Starting out can be costly and frustrating. I think using the kits from craft stores is a good way to get your feet wet. The kits give you everything you need to get a successful candle. From there I started testing samples of parafin wax,soy wax and mixing the 2 into a 50 50 blend. From this I decided that I needed to make soy candles as the parafin and my asthma did not get along. I got on the internet and scoured for suppliers that were nearest to me , so I could keep the cost of shipping down. Many of the suppliers now provide small amounts of wax for you to test with the molds that you have from the kits. This allows you to decide what type of candles you want to make for now,pillar,votive or container. This may change as you get more experienced. Following the forums that are available on the internet will help you,too. It seems we all started out with the same questions and we all experienced the same "whoops",how did that happen? I do think that you can get a lot of help from this forum.No one thinks there is such a thing as a "dumb question".I hope you have success with your new project. Welcome aboard.