Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies
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If you’re making candles, you may wonder what each type of candle is called. After all, candles come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. This list helps demystify the terminology:

  • Container: Container candles burn in the actual container that you pour them into. In essence, the container is your mold.

  • Pillar: Pillar candles are sturdy and thick. They can be short or tall and square or round. Some pillar candles are huge and contain multiple wicks. These candles are usually referred to by their diameter and height, as in a 3- by 5-inch pillar candle.

  • Taper: Taper candles are long and slim. Taper candles are usually a standard size at the base so that they fit into standard candle holders.

  • Tealights: Tealight candles are the same diameter as votives but are just 1 inch high. They’re usually used under something, such as a pot of simmering potpourri or a lampshade.

  • Votives: Votive candles are short, small candles that are only 2 to 3 inches high and 1/2 inch in diameter. Unlike pillar candles, votive candles are classified according to how long they burn. Most votives are 10-hour or 15-hour candles.

About This Article

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About the book author:

Kelly Ewing is a writer and editor who lives in the wonderful community of Fishers, Indiana, with her husband Mark, her daughter Katie, her son Carter, and furry canine friend Cheyenne. She has coauthored several books, including The Internet All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, PCs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, and Direct Mail For Dummies. She has ghostwritten several books and edited more than 75 books on a variety of topics. She also writes articles on sports, travel, and human interest for several newspapers. In her spare time — when she can find it! — she enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, walking, writing, scrapbooking, cooking, and doing crafts.

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