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Many people believe making a candle in a simple affair and yes, it can be. However once you start using fragrance oils either synthetic or essential oils and add colouring the process becomes more time consuming.
Before we put a product to market we have to do extensive testing to ensure the product will perform as expected.
Step 1: Select the vessel
You can't just use any jar as your candles vessel. We look at jar thickness, the way it was constructed and shape before we would consider its use in any of our products. Our main jars are a clear jar with engraved wooden lids that allow me to be more creative with colouring of products.
Step 2: Select the wick
There are guides online which give you an idea on what wick size you should use for the diameter of the vessel you use. These are really just a loose guide. As mentioned wax density, specific gravity and additives can make an impact on the way a candle burns.
At Hampton & henry we use a flat braided wick made out of natural cotton fibres with a paper core for rigidity. The wicks are zinc and lead free and acid resistant.
Step 3: The Blend
The next stage entails the blending of our wax base, fragrance and any other ingredients in our mixing vessels. Ingredients are brought to the desired temperature and maintained which the blend is mixed.
Step 4: The pour
Nice and slow is the best way to go which also makes it easier to measure each candle on our trade scales ensuring every candle is consistent. Once the pour is done we centre the wick with a special device.
Step 5: Its a secret
Step 6: The Test Burn
When we make a new candle blend we make at least three different candles with three different wick sizes. The wick we think it will need followed by a thinner wick and a thicker wick just to make sure.
Each of these candles then have their wicks trimmed to identical heights and are weighed.
We then commence the test burns which consists of 4 hours on, 4 hours off in a controlled environment so external factors such as wind and temperature don't affect the test results. We also trim the wicks back to 6mm.
After 12 hours burn time (over three days) we then check the candles to make sure they are burning correctly. The candles are each weighed and a determination can then be made regarding the best wick to use and also the estimated burn time of the candle.
Step 7: Winner!
Once we have found a winning combination we then make our first batch, label them up and let them sit for 2 weeks in a controlled temperature environment where the fragrance and wax will bind and set ready for sale!
Want to learn how to make a candle at one of our workshops? Click on the Workshops link below.
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145 Hampton Street Bridgetown WA 6255
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