Creating your own beauty products is one of the coolest things you can do! There are so many ways to create natural, organic looking candles that people are willing to pay good money for. Plus, creating your own products gives you complete control over what ingredients go in them.
Many people begin experimenting with making their own cosmetics due to a desire to reduce waste. Many believe it is important to think before buying then re-using or recycling the product afterwards. Or maybe they just want to try something new!
Making your own cosmetic products is not only fun, but also teaches you about different materials and chemicals. While some ingredients may cost a little more, doing research will help you find alternatives you can use instead.
Know the difference between wick and candle wax
While some people may not agree about what kind of candles are “good”, one thing that you will always notice is that all good candles have either a short or long burn time. The length of burn depends mostly on two things: the type of wax used in the product and the size of the wick that is used in the product.
The type of wax used in the product determines how fast the candle will burn. A longer burning candle uses more expensive waxes that take longer to melt down so it burns for a longer amount of time. These types of candles are also referred to as high quality candles because of this.
A shorter burning candle uses cheaper oils which burn up faster, thus taking less time to completely burn away. These products are much lower quality than the first ones mentioned.
There are different sizes of wicks that candles come with depending on the style of candle they are. Some require a thinner stick whereas others ask for a thicker one. Whichever one you use, make sure they are both stable and able to hold enough liquid to be ignited.
Know the different types of wick
Wicks are the parts of candles that hold the liquid fuel inside the candle. There are three major kind of wick used in making candles: natural, synthetic, and gel.
Natural wicks are usually made of dried-up plants or strips of leather or paper that have been dipped into an oil mixture and then heated until they burn completely. These are typically the most expensive type of wick because they must be sourced and glued onto the stick properly to work.
Synthetic wicks are manufactured materials that are similar to those used for natural wicks. The only difference is that these can be rebranded and repeated use does not require cleaning. They are less expensive than natural wicks but may cause your candle to slowly drown in its own melted wax as they do not self clean.
Gel wicks contain chemicals designed to melt down and soak into the surrounding material. This helps give you more control over how much heat your candle will retain and therefore what time it will last.
Mix your candle wax with something
There are two main things that people usually do not know how to make their own candles. The first is the type of oil used for the hot liquid needed to melt the solid wax. Many use olive or vegetable oil, but there are many other oils you can use.
Many people also don’t realize what kind of container they should use to hold the melted wax once it has cooled down. Some pour the molten wax directly into another container, but this may cause micro-voids in the finished product due to the different densities of the wax. This could affect the burning quality of the candle.
By using a funnel instead, we’re preventing any air bubbles as well as ensuring that none of the excess wax gets left behind. After the wax is cool, simply remove the lid and ta da! A new candle ready to burn away 🙂 __________________
Tip: Don’t eat the wax while it’s warm, let it set in cold water until it hardens which will help prevent any funny smells/sights.
Always use fresh candles
When buying new candle products, make sure they are clear about their ingredients. Does the company list all of the oils along with their quantity? Are these natural oils confirmed safe for use in this product area?
Most importantly, is the wax clearly labeled? If not, do your math and determine what kind of oil it is based off of. For instance, if there’s one stick of butter in a wick set, then it is probably beeswax because only certain types of fats will melt down into liquid.
Never burn anything that doesn’t have an appropriate amount of flame! Some chemicals used in production can explode or combust even though they have been deemed non-flammable.
Sadly, many people lose caution once those chemicals become visible. In fact, some companies add extra additives to enhance the performance of their candles so don’t hesitate to look out for signs of burning, melted down substances.
Always use the correct lighting
When baking with candles, your final product will depend on how you bake them! The type of light used for the recipe makes a difference in what color hue they burn down to.
You want to make sure that there is enough light to help promote even burning, but no more than needed to see all the way through. Too much light can cause the candle to scorch and burn more quickly, while not enough light may result in darker-looking flames or nothing at all.
The kind of light you use also impacts the flavor of the finished product. If the flame is taller and thinner, then there are longer exposures to air which molecules in the air can react with, enhancing the smokey charred taste of some oils. For others, these extra oxygen atoms enhance the smell and/or flavor of the wax being burned. It depends on the style of scent you desire for the candle!
General tips: when baking any solid materials like fruits, vegetables, meats, or other types of oils, put the pan in the oven either under a broiler or preheat the oven to anywhere between 250–350 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on the oil) and let it cook for the appropriate amount of time. This article’s bullet point about using markers as a test run helps here!
Never forget those important rules about never heat a material directly over open flame, nor cut near an opened bottle of chemicals, etc.
Do not burn your candles
Even though it may seem like a quick way to make some new candles, burning them is actually not a good idea. When you burn down a candle, there are several things that can happen. The wick gets burned off, which prevents the candle from drawing enough of a heat source to melt the wax.
This could result in either no flame or a very small flame, which eventually burns out. If this happens, then none of the melted wax will be visible so people won’t know what kind of candle they have!
Also, some ingredients cannot be burnt legally unless you get special permission. This includes oils and chemicals such as alcohols, glycerin, and polyethylene plasticizers. Having a fake fire when making candles would likely violate these rules.
Your smoke meter should tell you how many cigarettes you need to balance a table setting with, but never balancing more than one candle per person. Also, do not breathe in any of the smoke of the candle while it is burning because of possible health issues.
Keep your candles away from small children
When baking, mixing or crafting homemade products, there is always a risk of exposure to allergens. Allergies can be fun to learn about, but for people with sensitive skin or severe allergies, it may not be the best experience.
Candle making supplies contain many different types of chemicals that help create the perfect candle. Some of these chemicals are known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals. As such, before using any new supply pack, test one drizzle onto an area of your hand that has never been exposed to a chemical before. If you feel uncomfortable, wash your hands!
There are several ways to use recycled materials to make your own beauty products. Many companies offer free resources online and in stores to teach how to do this. By educating yourself on recipes and processes, you will know what ingredients are safe to use.
Use candles properly
When using a candle, it is important to read the label first and make sure you understand what kind of product you have before lighting it. For example, if there are words for natural oils like coconut or olive oil, make sure those are identified before placing the candle close to other materials or surfaces.
Never use a new wax stick until it has been used at least twice because new candles may not burn as well due to possible chemical reactions with the melted down old wick. If your candle does not feel solid and smooth when pressed down, then it has not yet hardened completely which could cause a fire!
Always keep your candles in a protected area where air can circulate around them. Never leave a burning candle unattended unless it is in a safe place.