Can I? Can't I? We get asked so many questions about what can and can't be done with candles. We're here to share the things that we have seen and heard when it comes to the extra bits and pieces to put in candles. Simply Candle Supplies always recommends to candle makers that it always safer to make candles with the regular ingredients. Adding anything extra to candles besides wax, fragrance, and your wick can be very risky, even for the most experienced chandler. It is recommended to contact your insurance provider and seek policies that suit your purpose for security and peace of mind. Keep reading to find out what your options are when in comes to crystals, dried flowers, glitter and colour.
Crystals
We love a bit of energy healing just as much as the next person, but when it comes to crystals in candles there are a couple of things to consider.
Size matters
The size of the crystal plays a huge factor as to whether it'll affect the burn of the candle. When crowning the top of your candles with crystals it's important to consider the fact that as your melt pool develops, the position of the crystal will shift. If the crystal is large it is highly likely that it will slip closer to the wick, meaning it would push on the wick, possibly extinguishing it, before it has a chance to produce a proper melt pool. To avoid this, a lot of candle care cards say to remove the crystals before burning the candle to be on the safe side. A sprinkling of crystal chips adorning the top of candles are continuing to grow in popularity, most likely because they ensue less risk, being that they are small and mostly fall to the bottom of the melt pool without obstructing the burn of the wick too much.
Can it handle the heat?
Another risk with gems and crystals is that certain crystals do not hold heat and would increase the chance of burn and bust related incident or even change colour at high heat. It is important to make sure that if you're using crystals that they are suitable for your purpose and are in fact real rather than an artificial gemstone and that they can handle the high temperatures next to an open flame.
Another risk with gems and crystals is that certain crystals do not hold heat and would increase the chance of burn and bust related incident or even change colour at high heat. It is important to make sure that if you're using crystals that they are suitable for your purpose and are in fact real rather than an artificial gemstone and that they can handle the high temperatures next to an open flame.
Dried Flowers
Beautifully decorative and sometimes with meaning, dried flowers can be a pretty addition to your candles. Rose buds, lavender, hydrangeas petals and other florals have been accessories to candle making for a long time, most notably in pillar candles. In recent times, a dusting of petals seems to have picked up in popularity but of course there is a precautionary way to achieving the look that has so many people hooked.
Placement is everything
If you are including dried flowers into your candle as an arrangement, be sure to carefully place small petals around the edge of the candle, as far away from the wick as possible. Present these candles with a warning, like any other candle, it must not be left unattended. It is always recommend that that all decorative pieces are removed prior to lighting the wick as a preventative measure.
Glitter
The glitz and glamour of glitter can be a fun way to add a little sparkle to your candles, but doing so sometimes pose a fire safety risk depending on how large your glitter pieces are. The best way to incorporate glitter into your candle is to use a very fine glitter rather than larger pieces.
Work smarter not harder
The functionality of your candle will require a bit of attention. Testing the burn of your candle is imperative. Once you have worked glitter into your wax, you will most likely need to choose the wick size up from what you would usually work with for that jar. This will prevent the wick from clogging, overworking and drowning and will give you a more effective burn.
Colour
Coloured candles are fun, trendy and definitely make a statement. Something to consider when making your coloured candles is what you'd prefer to use in terms of colourant. Liquid, chips, and powdered dye are the different options to choose from when working with dye. Some people have preferences based on what they're used to working with, others aren't happy with the result of one and move to another. Pro tip for making the colour you're happy with, before you pour your candle drop a little bit of wax onto a white plate and let it dry to see what colour it cools down to be.
There are those who love a classic, simplistic candle and those who dare to be more flamboyant with their candle making. We love to see both! We only ask that when producing sparkly, gem topped candles that you're careful and take the proper precautions, because at the end the day, you're adding flammable extras into a lit candles. Warning labels are a legal requirement when gifting and selling candles and a candle care card would be a great addition to a product.
The information on this page is not and should not be considered advice provided to you or any other person. The information on this page is opinion only. Simply Candle Supplies will not be liable for any loss, damage or injury caused by failure to follow correct instructions. Professional testing should be conducted in all cases before selling products to third parties, in addition you should ensure your insurance protects you from any loss, damage or injury caused resulting from adding objects to your candle.
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