http://articles.decorativefloatingcandles.com/rss.xml A blog about decorativefloatingcandles.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.decorativefloatingcandles.com/?a=35383 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>If you are the type of person who enjoys making their own candles and your family and friends are always telling you how great your creations are, you may want to think about turning your hobby into a business. If you think you may want to give it a try here are some helpful tips to get you started.<br /><br />When you are making candles as a hobby you probably give no thought to the actual cost per unit for each of the candles that you make since you are making them for yourself and not for profit. However, when making candles as a business this can be the determining factor between whether you candle making business is profitable or not. <br /><br />Since you will more than likely get you supplies in bulk you want to calculate the cost per ounce of the ingredients you use to make your candles including the paraffin, acid, color, and scents. Calculate the amount of each ingredient you use per candle and multiply that by the cost per ounce which will give you a basic per candle cost factor to go by.<br /><br />If you make specialty candles that contain additional scents or you add accessories such as bows, ribbons, and containers be sure to add the cost of these items in as well as the price of the candlewick. When pricing a good rule of thumb is to make them triple what they cost you to make at a minimum. Be sure to buy your supplies in larger bulk quantities to get the best prices and ask for shipping discounts on large shipments.<br /><br />In order to get started quickly and build a loyal local following you should contact some specialty shops in your area and see if you can get them to carry your line of candles. Be very humble and open and try not to come off as a salesperson. Always offer them free samples and be prepared with professionally made business cards and brochures so that it gives a professional appearance and not like someone who is making candles in their bathtub. One way to get them to take them may be to offer them on consignment at first as this takes the risk off of them.<br /><br />If you know that a particular type of candle is popular in your area you may want to consider specializing in that theme. In some communities country style candles may be popular and in others tropical or beach themes may do better. If you can identify this in the beginning it will help you to be successful much faster by giving the market what they want. You can also create specific holiday lines and even make them collectible by adding the date for that year.<br /><br />Always leave an opening in your packaging that allows the scent of your candles to be enjoyed. This is one of the best selling features that many candle makers overlook. I know I always pick up a candle and smell it before buying and most others I know do the same.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about candles and decorative floating candles at <a href="http://www.decorativefloatingcandles.com/">http://www.decorativefloatingcandles.com</a></p> 2006-08-07T23:00-04:00 http://articles.decorativefloatingcandles.com/?a=35382 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Along with the rise in popularity of aromatherapy we have seen an increase in the introduction of aromatherapy candles to the market. The problem with this is that a great deal of these are not authentic aromatherapy candles and if they do not contain pure essential oils they are giving you no benefit other than lightening your wallet. <br /><br />In many cases these candles being sold as aromatherapy candles are merely fragrant candles and have no essential oils at all. While there may be a pleasant scent and the pretty flicker of light it isn't doing anything for you in the way of aromatherapy. If you are after the therapeutic benefits you need to be aware of what to look for.<br /><br />In addition to many of the candles on the market that claim to be aromatherapy, there are also a great many of these that can be harmful, containing substances like neurotoxins, carcinogens, and reproductive toxins such as phenol, xylene, and benzene. It's bad enough that they don't contain pure essential oils without poisoning you as well. Acetone exposure can irritate your entire respiratory system and result in fainting or dizziness. Benzene exposure will cause drowsiness and unconsciousness with long term exposure causing leukemia. <br /><br />As you can see there are many health concerns to be aware of in addition to merely not getting what you have paid for. It is actually best to use a natural beeswax candle that burns clean so that you know you aren't getting any toxins. Once you have the beeswax candles you can easily create your own aromatherapy experience by adding some of your favorite essential oils to the puddle of wax around the wick which will give off the aromatic vapors.<br /><br />Another method that is used by many to get the benefits of aromatherapy is to purchase an essential oil diffuser. These are relatively easy to find locally or online and are a safe way to get the aromatherapy vapors flowing in the room. Another non burning method of using the essential oils is to mix them with a little water to create a spritzer that you can spray where you want. Of course you can use the essential oils as massage oil and have them rubbed right into your skin along with a carrier oil but you really need a partner for that.<br /><br />Look around and see what is available, using these tips to help guide you and remember this, a true aromatherapy candle will not be cheap. If you see some that make the claim and they are inexpensive you need to check them out thoroughly. If you go the route of adding the essential oils to the candles yourself be extra careful due to the flammability of the oils.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about candles and scented floating candles at <a href="http://www.decorativefloatingcandles.com/">http://www.decorativefloatingcandles.com</a></p> 2006-08-07T22:57-04:00