leaving a mixed fragrance. 

If you are burning a scented candle and just want additional sizes to accent your decor but not interfere with the fragrance, then adding unscented candles is an option.  When you burn more than one scented candle at a time they can cause an unpleasant aroma as they are fighting each others fragrance.   Unscented candles come in all sizes and shapes, as well as colors.  Having a colored candle, does not mean it has to have fragrance associated with it.  For beginners in candle making, unscented wax is the easiest to use as it is very basic.  Once you have mastered this step, move on to adding dye to make colored candles and then essential oils for fragrances.

You can find unscented wax in different kinds; beeswax, paraffin wax, gel and soy wax are a few.  Soy wax candles can be found scented or unscented.  The benefits of using soy wax candles are: they are non-toxic, a renewable resource, burn 50% longer than paraffin wax, produce little to no soot and clean up with just soap and water.  The natural soy wax also burns at a lower temperature thus reducing the risk of burns from hot candle wax. 

First let’s explain what a scented candle is.  It is made with fragrant oils that are mixed into the wax.  This allows the candle to give off a pleasing aroma when  just sitting or when being burnt.  They can be used in any room of your house.  Keep in mind that you can match the fragrance to the room you want to place it in.  Scented candles can create an atmosphere of peacefulness in your home.  Something to  keep in mind is that some scented candles like incense and paraffin wax give off smoke when being burnt.  Scented soy candles do not do this, as they are made from a natural Eco friendly resource, the soybean.  There are no toxins in soy wax candles or petroleum byproducts to produce the smoke. 

Quality scented soy candles will produce a pleasing aroma when sitting or when being burnt.  A poor quality scented candle will not produce that pleasing aroma once lit.  It will only smell before it is lit.  How do you tell the quality of the scented candle you are about to purchase?  Here are some tips.

1. Look for “triple scented”.  This means the blend of wax used can hold their fragrance oils and not sweat them out.  They use a different blend of wax that can hold 1.5 oz of fragrance oil per pound.  This is 3 times the old standard.  Thus they will produce a pleasing aroma when burnt.
2. Some candle makers use a blend of wax that will hold even more fragrance oil.  They are super scented candles.
3. Look for a candle maker that guarantees their products or will give your money back if not satisfied.

Gourmet scented soy candles come in all shapes and sizes.  Certain fragrances can create a relaxing mood and enhance your well-being.  They can also help with odors in the home.  Popular scents are apple pie, bayberry, cinnamon spice, ocean mist, vanilla, coconut, chocolate, jasmine, caramel and sandalwood.  The list goes on and on for possibilities of scents to enjoy.  Your home will love you when you give it the gift of a scented soy candle!  

Most candles need some type of heat resistant container to hold it in or sit upon.  A candle holder is just that, heat resistant to hold and display your candles.  Many are made out of either glass, metal or cast iron.  They can be used only for a functional stand point, that of holding the candle, thus not being very decorative or can be used to enhance your room decor and be highly decorative in nature.  They come in all sizes and shapes to fit the candles of your choice.  You can even search for your favorite colors in a candle holder.  They can hold one or even more than one candle as a candelabra.  They can sit on the table or even mount on the wall if using a wall sconce.  Some holders have patterns on the outside that project onto the wall as the candle is burning inside it. 

When using soy candles, your candle holder is easy to clean after the candle is all burnt.  When using candle holders that come with a soy wax candle inside, save that beautiful container for some other use when done.  Don’t throw that beautiful container away.  You can use it again, as soy wax is easy to clean up with just soap and water.  Be sure and maintain candle safety when burning your soy candles so that you can truly enjoy your candle experience.

The purpose of a candle warmer is to heat up scented candles without using a flame.  The warmer is plugged into electricity.  There are advantages to using a candle warmer.  The scent produced by the candle when used in a warmer, is more pure and crisp since there is no burning soot to interfere with the scent.  When you are done with the candle simply unplug the warmer and avoid the after smell of the extinguished flame.  The entire candle will be utilized in your warmer.  When there is a flame the candle sometimes burns through the middle and you have wasted candle.  In a warmer the candle will last longer as it burns more slowly.  The very bottom of the candle will also be melted.  When burning with a flame the bottom portion often times can’t be burnt.  Sometimes the warmer will have a built in fan to help spread the aroma more efficiently.  They are designed to be quiet.

Using a candle warmer prevents soot making it environmentally friendly.  It is also better for the health of those in the home since there is no burning of smoke byproducts.  For this reason, aromatherapy candles are often used in a warmer.  There is no danger of fire from a flame, or worry about the candle being knocked over.  Since you are not lighting the candle but just plugging the warmer in, there is no chance of being burnt by the flame.  

Soy tart melts are a great way to introduce a pleasing aroma into your home with the use of a candle warmer.  The warmer and the soy tart melts are Eco friendly.  They are a renewable resource being made from soy wax which is made from soybeans.  You can mix your melts to create your own personal scent or simply use one scent at a time.  When your melts are gone, your warmer is easy to clean with just soap and water, and your warmer is ready for a new set of soy tart melts.    

Be sure your workspace is clear and clean.  If using essential oils or fragrances be aware of any warnings listed on them.  Candle wax when melted can burn you, even though it does not boil.  Soy wax has a lower melting point and is less likely to burn.  When candle wax becomes to hot it will start to smoke.  Turn off the burner, remove the wax from the heat source and cover it with a lid.  Do not pour water on hot candle wax!  It is a good idea to have a fire extinguisher close by, just in case.  Never leave hot wax unattended, pets or children could get into it and get burnt.  Following these simple safety tips will allow your candle making to be fun and enjoyable.

Candle jars are as versatile as the stars in the sky.  They come in all shapes and sizes and materials.  They are among some of most attractive holders for candles and make lovely room accessories for the home or gifts for loved ones.  In making your own candles you have a great deal of choice in choosing what container you can use.  Be creative!  Metal tins, glass jars, whimsical looking containers the list is unending.  The glass can be clear, colored, textured, apothecary jars, jelly or Mason jars, square or round jars.  Tins can be round, square, rectangular or hexagonal.  Provided the container you use is heat safe and leak proof, almost any container will work for your candle.

There are various candle molds also available for use in making and shaping your candles.  They range from metal candle molds to any container lined with wax, as an old clean milk carton.  Aluminum molds are popular due to their durability, heat resistance, and are seamless.  If you want to save money in making your candles, then use any wax lined materials you have on hand.  The great thing about them is they are recyclable.

There are many methods availabe in making candles, depending on your mold or container being used.  Using candle containers or jars are the easiest.  You must select what type of wax you prefer to use.  The three most popular types are paraffin wax, soy wax, and beeswax.  Paraffin can get messy to work with while soy wax is easily cleaned up with soap and water.  Beeswax is produced from honeybees and comes in sheets so there is no need for melting, simply wrap it around a wick and press to seal.