A GUIDE FOR FINDING THE RIGHT CANDLE SUPPLIES

Published by N-essential Team on 24th Sep 2021

Reviewed By: Kacie La

Candles are fairly easy and comprehensive to make. In fact, it is not the procedure that takes up a lot of consideration when making candles, instead however, it is the sourcing of candle supplies that will. With the massive and varying candle supplies sold in the market today, it is no wonder why one would be overwhelmed easily. We can’t blame the people if they rather find scouting for the best supplies confusing. But that is exactly the goal of our article today! We aim to shed light on those who wish to get past this confusion.

BASIC CANDLE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CANDLE MAKING

First, and foremost, let us be reacquainted with the basic candle supplies. The most basic yet essential supplies needed for candle making are 1) candle wax, 2) candle wicks (and wick size charts), 3) fragrances, and 4) containers. Some of these basic supplies can still be narrowed down as there are several options available for these materials. But the question now is, how will we find the right supplies? How can we scout the best and quality candle supplies suitable for your candle making?

TYPES OF CANDLE WAX FOR CANDLE SUPPLIES

The first dilemma one encounters when dealing with candle supplies is choosing what type of wax to use. Because there are many options available, let us define each of the different types of waxes and get a glimpse of their properties and best features. Getting acquainted with each of these waxes will help you determine which one to use.

Paraffin Wax — Paraffin wax, or sometimes called straight wax, does not have additives. It is commonly used both by crafters and manufacturers because of its affordability. Furthermore, paraffin has no smell and colour. Unlike the wax used for hair removal, which we have recognised as sticky and viscous, paraffin wax is rather soft with a low melting point. This means that the wax can be easily melted and cooled. With these qualities, paraffin is considered one of the most versatile waxes used today.

Soy Wax — Soy wax is an all-natural wax mostly originating from hydrogenated soybean oil. Other soy waxes are made of vegetable oils and other types of waxes combined. This wax has only been making waves in the candle making scene recently as more and more people opt for natural DIY candles. However, it is considerably expensive. With that said, soy wax is still one of the widely used waxes today for DIY candles.

Gel Wax — Gel wax is a type of wax that has the consistency of a jelly. Being made out of mineral oil and polymer resin, this wax has a slow melting point and longer burning time. These are good features to appraise considering that gel wax is a bit expensive compared to paraffin wax. In addition to this, this wax is clear and translucent which makes it suitable for the embedment of other decorations for aesthetics.

Beeswax— Beeswax is another all-natural wax. It is also considerably expensive yet is still widely used by manufacturers. Moreover, it is probably the oldest wax in history. This wax is a by-product of the honey-making process. Because of this, one property of this wax is its naturally sweet fragrance depending on what flowers the bees are feeding on.

Palm Wax — Palm wax is made from hydrogenating palm oils. With palm wax, one is allowed to create a unique texture because of the crystallizing or feathering pattern that forms on the surface. This wax is excellent to use with votives, pillars, and tarts.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING CANDLE WICKS FOR CANDLE SUPPLIES

There are factors you need to consider when canvassing candle wicks for candle supplies. When these factors are neglected, the functionality of your candle in general might be affected. The worst that could happen is that your candle can’t hold enough burning light. With that said, please note all of the following factors enumerated below:

Diameter of the Candle — The diameter of the candle container or the candle itself (when containers are not needed) is a relevant factor when purchasing a quality and correct size of candle wick. It may even be the most vital factor to consider. Before ordering, make use of a ruler and measure the diameter of your candle so you will have a reference.
Fragrance Load and Colour — These factors are mostly taken for granted. However, fragrance and colour are actually also contributing elements that could make your wick not function well if taken for granted. As a rule of thumb, the more colour and fragrance is included in a candle recipe, the thicker wick will be needed. In addition to this, there are fragrance load calculators that are convenient for this step.
Burning Time — It would be wise to consider the burning time of the wax. For a case in point, soy wax has a slower burning time. Paraffin wax, on the other hand, burns faster and thus appropriate to be using a thinner wick.
Candle Wick Type —As with candle waxes, there are also several types of candle wicks. There are flat wicks, square braid, wooden wicks, and cored wicks, among others. Each type of wick has its own melting point and density that are to be considered. See below a brief recommendation of wicks for every type of wax:

- Paraffin wax: RRD wick, LX wick, Wooden wick
- Soy wax: RRD wick, HTP wick, ECO wick
- Gel wax: Zinc cored wick
- Beeswax: Square braid wick
- Palm wax: Wooden wick

5. Importance of Wick Size — Lastly, the correct wick size is just as important as the wick type. For safety reasons, make sure that wick sizes match your container or mould size. Refer to a wick size chart for guidelines on choosing the best wick size for your container size.For beginners, the 1 ^st wick size should match your wax and diameter. For a simplified reference, paraffin wax and soy wax having 2.50 cm in diameter should start with LX10 wick and ECO1 wick respectively. Then gradually, the intervals increase accordingly. There are many reliable sources you can check online with regards to wick size charts. You will find that this is mostly the case of such charts. On the other hand, having one size up and down of wooden wicks is advisable to include in your candle supplies. This allows you a visual representation to test and see which wooden wick works best during candle making.

With all these factors carefully considered, picking up a quality candle wick is not far to achieve. On that note, it is hard to deny that candle wick is sometimes at the least of our priorities. However, just remember that good judgment and smart decision in picking up the right candle supplies will help you prevent or minimise issues later on when you already have your finished product.

FRAGRANCES FOR CANDLE SUPPLIES

FRAGRANCES OILS

Fragrance oils are oils used for obvious reasons in candle supplies. Some fragrance oils replicate a certain scent. It can also be made to recreate a new scent. The formula of this fragrant oil can either be composed of natural ingredients (essential oils), synthetic ingredients (man-made chemicals), or both.

Because of affordability and a vast choice of scents, they are more often added in candle supplies. With that said, not all fragrances are made equal. There will always be good and bad quality. A good quality fragrance oil is phthalate-free.

Below are five (5) examples of fragrance oils that are perfect for your DIY homemade candles:

Cocoa therapy fragrance oil — This chocolatey fragrance oil is a perfect addition to your candle supplies. You can enjoy a calorie-free, sweet treat if you incorporate this scent into your DIY candles as it is reminiscent of a tempting, chilled cocoa aroma.
Very Vanilla fragrance oil — We know how most people are very fond of creamy, vanilla scents. This makes the Very Vanilla fragrance oil a popular scent added into candle supplies.
Vanilla Caramel fragrance oil — Additionally, the vanilla caramel fragrance oil is another festive aroma that can be enjoyed by vanilla-scent lovers. It gives that sweet, creamy caramel scent underlaid and synergised with a vanilla aroma.
Ocean Breeze fragrance oil — The ocean breeze fragrance oil is a perfect scent for your DIY homemade candles. It is a lovable scent that is very suitable for men. It is also a unique scent to have in your candle supplies as it is one of those scents that suggest a tropical place.
Lotus Flowers fragrance oil — In contrast with the ocean breeze, the lotus flowers fragrance oil is a very feminine scent that is mostly loved by all. Add this fragrance oil to your candle supplies to have more options.

ESSENTIAL OILS

For candle supplies, essential oils are alternatives to fragrance oils. Using essential oils in DIY candles can be very natural. However, there are drawbacks when using essential oils intended for candles. Knowing these drawbacks can actually be an advantage so you know how and when to best use your essential oils, especially for aromatic candles. Let us get to know these drawbacks:

Compared to fragrance oils, essential oils are expensive. This is understandable because their respective processes are very different. Just by considering the resources and equipment alone already gives the difference.
Although essential oils have many aromatic benefits, they give a very faint scent when used and burned in a candle. You might need more essential oils if you are aiming for a certain strength of scent. But then that would bring us back to the first drawback, which is not cost-effective.
Additionally, by aroma difference, essential oils are a bit more concentrated on the essence of a certain plant. On the other hand, fragrance oil has the versatility to explore more scents. For instance, it could replicate the scent of a calming, cool seashore like the Ocean Breeze fragrance oil.

With that said, it helps if you use a diffuser (for essential oils) and a scented candle (with fragrance oils) that is phthalate-free and paraben-free. It is also possible to have a combination of both in a DIY candle — having a small amount for essential oil and with fragrance oil as its scent-booster. With a little creativity, there are ways we can optimise using both oils without compromising their qualities.

For scented candles, add these essential oils in your candle supplies to create a synergised blend in your DIY homemade candles matching the different seasons:

For fall season:Cedarwood, Bergamot, Sweet Orange, and Cinnamon Bark essential oil
For winter season:Sandalwood, Peppermint, Lavender, and Eucalyptus essential oil
For spring season:Palmarosa, Geranium, and Juniper Berry essential oil
For summer season:Lime, Mandarin, Lemon, and Grapefruit essential oil

SIMPLE TIPS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE STARTING CANDLE MAKING

Purchase the correct candle supplies, tools and equipment. Like most crafts, before perfecting a finished product, we always make sure that we have the correct supplies. We are emphasizing this relevance in our article today. Furthermore, other than candle supplies, the tools and equipment are just as important.

Be perceptive about accurate measurements. Similar to baking, precision and accuracy with the measurements of raw ingredients are imperative to perfect your DIY homemade candles. We don’t want you wasting your candle supplies. With that said, everything takes practice. And practice, as they say, makes perfect — which leads us to the next tip.

Do a test burn. For beginners, mass producing using your candle supplies is definitely a bad idea. Know that your patience will be tested as you begin your craft. However, doing it in batches and conducting test burns are good practices to start. In this manner, you get to observe your finished product. You can adjust your recipe or procedure where you think something went wrong based on your observations from the test burn. Eventually, you will be able to perfect your DIY homemade candle.

Don’t be afraid; be adventurous, instead! Nothing is perfected in the first trial. Not even on the second…or the third. However, this should not discourage you though! Instead, keep practising until you finally get it right. We can be fairly certain, that for as long as you keep on researching and practising your craft, you will eventually make great candles!

THE TAKEAWAY

As with other aspects in life, beginning a journey in candle making can get overwhelming when you are not properly guided. Thankfully, there are reliable sources online including N-essentials. You just have to practise due diligence and research your candle supplies first. Know your prospect materials and their suitability for your dream DIY scented candle. In this manner, you get to save your resources — money and time, among others. Best of all, you create a better quality candle!

WHERE TO BUY CANDLE SUPPLIES ONLINE IN BULK AT A WHOLESALE PRICE IN AUSTRALIA

N-essentials is your trusted online supplier of premium quality candle supplies here in Australia — fragrance oils, essential oils, and candle waxes, among others. Let us help you provide only the best quality of products, both raw ingredients and beneficent oils, suitable for your purpose. Browse through our online store to learn more. Finally, add to cart and buy your candle supplies online today!

For questions or inquiries about bulk orders at a wholesale price, email us your queries at info@n-essentials.com.au. Our friendly team will gladly accommodate you!