Do you want to make candles? The first step in candle making is to choose the right wax for the job.
Three types of candle are most commonly made at home: Beeswax Candles, Container Candles and Moulded Candles.
Beeswax Candle Wax Beeswax candles are the easiest to make since they require no heat.
To make one of these candles, you simply roll up a beeswax candle sheet around a wick and the job's done.
Container Candles Container candles are made by fixing a wick in the bottom of a heat-proof container and pouring in wax.
It's essential that you use container wax when making container candles so that the wax doesn't shrink away from the edge of the container on setting.
Mould Wax If you're going to be pouring into a mould, you must use mould wax.
This wax is specifically formulated to ensure that it shrinks from the mould so that you can remove it easily once it's set.
This also means that you usually need to pour more than once as the wax also shrinks from the wick leaving a conical shape inside.
A second or third pouring will fix this I recommend always going for a pre-blended paraffin wax for moulded candles.
This includes additives to harden the candle and make it burn for longer once made.
Soy, Palm and other "natural" waxes can be used in moulds but are better suited to container candles.
They don't tend to burn for as long as a paraffin wax as they're softer.
Although they might appear to have better eco-credentials than paraffin wax, in fact the main environmental impact in wax is the transportation and this is identical for all forms.
There is, as it happens, very little oil in paraffin  So, beeswax, container and moulded candle waxes are the three most common choices: good luck with Making Your Own Candles!