I don't make candles, I'm an Herbalist and soapmaker, and if you remove all of the time for state and federal regulations, it was a goodly amount of time. There isn't really a comparison in Herbalism but in soapmaking a year, but I actually dont think the length of time is the only factor, it's also the number of batches the amount of soap one makes. And also all you learn when Sunshine goes wrong. The amount you learn when you stretch your skills. I imagine the same or similar learning process applies to candle making.