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Candles From A-Z

By: Catherine Olivia

Making candles is a fun hobby enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide. It can also be a very lucrative hobby for some. Some very large candle companies are those that started out as a part-time hobby. The best thing about candle making is that you don't have to spend a fortune to start. Unlike some other hobbies that require special equipment or accessories when you are making candles you can use unscented wax and whatever type of bottles you may have around the house. Most start small, and once they get the feel they start experimenting with different types of wax and with fragrances.

Candle making is an easy thing to learn how to do along with being a great way to express your artistic abilities. From the choice of wax to the choice of candle shape, color and fragrance it's all in your hands. Homemade candles make wonderful gifts for family and friends or birthdays, holidays or special occasions. If you know your best friends favorite scent is lavender wouldn't it be wonderful to make her a lavender scented candle in a container that you know matches the theme of her home? She would love it.

Don't fret though, if you don't want to become a candle maker you can still easily find quality scented candles online with easy online searches. You may actually be amazed at the number you find. It's become very hip and chic to buy expensive scented candles. No longer does just bayberry or cinnamon or ocean mist scented candles fit the bill. Although these are still popular today as with everything there are now designer scented candles. Diptyque is one brand. They have very sophisticated and complex fragranced candles. Diptyque candles are available in scents you've never heard of such as black-currant leaves fig and firewood.

The candles available today come in a wide array of fragrances. The Hollywood set have made Diptyque candles very fashionable. Diptyque makes very high end fragranced candles in fragrances that are quite surprising like firewood and fig, orange tree and sweet pea, linden tree and tuberose. No ordinary scents like cookie dough, vanilla or pine for Diptyque. These are find made French candles. American candle makers White Barn and Classic Candles ScentSations are also very high quality fragranced candles that don't have the high price tag.

Clear containers candles are a favorite today. You'll find manufacturers like Yankee Candles, White Barn Candles and Classic Candles making container candles. If you like container candles you should have an electric candle warmer. These warmers are a great invention. Plug it in, but your candle on top and let the magic happen. Without flame you candle will release your favorite scent. These electric candle warmers can be kept plugged in for long periods of time and are much safer than having candles lit. Remember though they work by melting the wax, so you must still be careful using them and always keep them well out of the reach of children.

Don't limit yourself to container candles only. There are so many different types of candles available, pillar and tea lights are the most popular, as are tapered candles. There are also many different ways to use these candles to enhance your home. You can buy decorative wall sconces made to hold pillar, taper or tea light candles. Wrought iron candle holders can add a romance and feel of a Spanish castle to your home, or gothic sconces to add an air of mystery or old England.

Some of the most popular quality scented candles on the market today are White Barn Candles and Classic Candles Scentsations Candles. These are modestly priced quality scented candles. Don't be surprised though if you see some brands, such as Diptyque selling at $48.00. There is a big difference in quality of candles between makers. There are different types of wax, such as paraffin and natural soy wax, and then different grades of paraffin wax. Candle making is an art that requires attention to detail as wax must be melted to a specific temperature before fragrance and coloring are added. It must then be cooled to a specific temperature before it can be poured into the container or mold. The choice of wick is important. A quality candle will have a long burn life and will burn evenly and cleanly.

There is also a big difference between quality of fragrances used. More expensive candle makers will use pure fragrances. These pure fragrances are expensive but the scent is unmistakable and clear. Some candle makers use inferior fragrances thereby requiring more. These scents can become muddled and unrecognizable. You may want to stay away from candles that claim to have the strongest scent. They can be overpowering. Most people who purchase fragranced pillar candles are looking for quality scented candles that have subtle fragrances.

Article Source: http://www.health-fitness-for-all.com

Author: Catherine Olivia knows about candles. To learn about candle making tea light candle holdersDiptyque and White Barn candles
This and other unique content candles articles are available with free reprint rights.

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