Even after the discovery of electricity, inventionIlyich's bulbs, fluorescent lamps, light-emitting diodes and neon lights people have not lost their craving for the light of a living flame. We remember the candles in sorrow and joy, we decorate the birthday cakes with candles and light the funeral candles. We meet with the burning candles New Year and always use them for the entourage of a romantic dinner. Of course, any candles and for any occasion today you can just buy. But it's much more interesting to make a candle yourself. Have not you tried? But it's not as difficult as it might seem. And time, and materials for this will need very little. And any special skills of making candles, too, does not require. And if this is so simple, then let's find out how to make a candle at home and try to apply this knowledge in practice. 
Materials
Material for a man-made candle can servewax, paraffin and gel. The easiest way is to make paraffin candles, since for their manufacture even simple household candles of white color will do. If you want to make a gel candle, you will have to stock up on special materials, which you can buy in the store for needlework. But paraffin waxes ... Even candle sticks of any decorative candles can become a new candle. If just white candles do not suit you, then paraffin can easily be painted with ordinary wax crayons or food colorings. In addition, modest white candles can then be decorated with decoupage napkins, ribbons, lace or beads. As a decoration and a unique case, you can use the peel from the halves of orange or grapefruit. Aromatic candles are also quite easy to make by yourself. All that is needed for this - any essential oils with a favorite flavor:
- the aroma of sandalwood, coconut, cinnamon and coriander relieves fatigue;
- orange, mandarin, lemon, rosemary and mint raise tone;
- bergamot, lavender, jasmine, mimosa, geranium and sandalwood act as antidepressants;
- the smell of vanilla, bergamot and rose is suitable for a romantic dinner;
- chamomile, patchouli, lemon balm, ylang-ylang will help to relax.
In addition to paraffin, dyes, decorativematerials and aromatic oils, you will definitely need a wick. If as a basis for candles you take ready household candles, then use that wick that is in them. If you cast candles from cinder, then make a wick from a normal cotton thread or string of mulina. To do this, thin threads should be simply very tightly weaved, for example, with a regular pigtail, or even crocheted. Then the wick is impregnated with liquid wax (paraffin) and allowed to freeze. And, of course, shapes for candles. Form-case - is, for example, the usual peel of the orange in the form of a bowl. For floating candles, you can use metal cork bottles as a case. However, you will swim with any candle, the width (diameter) of which is greater than its height. Well and for casting of candles any metal, silicone or plastic forms (baking molds, cups from under yoghurt, glasses, boxes from juice or milk, forms for soap making) will approach. In short, everything where you can pour hot paraffin, and then take out a frozen candle. That is, the bottom of the mold should be either of the same size as the upper opening of the container, or smaller. In addition to all these materials and tools, prepare a grater, a knife and a pan for a water bath for making candles. And after that, you can safely proceed to the process itself. 
Manufacturing process
Make a candle at home reallyvery simple. First, you need to crush paraffin. To do this, gently break the candles or cinder into pieces and remove these parts from the wick. Then these slices of paraffin wipe on a conventional grater. For colored candles, adjust the wax crayons and mix this shavings with the chopped paraffin. If you use food colorings, then pre-dilute in very small amounts of water. This solution or liquid dyes then simply need to be poured into the molten paraffin. Also prepare the wick and the candle mold in advance. If the molds are disposable and you can make a small puncture in their bottom, then pierce the bottom in the middle and insert the wick into it, fixing the knot on the back side. Shape the form with a liquid detergent for washing dishes, and fasten the wick to the toothpick (barbecue stick, spoke), passing it through the mold and putting the toothpick on its edges. That is, the wick must be exactly in the middle of the form, extending from the bottom upwards. And do not forget that over the edge of the mold should remain at least a couple of centimeters of free wick (while wound on a toothpick). Now put the paraffin in a ladle, a jar or a small saucepan and put this container in a water bath. On medium heat, melt the paraffin and allow it to dissolve in the dyes. For a fragrant candle, drip a few drops of essential oil into the paraffin wax. Then pour the liquid and still hot paraffin into the prepared form and leave the candle to freeze. If you use a form in which you can not make a hole for the wick, then proceed as follows. Melt the paraffin wax, dip the wick into it and hang it upright so that the string becomes stiff and straight. Fill the paraffin into the mold and let the candle harden. During this time, the wick will harden. Now heat the metal knitting needle and make a hole in the center of the candle. Then insert the wick into it and gently fill the hole with liquid paraffin. Froze the candle out of the mold. To do this, just put a candle shape in hot water for a few seconds and pull the wick - the candle will easily slip out of the mold. And do not forget to cut the knot from the back of the bottom of the mold, if that's how you fastened the wick in the candle. It remains to decorate your candle. You can simply decorate it with beads or beads, lightly heating the candle with a hairdryer, so that the beads are easily pressed into the paraffin. Tapes, braid and lace just wrap around the candles, planting on the glue. And if you use napkins for decoupage, then cut out the motif of the right size, attach it to the candle and spoon the napkin with a hot spoon. Under the influence of heat, the wax will melt, impregnate the napkin, and the pattern is imprinted on the surface of the candle. 
Gel candle
If the candle from paraffin is clear and very simple, then what about the gel candles? Can I make such a candle at home? Yes, you can! To do this you will need:
- gelatin;
- glycerol;
- tannin;
- reinforced wick;
- transparent shape.
Glycerin and tannin can be bought at any pharmacy, andgelatin use the usual - food. Armored wick can be bought in shops for needlework or reinforce (make rigid) the usual wick with paraffin. Dyes for a gel candle are suitable fat-resilient. The main thing in the process of making a gel candle is not to let the candle mass boil, otherwise the gel will cloud. And further. If you use combustible materials to decorate such a candle (dry rose petals, for example), then the wick must be inserted into the candle not to the very bottom, that is, to end above the level at which the combustible decor is located. So, we are preparing the candle mass. In twenty-four parts of the water we take five parts of gelatin, thirty-five parts of glycerin and two parts of tannin. Gelatin is poured in warm water and add twenty-five parts of glycerin. This mixture is heated (not boiled!) In a water bath to a homogeneous mass. In another container, mix ten parts of glycerin with tannin, mix both mixtures and heat. The resulting candle mass is poured into the mold, where we fix the wick in advance (as in the case with paraffin candles). For the decor of the gel candle we use any suitable materials: beads, pebbles, shells, twigs. Only first moisten these objects with wax or paraffin, then add them to the bottom of the mold, fill the candle mass, and then gently shake the mold. Beads and pebbles randomly spread throughout the candle. So, with your own hands and even without special skills you can make a decorative candle. Do it! Fantasize, try, experiment - and you will succeed! We advise you to read:
