It’s interesting how things come and go, being standard for a while, then falling out of favor and then coming back in popularity. That seems to be the case with home candle making. I recently visited a page (Home Candle Making) that made it pretty clear.

It used to be that making candles was a necessary household chore if they wanted to be able to have light in their home after the sunset. Home candle making used to be a hot, smelly difficult task. It involved first rendering animal fat into tallow(rendering is heating it and perhaps treating it with lye to drive out moisture and separate the fat from any other material). were very poor candles compared to today’s candles, but they were the most common because tallow was the most affordable candle making material.

Candle making moved out of the home with the development of paraffin and the Industrial Revolution. Once people could get cheap commercially made candles, home candle making fell by the wayside.

As you well know, electric lights replaced candles as the way of lighting our homes, but that doesn't mean we no longer use candles. However, most people no longer make their own.

Because candles are so symbolic, they often used as part of rituals such as church services and weddings. Homemakers use candles to crate an inviting atmosphere in their home, especially when entertaining. And of course candle light is always associated with the romantic dinner, whether at home or out at a fancy restaurant.

So candles have always remained popular, even if no longer purely utilitarian. However, for many years almost no one made their own candles.  Now the cycle is moving full circle and candle making is moving back into the home. This wonderful great is increasing in popularity and hobbyist candle makers are producing delightful candles that are every bit as good or better than commercially made candles.

Some people even make candles that are much better than anything you will find in a store.

If you want to try making a candle at home, the simplest way to get started is to make a rolled candle using a purchased sheet of wax.  This is a good way to start because it is so simple and you don’t even need to melt the wax. you form a candle from the wax by rolling it tightly around a wick.

Once you try that method, you can expand your repertoire to other techniques. A good place to find out how is: How to Make Your Own Candles.  While you're there, be sure to sign up for their free candle making mini-course.

If you think you're interested in trying candle making, probably the best resource I can point you to is Home Candle Making Made Easy. That ebook tells you everything you need to know to start making all kinds of candles.

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