Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies
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Making candles and soaps at home doesn't call for an arsenal of expensive supplies. Here's a list of essentials candle-making materials you'll need to create your own tapers, pillars and votives:

  • Double boiler: You can improvise by placing a smaller pot on a trivet inside a larger pot.

  • Mold: You can buy fancy metal molds at your local craft store, or you can use household items, such as metal cans or yogurt cups.

  • Mold sealer: You can use this item to seal your wick hole so that no wax leaks out.

  • Releasing agent: Spray on your mold a releasing agent, such as vegetable oil, before you add your wax, and your candle will be easier to remove.

  • Thermometer: You need to melt your wax to 190º F, and this tool helps ensure that you reach the correct temperature.

  • Wax: You have many options to choose from, but the most common waxes are paraffin, beeswax, and gel.

  • Wick: Buy them preprimed and pretabbed, and you won’t need to take any extra steps.

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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