|
In days past, it used to be that colonial candle making was a necessity. Without electricity, candles were the only way to have light and night and were relied upon quite extensively. In colonial times, colonial candle making was accomplished by using animal fat, though individuals with more money sometimes used beeswax, which smelled much better and burned cleaner that animal fat. Unlike today, colonial candle making was mostly done by simply dipping a long wick into melted wax and repeating this process until that candle was thick enough.
If you want to experience the process of colonial candle making, you can easily do this at home. Get a deep pan (a coffee can works great for this) and melt your wax. Take your wick and tie a weight (such as a washer or bolt) at the end. Once you wax is melted, remove it from the heat and dip the wick in until the wax no longer bubbles. Dip the wick repeatedly until your candle is finished to your preferences. After your candle is cooled, cut off the end to create a flat surface.
While colonial candle making can be a fun experience, modern candle making involved a few more steps, including adding dyes and even fragrances to your candles. Today candles can also be made out of a variety of waxes, such as paraffin, soy, or gel. But no matter how you decide to make candles at home, just remember to have fun and get creative.
|
