Citronella Candle Making

 

After a long winter for our northern friends comes a hot, humid, and bug filled summer. With only a few months to enjoy the great outdoors in the Midwest; bugs and bug maintenance is often forgotten about until it’s too late. Citronella oil and citrus scented candles are becoming more widespread versus your ordinary bug spray with harmful toxins and we’ve got just the right stuff to make them on your own!

*Please note these candles do NOT protect you from any diseases carried by mosquitoes/bugs – they are only a simple repellent to keep them away from you for a short period of time.  

Supplies Needed:

EZSoy or EZParaSoy Wax

CD-12 or ECO-8 Tabbed Wicks

Jar of your choice (I used an old soup can and doctored it up so it fit as outdoor décor)

20mm Wick Stickums

Diamond Dye Chips (Not required)

Caution Labels

Fragrance Suggestions:

Citronella, Lavender, Eucalyptus Spearmint, and Lemongrass.

1.  Pre-wick your jars using the Wick Stickums on the bottom of the round metal wick tabs. Stick them down in the center of your jars and make sure they are secure. A hollowed out Bic pen works nicely for pushing down over the wick.
2. Weigh your wax on a scale. Melt the wax in the pouring pot, set inside a pot of water on the stove (like a double boiler). NEVER directly on the burner! *For smaller candles, microwave safe bowls will work, as long you continue to check and stir.
3. Once melted, add approx. 1-2 dye chips per pound of wax (depending on desired shade) and stir until dissolved.
4. Next add approx. 1 oz. of scent per pound of wax, and stir well. Some fragrances blend easier than others, so some may require more stirring.
5. Check temperature with the thermometer. Once wax is approx. 160-165 degrees it is ready to pour.
6. Pour from the pouring pitcher into your jars slowly and steadily. Pouring into pre-warmed jars can help prevent jump lines and wet spots. Keep wicks as straight and centered as possible.
7. Once wax has set slightly on top, enough to hold the wick in place, it is safe to carefully move your jars into a box or an insulated plastic cooler. The slower the candles cool, the better. Give them ample time to completely set up before trimming the wick and putting the lids on the jars.
8. It is best to allow your candles at least 1 week to cure before test burning for optimal fragrance throw. Always test burn your candles before selling, and make sure to include a caution label on each one! 
   
   
   
   

Mother's Day Candles

 

Looking for the perfect gift for your mom for Mother’s Day? We’ve got you covered! If your mom is anything like mine, a hand-made personalized gift is all it takes to make the dimples on her cheeks come out and her eyes to get squinty! At Bitter Creek, we have all you need to make the perfect gift. Not sure where to start? Follow the steps below and we will help you create a candle made just for mom!

Supplies Needed:

EZSoy or EZParaSoy Wax

CD-12 or ECO-8 Tabbed Wicks (be sure to check jar diameter and get the correct size wick, found on our wicks page on our website!)

Jar of your choice (linked below)

20mm Wick Stickums

Diamond Dye Chips (Not required)

Caution Labels

Fragrance Suggestions:

24 Carat, Amaretto, Cranberry Champagne, French Vanilla, Hawaiian Paradise, Magnolia Tabac, Raspberry Burst, Sunflower & Pomelo, Wine Cellar – or of course, your mother’s favorites, too!

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1. Pre-wick your jars using the Wick Stickums on the bottom of the round metal wick tabs. Stick them down in the center of your jars and make sure they are secure. A hollowed out Bic pen works nicely for pushing down over the wick.

2. Weigh your wax on a scale. Melt the wax in the pouring pot, set inside a pot of water on the stove (like a double boiler). NEVER directly on the burner! *For smaller candles, microwave safe bowls will work, as long you continue to check and stir.

3. Once melted, add approx. 1-2 dye chips per pound of wax (depending on desired shade) and stir until dissolved.

4. Next add approx. 1 oz. of scent per pound of wax, and stir well. Some fragrances blend easier than others, so some may require more stirring.

5. Check temperature with the thermometer. Once wax is approx. 160-165 degrees it is ready to pour.

6. Pour from the pouring pitcher into your jars slowly and steadily. Pouring into pre-warmed jars can help prevent jump lines and wet spots. Keep wicks as straight and centered as possible.

7. Once wax has set slightly on top, enough to hold the wick in place, it is safe to carefully move your jars into a box or an insulated plastic cooler. The slower the candles cool, the better. Give them ample time to completely set up before trimming the wick and putting the lids on the jars.

8. It is best to allow your candles at least 1 week to cure before test burning for optimal fragrance throw. Always test burn your candles before selling, and make sure to include a caution label on each one! 

9. Finally, check out our Votive Boxes linked below, along with some paper shred to create a cute gift box with all of her favorite things and enjoy!

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Not so sure on the candle idea? That’s okay! We offer a wide variety of other products to make your mom smile this Mother’s Day! We also have everything you need to make soaps, air fresheners, bath salts, and so much more! Just visit our website, click the “Instructions” tab, and browse through until you find that something special!

Once your candle is done, be sure to save a picture of it and check in on our Facebook for a special Mother's Day Giveaway!  

 

 

Links: Votive Boxes; Paper Shred; Jars;

 

Spring Cleaning/Candle Storage

 

‘Tis the season for spring cleaning! A popular trend across the nation symbolizing a fresh start; it’s the perfect time to open some windows, let the fresh air in, and de-clutter! Spring cleaning in the Midwest also means that yard sales are well on their way and a common occurrence at most of the sales I attend, is old, battered, and dusty candles. I get it, sometimes we really like a scent in the store among the rest of them but when we get home and light it, it’s just not what you were expecting and into the back of the linen closet it goes. So how do you keep your candles from wilting away? And what’s the best way to clean a dusty candle to make it sale ready? Let’s go over some tips and tricks to keep your candles as fresh as can be!

First off, it is highly recommended to keep your candles in a cool, dry area both while storing them and while using them. This allows for your wax to hold and the fragrances to stay strong. If you leave your candles in the sunlight, it will cause them to melt, limiting their fragrance lifetime! This goes for your waxes, as well!

Secondly, and probably the most obvious, do not store your candles somewhere where a flame could be ignited easily. Out of reach of children and pets and away from flammable objects goes along with this one. It’s that simple!

Now to clean that dusty wax off a forgotten about favorite, grab a pair of old pantyhose and roll your candle around in them or wipe gently to remove any dust or debris. It’s an easy and cost effective trick to bring life back to your oldies! Whatever you do, avoid the rubbing alcohol and cotton ball technique as alcohol is highly flammable and if not carefully done and watched over, could send your candle into a burst of quick flames.

If you’re feeling creative and hate looking at messes in the closet, grab some small storage containers, print some fancy labels, and store your candles neatly within and up out of sight.

Do you have tips and tricks of your own? Be sure to comment and share your thoughts with the rest of us at Bitter Creek! 

 

-Brittany