ANCIENT ORIGINS

Oil and clay candles have their origins

in the 15th century BC , in ancient
Egypt. Oil was used in clay lamps with
papyrus wicks soaked in vegetable
oil, which replaced fat and its
unpleasant vapors, previously used,
to illuminate the interior of houses,
temples and public places.
 Later, the Greek and Roman civilization ,
They also used this system, although
They replaced the clay lamp with bronze ones
with tow or cloth wicks. MIDDLE
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the beginningAGESof
the Middle Ages, social unrest affected trade and made
olive oil, the most common fuel for oil lamps,
unavailable in much of Europe. This is why the use of
candles gained popularity . By the 1st century AD, the
almost colorless tallow candle, often made from
vegetable or animal fat, was already in use . From that
moment on, mass reproduction began.

All these light sources had the problem that the wicks did not self-
consume and it was necessary to stretch them outwards with tweezers,
trimming the burnt. This was the case from the Romans until the 17th
century.
For the 15th century. Beeswax was found to be an
excellent substance for the production of candles without
the unpleasant smell, but was still restricted in its use for
the wealthy and for churches and royal events, due to its
great cost.

The first candle mold appeared in the 15th century in Paris.

It was one of the cities that consumed the most candles

made from beeswax.
 MODERN ERA
With the development of the whaling industry in the 18th century , the
SPERMACETI or whale sperm , an oil that comes from a cavity in the head of
the sperm whale , became a substance widely used to make candles.
Spermaceti was obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil and was the first
candle substance available in large quantities.

Like beeswax, spermaceti wax did not produce a foul odor when burned and
generated significantly brighter light, plus it produced less smoke . It was
also harder than tallow or beeswax, so it would not soften or bend in the
summer heat. The first "standard candles" were made from spermaceti wax.
In the mid-19th century, candles became an industrialized product for mass
consumption. Machines were created that allowed continuous production of
molded candles using a cylinder with a movable piston to eject the candles
as they solidified. This mechanized production allowed the production of
about 1,500 candles per hour.

"Colonial" style conical candle molds.

During the industrialization of the late 19th century, candle makers also began creating wicks from
twisted cotton threads.

PARAFFIN WAX
In the mid-1850s, paraffin wax was distilled from coal or derived from petroleum. Paraffin wax was
made by distilling the residue left after refining crude oil.

Paraffin could be used to make cheap, high-quality candles. They had the advantages of
burning cleanly and leaving no unpleasant odor, unlike tallow candles.

A disadvantage of the substance was that the first paraffin waxes derived from coal and
petroleum had a very low melting point. The introduction of stearin solved this problem.

To date, most paraffins are manufactured with these components.

 TYPES OF WAX FOR HANDMADE CANDLES

a. Stearin wax for candles , high temperature,

medium and low. It is preferably used as an additive to
paraffin wax to increase the shrinkage capacity of the
candles in the mold. Stearic acid produces two reactions
when mixed with paraffin. It reduces its melting point and
when it cools, it makes candles harder and more resistant,
which prevents them from bending.

b. Beeswax: melts at a low temperature and burns without

producing smoke. It is a totally natural product that can be
obtained in a shade that ranges from white, yellow to a
discolored and indefinite brown. Natural beeswax has a very
pleasant sweet aroma, which varies depending on the type
of flowering plants on which the bees have fed.
Different types of molds for making candles.

A. Cardboard mold: if you don't have a mold, try a

cardboard mold, it is very simple and you will be
surprised by the result. To make these molds, we can use
small boxes, toilet paper rolls or pieces of slightly strong
cardboard with which we can make a mold as we wish,
such as a pyramid shape. Secure the joints with glue or
seal them with adhesive tape and place the wick, which
should be centered from one end to the other.

B. Potato mold: these types of candles are ideal for use as

floating candles and are also best suited for working with
middle-aged children.
Different types of molds for making candles.
A. Plastic mold: Plastic candle molds are perfect for achieving very smooth
candles, without pores or bubbles, in short so that they have a perfect finish.

In the case of plastic candle molds, it is necessary to use a release agent before
starting the preparation. You have to apply it on the inside so that the candle
doesn't get stuck.

B. Metal mold: Metal molds are perfect for making geometric candles and
candles, since they are large in size. With them you can make square,
circular, rectangular candles...

One of the main advantages of these metal molds for making candles is that they
are very resistant and therefore durable. It is practically impossible for them to
go bad. In addition, they are easy to unmold, since they usually do not have a
base. Preferable to USE release agent.

Advantages: Smooth and perfect finish, without bubbles or pores. The

disadvantage of metal molds is that it takes a long time for the wax to cool
because metal retains heat, just like plastic.
Different types of candles, depending on their shape

Hammered or indented candle

Materials:
Kettle for a bain-marie, jug, paraffin, mold, perfume (if desired), removable, wick,
hammer, bobbins, different sharps.

Instructions: 1. Make a basic candle and let it cool. 2. Once finished, on a flat
surface, rest the ball of the hammer on the surface of the candle and hit it with the
hammer. A circle will form. 3. You can alternate the size of the bobbins to form
different figures. Repeat the procedure until the candle is to your liking. Separate
circles or together, it's your decision. 4. The candle is now finished. To enjoy!
Things to keep in mind.- -Anything that can leave a mark on the surface of the candle works, not just the bobbins.

For those making this type of candle for the first time, candles with flat faces are better than round ones, until
they gain experience. Bolillos can be found in pastry shops.
 Candle with distributed colors
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS: saucepan; containers for cooking eggs; needle;
colored wax, paraffin wax and stearin; dye of contrasting colors; mold.

Candle with surface techniques: A basic and very simple technique to

beautify a candle is to use a surface technique to decorate a candle. The
effects are truly spectacular.
Pressed flowers and leaves must be prepared before they can be used, at least a
week in advance. The technique for pressing leaves and flowers is very simple.
We simply put it between blotting paper
or newspaper and add weight on
top. HE
recommends picking the flowers and
leaves when they are dry, without the
morning dew. Choose flowers with a flat
corolla: daisies, violets, geranium...
Dip Candles
Dip candles This type of candle takes on a stylized appearance. A collection of
various colors enhances its elegance in any corner of our house. The truth is that
this is the simplest method that exists to make a candle.
It consists of repeating the process of preparing the wicks over and over again
consecutively. If we repeat the immersion of the wick in the melted wax, we can
make candles of any thickness we want. The candles obtained with this process
have a characteristic long and thin shape, which makes them known as "tapered"
or "cylindrical".
ICE CANDLE
It is a handmade and decorative candle.
Materials: Kettle; cylindrical mold (or any mold you like); paraffin; bright color dye
Instructions: 1. Melt and dye the heated wax. Use the candle as a wick and insert it
into the center of the mold. Make sure the candle wick emerges directly through
the end hole. 3. Place the mold in the basin (or sink) and fill it with ice, being
careful not to damage the wick. 4. With a steady flow, pour the wax over the ice,
filling the mold. 5. Allow to cool for one hour and carefully dry the candle before
lighting.
Submerged candle and with submerged objects
Candles decorated with dried flowers step by step: In this step by step we are
going to decorate candles using dried flowers. We can use flowers collected and
treated ourselves or buy them already prepared. The pressed flowers that are
sold come dyed, if we dry them with a press we will never obtain those tones. If
we want to dye dried flowers, water-based anilines are used and it is done by
immersion or spraying on a blotting paper. They can also be dyed before drying
by placing them in aniline-dyed water in a vase, with the stems submerged.
Materials: •White pearl paraffin. It must be translucent so as not to cover the
flowers. •Finished candles of various shapes and colors •Dried pressed flowers
and leaves •Metal spatula or spoon
Steps to follow: 1. Heat the spoon or metal spatula. We put the leaves or flowers on the candle and apply the
spatula or spoon to them. The heat will cause the wax underneath to melt enough to attach the flowers to the candle.
We melt the paraffin in a bain-marie and dip the candle in the wax for a second, holding it by the wick. We can dip it
two or three times until we have a thin layer of wax protecting the flowers. It is important that we have enough melted
paraffin to cover the entire candle when submerged. For this reason, it is better to use narrow, tall saucepans or cans,
so as not to have to use very large quantities of paraffin. If we bathe it too much or the wax is opaque, the flowers can
be covered. It is more comfortable to hold the candle to bathe it if we have been careful when making it to leave the
wick long.
We let it cool and cut the wick if we had left it long to grip it better in the bathroom. We already have our candle
finished.
Scented or decorated candles (Rustic or plain)
 Task
-Wax candle with object inside
-Candle made in a glass mold
-Various colored open air candle
-Candle in figure
-Ice candle
-Candle with exterior treatment (bolillos, others)