'MELTING BEAUTIES', A CREATIVE INSPIRATION FOR ALL

By Aeman Nishat / Hyderabad

Gone are the days when candles were used only to brighten dark houses during power cuts. Today, candles serve a lot more purposes that just lighting up our house. They serve as home decor items and wonderful gifts to near and dear ones. Furthermore, certain scented aromatherapy candles are believed to be effective in relieving stress.

When most of us buy our candles from the market, a lot of people make their own candles at home. Making candles at home can be messy and risky as one has to be cautious while handling hot wax and also deal with spills. But the joy of lighting a candle prepared by one’s own effort is special and beyond description. Homemade candles have a personal touch to them which makes them different from the rest of the candles available in the market.

Very few people know that commercially prepared candles can have harmful effects on person’s health. Here are a few points that prove that homemade candles are much better than the ones made commercially:

Home Made Candles are Non Toxic
Not many know that the paraffin wax candles that we use at home release dangerous chemicals on burning. According to a report, paraffin wax is a sludge waste of the petroleum industry and releases carcinogenic chemicals when burnt. These fumes are, reportedly as harmful as smoke from a cigarette and can cause many diseases. However, homemade candles use natural ingredients which are non-toxic.

Save Money by Making Candles at Home
Most candles available in the market are sold at exorbitant prices and we usually refrain from buying these expensive candles to save money. You can try candle making at home and make these fancy candles without spending much. The raw materials are readily available in the market for very low prices and the procedure of making candles is easy too.

Make money by making candles at home
Candle making can be a lucrative business. With your creativity and hard work, you can make some quick bucks if you are interested in taking up candle making as a business idea. People look for candles that have a personalized touch and are different from the mass produced candles available in the market. If you are willing to invest time and a small amount of money in the business, candle making at home can really pay you off well.

Candle Making at Home is Therapeutic
Candle making can be a therapeutic exercise too. You can indulge in candle making and drown your stress and tensions in your experiments at making new candles. You can also try and make aromatherapy scented candles. Whenever you feel low you can light these and relax in the soothing fragrance of your candles.

Have fun making candles with your children
If you have children, you can spend your leisure time with your children making candles and teach them a new craft that they might even want to pursue. Besides, children have broad imaginations and they can come up with interesting colors, patterns and designs for your candles. So you not only get to spend some quality time with your children, but also get ideas for new designs and patterns and in turn you teach them a new and useful craft.

Making candles at home has a number of advantages. But keep in mind that paraffin candles available in the market release harmful chemicals. Also, there are some commercially prepared candles that have a wick which has a metal core. Usually, lead is used as the core and this wick will produce fumes that prove to be harmful.

Candle crafting
Usher in the festive season with the magical mystique of candles crafted by you. Besides adding to the warmth of your home, these waxen creations make wonderful gifts.

Lacy ice candles
Things you will need- a cardboard carton, ice-cubes, paraffin wax, wick, a crayon of your choice, a stick, hammer.

Method

• Melt the wax in a double boiler and add a bit of crayon for colour.
• Use a hammer to break up the ice cubes into different sizes.
• Prepare the wick by coating it with wax.
• Tie one end of the wick to the stick (holding the stick horizontally). Now fix the other end of the wick to the bottom of carton and seal it.
• Fill the carton with ice cubes and pour the melted wax into the carton and keep aside.
• When the wax has solidified tear open the carton and your lacy ice candle is ready to be lighted.

Designer candles
Things you will need- an ordinary candle, paraffin wax, crayon, an old plate, a little oil, stencil knife.

Method

• Melt the paraffin wax and add a little crayon for colour.
• Grease the plate and pour the melted wax on it (about "thick) and leave to cool.
• When the wax semi-solidifies cut out a strip that is tall and broad enough to go round the ordinary candle.
• Dip the strip in hot molten wax and quickly wrap it round the candle.
• Now, use the stencil knife to carve out the design of your choice on the layer of coloured wax in such a way that parts of the candle inside can be seen.

Marble candles
Things you will need- paraffin wax, wick, crayons (3 different colours), a little oil, mould.

Method

• Prepare the mould by greasing it.
• Place the wick at the centre of the mould. Hold it in place while pouring the wax.
• Now, pour the wax (1 colour). Let it dry. Then, pour the second colour and when it solidifies add the third.
• When the entire candle has solidified, pull it out of the mould.

You can try candle making at home and use eco-friendly materials such as soy wax and beeswax. These substances are acquired naturally and are harmless.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give candle making a try today!