Candlemaking

[poliphilo]

It was my ex-virtual-daughter-in-law who got us into scented candles. It helped that Ikea was selling them off at ridiculous prices. But then Ikea ran out of sale stock and feeding the habit became expensive. So Ailz bought us a kit and we're making our own. Thus far we've been recycling scrap wax and candle ends. 

The latest batch is pink. 

Comments

[oakmouse]

I love the angle of this shot!

Candlemaking is a lot of fun. I haven't done it for years but this pic makes me miss it and want to start doing it again. *sits down to make list of supplies*

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I went for that angle so I could get everything in shot- without moving too far away.

It is fun- and absurdly easy. Happy candlemaking!

[oakmouse]

Thank you!

My faves were always the ice candles. You fill your mold with ice cubes, then pour the hot wax over them, and the wax solidifies with all sorts of odd-shaped holes in it from the ice. You can pour a long narrow candle first, put it in the center of a large mold, put ice around it, and pour in a coordinating color of wax for an even nicer effect.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That recipe sounds like fun. I'll have to give it a go.

[oakmouse]

Had a hunch you might like it. *g*

[ex-redrain.livejournal.com]

Is that hard to do? Make candles?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No, very simple. You need wax, wicks and moulds. The wicks you can buy ready-made, but Ailz tells me you can make them yourself by soaking string in melted wax. The same applies to moulds. We have one we bought and the rest are small flowerpots and plastic beakers with a hole punched in the bottom.

So, you melt your wax- over boiling water not over direct heat- because it melts at a very low temperature- pour it into the moulds and- voila! The trickiest bit is getting the wicks to stand straight in the moulds.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I'm very afraid that Robert won't let me burn my lovely candles now that he has repainted. I have to admit that they do leave soot on the walls... *sniffle*

We'll just have to have LOTS of flowers in the house, right?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. I was going to suggest burning joss sticks, but I suppose they cause similar problems.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I like the newish scent things that are liquid and you put bamboo sticks in them that act like wicks. Those work but it's not like having that lovely flickering flame.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've some across those. And you're right, a candle flame is just so friendly.

They are called Reed Diffusers

[mummm.livejournal.com]

http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/ycbvp/listing.jsp?category=%2FRetail%2FHome%20Fragrance%2FReed%20Diffusers

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Ailz looks so relaxed! It seems that she really enjoys the candlemaking process. I like her clever way of getting the wicks to stand up. If I make candles again, I will have to leave off the scent, because in my old age (ever since I stopped smoking eight years ago) I developed many allergies, especially to perfumes. I am also allergic to Teddy-cat, but I refuse to give him away. Instead I take an allergy pill every day and except for a few sneezes I'm OK. Perfumes, however, make me sick to my stomach and give me a roaring headache.
Darn! I miss wearing my favorite scent, too.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Getting the wicks to stand straight is the tricky part. We haven't properly figured it out yet. I wonder how the pros manage?

That a shame about the allergies. I'm allergic to something- and take pills to stop the symptoms- but I'm not entirely sure what.