Introduction
Beekeeping in Perth began in the early 2000s, with the rise of urban beekeepers and community projects. As of today, the city is home to a range of hives, farmers, commercial apiarists and private landholders that provide honeybees with safe and secure environments across Perth. Along with this, beeswax has become increasingly available to candle makers looking to make their own products. Beeswax candles have been popular among many citizens of Perth due to its sustainability and eco-friendly nature. Being a natural wax product that comes directly from honeycomb cells, beeswax candles are renowned for burning brighter than other types of wax. With the right resources at their disposal, such as materials and skill-set knowledge on how to work with beeswax before use, anyone can now make their own beautiful handmade beeswax candles in Perth.
A Look at the History of Beeswax Candle Making
The art of crafting beeswax candles has been in existence for thousands of years. Beeswax was the main component used to make candles in ancient Greece, Rome and most of Asia as far back as 3,500 B.C. The earliest known evidence is a discovered ceramic candle holder complete with wax residue that dates to the 14th century B.C.
In the past, traditional tools and methods used to make beeswax candles included: wax-coated wicking made out of plant fibers such as cotton, hemp or flax; ancient molds – usually conical-shaped hollow tubes made of clay – which were filled with melted beeswax; paddles dipped in hot beeswax and wound on rods or sticks; and primitive dipping frames covered with profusely pierced tin plates where multiple candles could be created from a single molten source. In some cases, wooden boards were even located beneath these frames with positions corresponding to the holes in the tin plate so that different sizes could be accomplished with ease.
The process began by melting down blocks or pellets of pure beeswax until it was fully liquid then adding natural pigments if there was any desire for color or scent. Afterward, it was carefully poured into each specially prepared mold and allowed time sufficient time to completely solidify before extraction took place.
Benefits of Making Beeswax Candles
Making beeswax candles is becoming a popular choice for many candle makers in Perth. Making your own beeswax candles has several benefits compared to other materials such as paraffin or soy wax. Firstly, beeswax is typically cheaper than both paraffin and soy waxes, making it easier to find supplies for. Secondly,beeswax is readily available in many stores as well as online for convenience. Additionally, unlike paraffin and soy waxes, melting temperature of beeswax does not require the use of large or dangerous amounts of heat which makes it much safer to use.
Beeswax provides a superior burn time compared to other materials; depending on the type of wick used, a beeswax candle can burn up to five times longer than either paraffin or soy wax candles due to its higher melting point and unique properties. In addition to this, beeswax releases negative ions into the air when burned; leading to cleaner air quality and diminished levels of airborne dust particles, pollen and molds. Lastly, it goes without saying that most candles made from beeswax are much more aesthetically pleasing; they are also easy-to-mold with various dyes that can be used to create beautiful decorations like shading or frosting effects.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Beeswax Candles at Home
1. Gather Supplies: Collect Wax, Wicks and Molds: To make beeswax candles, you’ll need the following supplies – wax (100% natural beeswax is ideal), wicks (or pre-tabbed wicks) and molds (paper, silicone or metal).
2. Prepare Wax Melter: Set up double boiler on low heat. Place beeswax in the top melter, so it will melt slowly over indirect heat.
3. Anchor Pre-Tabbed Wicks to Mold Bottoms: Make sure to securely attach your chosen wick with a knot or clip at the bottom of your mold or container. You can use an alligator clip for paper or ceramic containers, or an adhesive stick for metal containers.
4. Melt Wax Slowly Over Low Heat: Once you have your wax and wick ready to go, start melting your wax over low heat in a double boiler setup. It’s best practice to continually stir while melting as this helps uniform distribution of heat throughout the wax without burning it. Continue to monitor temperature until all wax has melted completely (60-65°C/ 140-149°F).
5. Fill Molds With Liquid Beeswax: Using very hot mitts and carefully aiming away from yourself and other people safety first!), slowly and steadily pour molten liquid wax into your molds filling them up 3/4 of the way full before stopping right below their rims leaving room for air flow for even cooling during hardening process which helps avoid air bubbles in finished candles as well as smooth surface finish after unmolding them from their molds once fully cooled down into crystallized solid state).
6. Allow Newly Poured Wax Candles to Cool Completely Before Unmolding Them: Allow freshly poured liquid satin candles to cool down completely undisturbed before unmolding from their respective containers to ensure superior bonding between wax molecules happen forming harder candles taller with much smoother surface textures giving them perfect silky finish ready for burning! You can help speed up this process by aiding cooling with cold water bath method immersing your candle making form lost outside without allowing any water getting inside it drying off with absorbent material afterwards leaving all perfectly formed shaped beauty that should outlast many burnings when cared by you properly!
Top Tips for Making Quality Beeswax Candles
1. Choose Your Wax:
Choose a high-quality beeswax for your candles – you want a wax that is smooth and creamy, with no smoky or sooty odours. Beeswax can be purchases at craft stores in blocks, chips, or pellets.
2. Get the Right Wicking: Use a wick designed specifically for beeswax candles as it will ensure the best burning experience and safety. The length of the wick should be according to the diameter of your moulds or mason jars. Check online for sizing guides for specific types of wicks.
3. Prepare Your Moulds: Before using a mould, coat it lightly with vegetable oil to help release your candle when it is cooled and hardened. If you are using mason jars, soak the top band in hot water – this will make it easier to remove when the candle is ready to be lit.
4. Add Fragrance Oils to Create Scented Candles: Add fragrance oils at 170°F (76°C). You can choose different scents for different holidays or occasions like lavender for calming effects or citrus for energizing effects! The amount of oil you add depends on how strong you’d like the scent – typically between 1% – 3% do well.
5. Fill & Pour Carefully: Once all ingredients have melted together, carefully pour mixture into moulds or jars and let cool completely before removing from mould or screwing off jar lid. When storing beeswax candles, keep them in an airtight container away from direct heat sources – this helps to maintain their scent and shape over time!
Resources:
1. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-beeswax-candles-1007308
2. https://brambleberry.com/pages/what-is-the-right-wick-for-your-candle
3 .https://www . candlemaker .store/blogs/cm_blog/how-to-add – fragrances–essential–oils—and–more–to–your–candles
Sustainable Practices
1. Use old beeswax candles to create new ones using candle moulds.
2. Refill used candles with new beeswax for reuse.
3. Cut used candles into pieces and melt the wax into small tins or jars to make reused beeswax tarts or melts.
4. Place a lit beeswax candle in an open jar to use as a natural air freshener or potpourri warmer.
5. Use used wax residue to nourish furniture, fabric and leather, doors and window frames when mixed with other oils like linseed oil or almond oil.
6. Treat wood and wicker baskets with melted old beeswax to help them last longer and seal out moisture before reapplying paint or varnish.
Where to Buy Supplies for Making Beeswax Candles
Perth locals have many different suppliers to choose from when they want to make beeswax candles. To start, Koch and Co Candles are a well-known supplier of supplies in Perth. They offer a large selection of pre-made and DIY sets of wax, wicks, moulds, and all the materials needed to create stunning beeswax candles. NurtureWorx is another great option, selling ready-to-use wax and pouring kits as well as natural clays that can be used in casting molds for decorative touches. While Contempo Candles is a reliable online supplier who provides Australian Made beeswax pellets for rolling your own candles at home. For additional decorative embellishments, Wattle & Stone offers miniature figurines made from sustainably harvested honeycomb—the perfect way to give each candle its own unique character! With so many great suppliers in Perth offering quality supplies for making beeswax candles, budding candle makers are sure to find everything they need to create beautiful masterpieces.
Summary and Conclusion
Beeswax candle making has been around for centuries and is gaining popularity in Perth, Australia. In future articles, we could discuss the techniques used for beeswax candle making. Topics could include how to select and prepare beeswax, as well as tips for successfully melting and pouring it into a mold. We could look at the many different types of molds available, along with where to buy them and what effect different wick sizes can have on burning quality. Additionally, we could explain how adding colors or scents can impact a beeswax candle’s end result, along with advantages of using natural ingredients. Lastly, we can discuss topics such as troubleshooting common problems when making beeswax candles, like avoiding air bubbles or ensuring all edges are smooth after cooling. By exploring these various topics related to beeswax candle making, readers will gain the tools to embark on their own crafty journey!
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
