Yankee Candle Jar recycling

Merrywidow

Never heard of an infra red laser digital thermometer - sounds very grand - you need one that stands in the wax and records the temperature. Cinnamon is always great, you could mix with apple which is my personal favourite. Not up to date with Candle Maker's supply stock - will check them out and report back. Pine is great too. All depends on what your own taste is.

annie_d

u just point them at the pan and it tells u the temp of the contents ( Husband is obsessive cook who loves a gadget )
I am not good at expressing my taste. Not citrus or "sea" or fruit. Just homely. Holly Berry, that sort of thing.

Cinnamon and apple sounds like a good start. I am so glad i met you!

Merrywidow

Annie - be very careful with essential oils - wax reacts very violently to anything containing water, once tried - never repeated - trust me when wax is angry it spits and burns. Stick to Candle Makers supplies - you say you have lots of T-Lights! I was married to a Dutchman and lived in Holland for 30 years. My candlemaking started as a hobby and when we moved back to England in 1989, T-lights were unheard of here. In Holland they have warmer units that use tea lights to keep the glass tea pot warm. We used to load the car boot with thousands of T-lights on each trip as I developed and marketed floating candles using the wick and supports from the T-Lights. The customs at Dover must have thought we were nutters, they were always perplexed at the amount of T-Lights we imported. My floating candles were an instant hit and unique. I bought tiny cake tins and used the wick and support of the t lights to make the floating candles. Unfortunately they were copied very quickly by the big companies and the rest is history. If you want to know how to make these just shout. What I make and is still unique is wax leaves that also float between the flower candles in a bowl. Something the big companies could not replicate.

Merrywidow

How lucky you are to have a husband who cooks - mine could just about manage a boiled egg. Your laser 'gun' should be ok. Holly Berry is MY fav too - have half left for next Xmas. Glad I met you too - since my husband died only aged 56, I have lost interest in my candle making and most other things but its lovely to be able to share my experience with others who want to learn - it would be a shame to let it do. So feel free to ask questions.

Merrywidow

Annie - just picked up on your "Christmassy" item. Why oh why does everyone wait until Xmas to light a candle. Candles are lovely the whole year round. I light one every night for the scent and atmosphere it brings. For the smokers among you - candles burn smoke. Maybe I am just biased. If you adopt the tea light idea it is not that expensive.

TimBuckTeeth

If using candles in the house make sure you have at least one functioning smoke alarm nearby.

Some types of candle holders can get very hot when the candle burns down, cheap glass holders can even crack. I know someone who has had a candle holder crack and the candle fall onto the carpet, other people have melted the tops of TVs etc.

Floating candles or other types that will safely extinguish when finished are a good idea.

Keep candles on a heatproof non-flammable surface where they can't be knocked, away from children, pets and curtains. Never leave candles unattended or burning when you are likely to fall asleep (tired or drunk).

high-rise_andrew

A tart-warmer by chance lol hth

Merrywidow

Its great that you point out all the hazards of burning a candle, having worked with wax for so many years those mistakes wouldn't occur to me - but of course they happen. My own mother lit a candle on the TV and the wax melted down thru the mesh on the back and junked the set.

As you say floating candles are great, which is why I sold literally thousands when they were in fashion. As a matter of interest do you burn candles all year round or just at Christmas.

mary43

We use candles a lot all year round........with no open fire it gives a focal point to the room other than the tv............low table with a microwave plate, some pebbles and candles of all sizes set on it........looks really cosy in the winter and the scent is lovely.
In the garden we use a lot of tea lights in lanterns or old clay flower pots and a dish of floating candles on the table.

Merrywidow

Good for you Mary - I wish more people were like you. I have lost count of the number of candles I have seen in other people's houses, covered in a layer of dust and just used for decoration. Tip -chill the water for your floating candles and they will burn longer.