All about candles

Bright ideas

The art of candle-making dates back to the first century AD. Originally, candles were made mainly from animal fat, known as tallow. This material was cheap and easy to obtain, so its use continued for centuries. Eventually, tallow candles were replaced by beeswax candles. Not only do these candles burn more intensely, they also last longer, smell better and produce less smoke. In short, beeswax candles are simply more pleasant. However, not everyone could afford to buy beeswax. Consequently, only the nobility and the clergy enjoyed the privilege of less fragrant candles. So this was in fact the first luxury candle brand. But enough about the past, the history lesson is over.

Candle-making has become a very popular activity in recent years. With craftsmanship in general having recently regained popularity, it’s no surprise that creating your own scents and turning them into unique handmade wax candles is attracting more and more people. Of course, there are different dimensions to this. Some people are content to make a handful of candles and offer them occasionally to friends and family. Others, on the other hand, have recognized the immense commercial potential of candle-making. Whichever group you belong to, this blog post has been written for you. We’d like to take a closer look at the candle-making process and present the most important elements to consider, from choosing the right fragrances to marketing your candles to a wide audience.

A multitude of scents

With the growing interest in candles, the choice of possible scents and fragrances has reached new heights. So how do you choose from the hundreds of shades available to create your own fragrance?

1. First, ask yourself this question: What do I want to achieve with my candles? Do I want to create a relaxing, meditative mood, or do I want to create an energetic, stimulating atmosphere? You’d be surprised at the impact scents can have on our mood and even our productivity!
2. If you’re looking for a relaxing effect, herbaceous notes such as lavender and jasmine are a great place to start, as they’re known to have a calming influence on our nerves. Of course, these scents can also be combined with complementary fragrances to give your candles a truly unique character.
3. For those seeking a more invigorating effect, zesty, mentholated scents are best suited. Fragrances such as bergamot, lemon and spearmint inspire a stimulating, fresh environment that can help elevate mood and improve concentration.
4. One of the most popular contexts for the use of candles is romance. (After all, love is in the air). The most natural and effective choice for creating a romantic mood is rose. The scent of roses can not only contribute to a romantic atmosphere, but also reduce stress and anxiety. A double win!

Candle making is supposed to be fun and creative. So don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Enjoy your creative freedom!

Good to know: Timing is everything! Depending on when and how you add fragrances to your candle wax, the scents become stronger or weaker. Be sure to find out the melting temperature of the candle wax you’re using, and choose the moment you add your fragrances accordingly.

The importance of the wick

The wick is an essential part of your candles. Its location and length are factors to be taken into consideration to guarantee the best possible result for your candles.

If the wick is too small for the candles, the wax may not burn evenly. The candle may leave wax residues on the sides of the container. Wick size depends mainly on the diameter of the container used.

If the wick is too large, so will the flame. This can lead to excessive soot build-up.

If the wick is not properly centered, your candles may also not burn evenly. To avoid this, we recommend using a wick bar or other centering tool of your choice.

Controlling heat

Temperature plays an important role in candle making. Depending on when and how you add fragrances to your candle wax, the scents become stronger or weaker. Be sure to find out the melting temperature of the candle wax you’re using, and choose when to add your fragrances accordingly. For example, the ideal temperature for adding scented oils to soy and kerosene wax candles is between 82° and 85° celsius. For palm wax candles, on the other hand, you should add your fragrances between 93° and 96° celsius.

Promoting candles

It’s time to get creative again! Now that you’ve created the perfect candle, it’s time to let the world know about it. The best way to promote your candles is with a superb label. A well-made label serves as a canvas for your candles and communicates the most important features through its design. Choose color palettes that complement the scent of your candles. Incorporate shapes or images to highlight their components.

If you have several fragrances you want to promote, don’t hesitate to design a label for each of them, according to the elements you want to highlight. With labelletiquette.fr, you can have different versions of labels printed in a single order, as long as the dimensions, shape and backing of the label are the same for all versions. This can save you a lot of money! Just make sure you choose a shape and size that allow the label to fit perfectly on your container. We’ll be happy to advise you on this, if you like! You can also visit our candle labels page for more detailed information, or simply contact us. You can reach us by phone on +33 (0)4 81 68 19 73 or by e-mail at info@labelletiquette.fr. We’ll be delighted to help!

Make sure you know who your target audience is, and try to match your design to their expectations. Ask yourself this question: Who do I want to sell my candles to? Take the answer to this question and use it as a common thread in your creative process. But above all, create a design that you’re proud of and that you think reflects the spirit of your candles!