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Making Flameless Scented Candles
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If you like to have candles around you, but are restricted by regulations in your dormitory or apartment, you might want to try making flameless candles. Flameless candles make charming alternative nightlights, and are safe even when there are children around. You can make them into any size, design and color that you prefer. All you need are the following items: Pre-blended paraffin wax; small hammer; double boiler; water; thermometer; silicone mold; hair dryer or microwave oven; disposable plastic cup; gram weighing scale; candle scent; wooden skewers; silicone-tipped light bulb and socket; wax paper.
The first thing you have to do is to get a slab of pre-blended paraffin wax. Break some candle wax from this slab using a light hammer. Boil some water on a double boiler on medium high heat. Put wax onto the upper pan of the double boiler. Remember to put it on the pan, not on the boiling water.
You need to continue melting the wax until it reaches a temperature of around 185 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the temperature reaches that point, lower the heat.
Get a silicone mold and heat it for one minute in a microwave oven. Alternatively, you may also use a hair dryer for heating your silicone mold. You want your silicone mold to be just warm enough to the touch, without getting scalded. It is important to warm up your mold because if it is a room temperature, the candle wax will cool too quickly and bubbles or pits will form on the surface.
Place a disposable plastic cup on your gram weighing scale. Pour about an ounce of candle scent into the plastic cup. This would be enough to use for about a pound of candle.
Check your thermometer if the melted wax is still between 185 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Slowly pour the scent into the melted wax, then, throw away the plastic cup you used for holding the scent. Mix the scent into the wax using wooden skewers.
Pour the wax and scent mixture into your silicone mold. Let it cool until the wax hardens.
The cooling time for the wax depends on the temperature of the room. The ideal room temperature is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room is too cold, frost can form on the surface of the candle and cause pitting. It usually takes around 24 hours for the wax to cool down and harden.
Remove the candle from the mold.
Insert the light bulb socket into the hole at the bottom of your candle. Screw the bulb into the socket. Use some leftover wax to fill-up any gaps between the socket and the candle. Place your candle on a piece of wax paper, while you heat up your remaining wax on the double boiler back to 185-190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the wax reaches the desired temperature, pour out some wax to cover the socket. The wax paper will serve to catch any wax that runs off the sides. Wax shrinks while it cools, which is why you have to add more melted wax around the sockets.
Aline Heller writes on hobbies and crafts. To learn more about candle making, go to Candle Making 4 You. Another helpful resource is Secrets to Successful Candle Making.
Article submitted Tuesday, January 24, 2012 & read 4 times.
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