Candles are hugely popular across the UK and are readily available in many of our local shops, but have you ever considered the benefits of handmade candles over mass produced alternatives? In this blog, Buy Britain will discuss the main benefits of handmade candles as well as what raw materials are typically used to make handmade candles.
So, what are the benefits of handmade candles? Handmade candles have a variety of benefits including being significantly less environmentally harmful to those that are mass produced, and offer the opportunity for customisation. What’s more, candles are a great form of creative therapy and when you invest in them you are supporting small businesses.
Read on to learn more about the handmade candle process including how to choose the correct size wick for your bespoke candle.
- What are the Benefits of Handmade Candles?
- What Raw Materials are Used to Make Candles?
- How to Choose the Correct Size Wick for Your Handmade Candle?
Benefits of Handmade Candles
When it comes to candles, we are so used to them being available in many of our local shops such as supermarkets and homeware stores, that we forget to consider how beneficial it can be to create or purchase handmade candles. From environmental impact to customisation, take a look at the main benefits of handmade candles below.
| Environmental Impact | One of the most significant benefits of handmade candles in comparison to mass produced candles is that they impact the environment a lot less. This is because mass produced candles tend to be made using machinery, on larger scales, and are then shipped or transported in lorries to various shops. In contrast, handmade candles are created using no machinery and often are produced on a smaller scale due to the additional time it takes, therefore resulting in a much less severe environmental impact. |
| Down-Time | Creating your own handmade candles can also provide the benefit of down-time. During the candle making process, you become focused on the satisfying and rewarding task at hand, rather than the unnecessary stresses and distractions of day-to-day life. As a result, the candle making process acts as a form of therapy that can give you the necessary time to relax whilst creating a beautiful bespoke product. |
| Customisation | Another benefit of handmade candles is that they can be created in a myriad of shapes and sizes as well as having the opportunity to customise them. For example, you can request or add a particular scent, colour, or pattern. |
| Supporting Small Businesses | Handmade, bespoke candles tend to be created by smaller businesses. By purchasing a handmade candle, you are most likely supporting a small business, someone’s side hustle, or even someone with a hobby. This can feel a lot more rewarding than purchasing a candle from a large corporate company because you feel more attached to the smaller businesses brand. |
What Raw Materials are Used to Make Candles?
When it comes to homemade candles, there is no set rule as to what materials must be used to create them, however there are some that are more popular. If you are interested in making your own candle, take a look below at our list of materials that are typically used to create beautiful handmade candles.
Paraffin:
Paraffin wax is a highly popular material that is used to create handmade candles. It is a white or colourless, solid wax that is made up of saturated hydrocarbons. Paraffin wax is easy to melt and mould into various shapes depending on the type of handmade candle you wish to create.
Beeswax:
Beeswax is one of the most traditional raw materials used to create handmade candles. Per 100 pounds of honey harvested, typically 1-2 pounds of beeswax is created so you can imagine that beeswax is not a finite resource. This is why it is a popular material used to create candles of all shapes and sizes.
Stearin:
Despite being used in handmade candle making, stearin is not actually a wax product. Instead, it is a crystalline mixture of different fatty acids such as palmitic and stearin acid. It acts as a great raw material for handmade candle making because it has the equivalent melting point to paraffin. However, it is important to note that when colours and scents are added to this raw material it may require a larger candle wick to match the burn time.
Maybe add something about scents and colours?
How to Choose the Correct Size Wick for Your Handmade Candle
It is easy to assume that the most complicated part of candle making is the moulding of the wax, but choosing the correct size wick can also be quite difficult if you do not take into consideration some important factors. Follow our key steps below, to make choosing the correct size wick that little bit easier.
- Candle Diameter/Size
The first factor to consider when choosing the correct size candle wick, is to determine the diameter of your handmade candle. Whether you have handmade the candle container or have one ready made, measuring its diameter will help you to determine the size of the wick you require. Typically, the larger the diameter, the larger and longer the candle wick required.
- Type of Candle Wax:
The next important step in determining the correct size wick for your handmade candle is to identify which type of candle wax you are going to use. This is important because each type of candle wax has a different melting speed, therefore you want to choose a wick that is similar to this. For example, a 3×6 paraffin candle can burn for approximately 60 hours whereas beeswax can burn for roughly 110 hours. As a result, the same wick would not work for both of these candles and you would need to purchase one that had an appropriate burning time.
- Scent and Colour:
You may not realise this, but scent and colour are also a significant factor that need to be taken into consideration before you choose the wick for your handmade candle. When adding colours and fragrances to candles, it can affect the consistency and burn time of a candle. Consequently, the more colour or scent added, the thicker the wick required.
If you are interested in learning more about how to choose the correct wick for your handmade candle, take a look at the helpful video below.
Handmade Candles at Buy Britain:
Buy Britain offers a variety of handmade, bespoke and environmentally friendly candles that are sourced from businesses all around Britain. Whether you are looking for Hand Poured Candles in a Pepsi Can or a Gravy boat candle with Vintage Bookshop scented soy wax, Buy Britain have all of your handmade candle requirements.
Take a look through our handmade candle range on Buy Britain.
