candle making

You can make candles now using soy wax, which is much easier to use than paraffin wax as you can melt it in the microwave. There are a lot of kits on ebay to make soy wax tarts, these are the little candles that you put in an oil burner, so there is no need for a wick. These might be a good place to start. Any other questions - just ask!

melissa75 wrote: »

Juneno - do you make any money selling yours?? I listed some little wax tarts on ebay once, sold for about £2. I worked out that I probably had made a loss after taking into account postage, fees and cost of materials!!!!! I really enjoyed making them, I haven't done it for a while now. I got a bit discouraged as a few batches didn't turn out well - the dye hadn't melted properly, so there was darker splodges at the bottom of the candle.
I also wasn't sure about the quality of mine - the scent lasting after several burns. But I recently bought some yankee candle wax tarts and found that after only a few burns the fragrance didn't last, whereas mine seemed to last longer. I bought a silicone muffin mould from Home Bargains that I really want to use, but I need to use wicks, (never used them before), have you got any advice on how to do it, or where to get cheap wicks from?? Ta in advance!

Hi Melissa!
I do make a bit of cash from the odd craft fair and selling to friends and family. I've just built a website for the candles and horseshoes, so we'll see if that brings anything in - but it's really difficult to get traffic so that's my next problem. I get a lot of my stuff from FullMoons Cauldron and Sensory Perfection. Nice stuff and good prices.
You're right about the scented candles - they don't last long. The shop bought ones are only dipped into scented wax so the core of the candle or melt is just normal wax - they don't tell you that! - so the fragrance burns off quite quickly.
I know what you mean - they don't all turn out the way they're supposed to! I just burn the ones that don't so I get a use of them. You just have to keep trying really. Make sure the wax has melted properly and don't let it get too cool before you pour. Tap the side of the mould once you've poured to get rid of air bubbles.
Wicks are easy enough to use. Just dip the wick into the wax a couple of times then thread it through the hole in your muffin mould, seal round the wick and the hole with blu tack or plasticine (you can get a special sealer if you want) then turn it up so the hollow mould is uppermost. Then get a wicking pin and stick it through the wick, level with the edges of the mould to keep it straight - then pour!
Google candle making tutorials and you should find some stuff.
PM me if you want to know anything in great detail, as this is turning into an epic!
Cheers,
June x

Hi Melissa,
Not allowed to post a link unfortunately, either here or in PM but if you PM me your everyday email address, I'll send you the website link.
Glad you're going to try again. You can always sell on Etsy or Ebay again or take some of your stuff into your local shops on a sell or return basis? Or build yourself a website! If I can do it anyone can!! Mine is not brilliant but it's a start and I'm more confident now to go on to perhaps pay for a proper domain name and hosting.
happy candling!
cheers,
June x

finc wrote: »

Or you could add it as your homepage in your profile

Ooo, you clever person!! Never thought of that

Done now! Thanks!

June x