Make Your Own Handmade Candles: Beeswax Vs. Soy WaxWant to Know How to Make Your Own Handmade Candles?
It is the Romans who are credited with developing the wick candle, using it to aid travelers at dark, and lighting homes and places of worship at night. Like the early Egyptians, the Roman's relied on tallow, gathered from cattle or sheep suet, as the principal ingredient of candles. It was not until the Middle Ages when beeswax, a substance secreted by honey bees to make their honeycombs, was introduced. Beeswax candles were a marked improvement over those made with tallow, for they did not produce a smoky flame, or emit an acrid odor when burned. Instead, beeswax candles burned pure and clean. Soy wax is a recent invention. It was only in 1991, when Michael Richards developed soy wax when looking for a cheaper alternative for beeswax. So, which should you choose for your handmade candles? The Pros and Cons of Beeswax: Beeswax drops are most easily cleaned while they are still warm, and they cool quickly. I suggest keep a pot of water simmering while you work for this purpose and dip the end of a towel into it for small messes. Then use the simmering water at the end of the project to clean up pots and utensils and follow that with hot, soapy water.
Scenting these handmade candles is not neccessary. It is also likely that you won't get a true scent from your oils in these candles anyway, since beeswax smells so strong. Ultimately, these candles set quickly, burn long and smell great. They also cost a lot less to make than they do to buy! Pure Beeswax is one of nature's most perfect products. Prized since ancient times, fragrant beeswax handmade candles burn longer and cleaner than ordinary wax handmade candles. In fact, pure beeswax has the highest melting point of any known wax. Its slow, smokeless flame gives off more light and heat than other waxes and are virtually dripless "if kept away from drafts and fans". Beeswax is the only fuel to emit ( Negative Ions) when burning. Dust, hair, odors and other things floating in the air are doing so because the particles are positively charged. Allergens and toxins become positively charged through static electricity created by heating systems and friction caused by normal activity ( such as when you walk across the carpet). Pure beeswax candles help rid your home of toxins by emitting negatively charged ions as well as burning away positively charged particles that float toward the burning halo flame. This process cleans the air of positive ions such as dust, odors, toxins, pollen, mold, dust mites feces, and viruses. This has been proven to be beneficial for people who have allergies, and environmental sensitivities.
Quick and Easy Beeswax Candles
Once you pour the wax expect it to take awhile to set. The good news is that it cleans up easily with hot, soapy water. The bad news is that once you blow a soy wax candle out, it takes some time for the wax to harden again. In addition, many people think soy wax needs to be scented, since by itself it can smell like cooking oil. However, the scented soy wax candle throws a rich, if subtle aroma and has a cheery flame. Handmade candles with soy wax are CLEAN BURNING -- Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin, with no petrol-carbon soot which can blacken walls, ceilings, and furniture, contaminate ventilation ductwork in your home, as well as add toxic carcinogens into the air you breathe. Handmade candles with soy wax are LONG BURNING -- Soy candles burn slower and cooler than paraffin wax, creating a longer burning candle. RENEWABLE RESOURCE -- Soybeans are a renewable source, unlike paraffin, which consists of petroleum. BIODEGRADABLE -- Since soybeans are vegetables, soy wax (basically made from hydrogenated soybean oil) is naturally biodegradable. Soy wax is also easier to remove from materials and other surfaces than paraffin wax. HELPS THE FARMERS -- Buying soybean products creates important economic growth for the agricultural sector of the US economy. Soy candles are simply better for you, your family, and your environment.
Lavender; Peppermint; Pine; Patchouli and Tea Tree.
Quick and Easy Handmade Soy Candle Recipe
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Although it is often written that the first candles were developed by the Ancient Egyptians who used rushlights, or torches, made by soaking the core of reeds in molten tallow, the rushlights had no wick like a candle.
