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Candle making is a great hobby that easily lends itself to a broad range of creativity yet requires a small cash output in the beginning. There are numerous sources for retail and wholesale candle making supplies  . Very affordable candle making kits are also readily available if you want to "test the waters" and see if this is a
hobby that can keep your interest for a long time.
Candles have been around for centuries and no one is sure how they originated. In the beginning, they were used solely out of necessity and the Romans have been credited with developing the first candles with wicks.
In the first recorded history of candle making, the main and basically only ingredient at the time other than the wick was tallow or rendered fat gathered from sheep or cattle. Later, it was discovered that beeswax from honey bee combs could be used to produce candles that gave off less odor and smoke when burned. These candles were much more desirable but the cost made them prohibitive to most people unless you were a member of the upper class. This beeswax was much less readily available than was the rendered fat.
For a while, candles were also produced from extracting wax from bayberries. This wax produced a clean flame and gave off a pleasant odor when burned but the extraction process was to labor intensive and time consuming.
Probably the most notable change in the candle making process came when it was discovered that a clean burning wax could be produced out of crystallized sperm whale oil. Within the whaling industry, this was a product that was readily available in large quantities. The candles made from this wax were also more stable in the hot weather than were the earlier versions and did not bend or melt as readily.
In the early 19th century , the process of candle making was greatly modernized by the development of a machine to extrude the candles out of metal cylinders when they solidified. This allowed the continuous production of the standard mold of candles.
Late in this same century, the production of paraffin revolutionized the candle making industry. This wax was economical and made from by products. The low melting point was raised with the introduction of steric acid into the process.
Along with the introduction of kerosene lamps and then the electric lights came the decline in the use of candles as a major light source. As the 20th century progressed the popularity of candles grew as a means of enjoyment and for their decorative value. Candles now have romantic, decorative, ceremonial, and aromatic values.
Candles are always handy to have around the house if there is a power failure.
Candles and their manufacturers have grown to great numbers in the US alone. Their shapes, sizes, colors, and retail values cover wide ranges.
Types of Candles
Making Taper Candles
Making Pillar Candles
Making Votive Candles
Making Container Candles
Making Tealight Candles
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