Finding Comfort in Candle Making
Human beings enjoy being comfortable. We want to feel at ease with our surroundings.
From the time that we are young, we seek to be comfortable in all situations and express our discomfort, often quite loudly, when we are not at ease.
Many children have stuffed animals that provide a great deal of comfort to them. Other children have blankets that drag along behind them, providing them solace.
As an adult, however, the things that comfort us are no longer toys and blankets. We become more mature and leave behind many of the cherished items of our childhood.
Instead, we find comfort and peace in certain smells and certain other things. So, if it was not the toy itself that comforted you, what was it about the stuffed animal that reassured you?
We take comfort in that which is familiar. New things and circumstances cause us to have anxiety.
So it is that a smell that reminds you of the home you grew up in can assure you that all is well. Filling your own home with the smells of your childhood can help you to connect the past with the future.
Finding the right scent can be difficult. When you find it, though, you will want it around you whenever possible.
Continuously purchasing scented candles can be burdensome to a budget over time. To avoid the strain of these costs you can try making your own candles.
There are a few items you will need in order to make your candle. Purchase some wax which you will melt down to make your candle.
Paraffin wax is readily available at many craft supply shops. There is also a type of wax specifically used for candle making that you can buy if you so desire.
A standard candle will take about a pound of wax to produce. Be sure that you have the right amount for the size of candle you want to produce.
Obviously you will need a mold into which to pour the wax. Like the wax, molds can be found at a craft supply shop.
To melt down the wax, you will need a pot. Make sure the pot has a handle so that you can easily lift it off from a heat source.
When you get the wax and mold, you can also get a wax or candy thermometer. This will come in handy when determining that the wax has reached the proper temperature for pouring.
Of course, a candle just wouldn’t be a candle without a wick. Make sure that you pick up a candle wick when you obtain the rest of your supplies.
The scent and color of the candle are produced by adding ingredients to the wax. Scent in liquid form is more difficult to work with than scent in a solid form.
Liquid scent does, however, produce a more vibrant aroma that endures for quite a while. Choosing which ingredients to use is purely up to you.
Once you have all of the requisite items, you are ready to begin. Locate a heat source, one that you can clean after the process is complete.
Place the pot on the heat source and then position your wax in the pot to commence melting it. Attach the thermometer to the side of the pot so that you can easily see the temperature.
Make sure that the wax does melt, but do not allow the temperature of the pot to exceed three-hundred degrees. If you are not careful, the wax may catch fire and become very dangerous.
Once the wax has melted, you can begin adding the color and scent. If you use a liquid scent, you only need to add about an ounce.
Be sure to stir the mixture of wax, color, and scent to ensure that it is well blended. Then get the mold ready.
Follow the directions that came with the mold in regards to placing the wick inside the mold. When the mold is ready, you can pour the wax mixture into it.
Let the candle sit until it has properly cooled. When it is sufficiently cool, you can remove it from the mold.
Making your own candles can be especially satisfying. Also, when you’re done, you will have a nice, comforting reminder of home.
Tommy Greene has worked since 1986 as an interior decorator specializing in home decor. He has written hundreds of articles about decorating home and office spaces including finding the right kind of scentsy warmers.
Contact Info:
Tommy Greene
TommyGreene09@gmail.com
http://www.thesnootysniffer.com
