Making Homemade Candles Last Long

Making your own candles isn’t just economical, it’s also fun. Whether you are making candles for emergency use or to add a decorative element to your living room, durable candles are especially beneficial. A few strategies and techniques can be followedboth while you’re making the candles and as you’re burning them–to ensure the production of long burning candles which provide secure, low-cost light for hours to come.

Ingredients Matter

In order to make the best candles, you need to begin with the best ingredients. Soy wax, which can be made from hydrogenated soybean oil, and beeswax will be the two longest lasting keratin. While beeswax typically lasts more, it’s more difficult to work with because it’s an extremely high melting point. Soy wax is cheaper and easier to work with as an ingredient. An added benefit of choosing beeswax or soy wax – they are environmentally friendly as they are renewable. Paraffin, another popular candle component, is constructed from oil, and is bad for the environment.

Just Say Freeze

Once you’ve completed the candle-making process, there is a simple way to extend the life of the candles – freeze them. A wick can be complicated to light in case it freezes; by wrapping the wicks in aluminum foil, it is possible to protect them from damage. After you guard the wicks, cover the candles carefully in plastic wrap, then pop them in the freezer before use. Even just another hour or two will assist the candle burn more because the wax will burn at a lesser rate.

Salt of the Earth

Table salt has many uses, and here’s one more to increase the record – extending the life of the homemade candles. While this process may appear complex, it is able to make your candle last up to twice as long. First, light the candle. After the wax has melted and pooled under the wick, blow it out but be prepared to move quickly before the fluid solidifies. Sprinkle a pinch of table salt at the flux fluid, making sure it mixes with the wax and doesn’t just sit on the surface. With the added salt, the wax will melt far more slowly. By repeating this process with each use it is possible to always extend the life of the candle.

Burn Baby Burn

Candles that burn unevenly also burn quickly. Many people don’t understand this easy trick that applies to store-bought as well as homemade candles. By maintaining the wick trimmed to 1/4 of the inch, the candle will burn evenly and last longer. Additionally, if you place a candle in a drafty location, it won’t burn evenly. By maintaining your candles from prying areas, such as doors and windows, you can not just improve safety, but also extend the life of the candles for a longer, more enjoyable burnoff.

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