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Hi everyone,

I'm new to candle making. I've had the interest since I was a kid but never made any candles. Now, I'm making soap (and have plenty of essential oils and some fragrance oils). I would like to make soy and beeswax candles. I'd like to start with container blends.

My question is--where do you buy your containers? What do you buy? How do you determine if the glass will be safe for candles? I don't want to go buy a bunch of glass containers at the local Dollar Store and have the glass crack while the candle is in use.

If anyone has a suggestion for a good book or other learning resource for soy and other natural wax candles...please let me know!

Thanks!

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Dollar stores will carry a variety of glassware. Libbey, Anchor Hocking and Crisa are usually reliable but be aware that most of this glassware is usually flawed. Your best bet for a container is one that is about as round as it is tall and preferably under 3 inches in diameter. Fillmore is very reasonable in price and has good customer service. Unfortunately, shipping makes most jars pricey. Just starting out, I would simply buy jelly jars at the grocery store. Wide mouth are great but be careful of tapering jars. Wide at top and narrow at bottom make wicking nigh impossible. I wouldn't pay more than 50 cents a jar..oh and make sure to get a plain glass and not quilted (labels).

HTH.

Steve

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If you want to purchase jars for making candles go to a candle supply store that sells jars for candlemaking. Check out the state supplier list in this forum for a candle making supplies store by state. There are many good ones to choose from.

You can also pick up some soy and beeswax for candlemaking.

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Thank you, Steve, for the great info! I am familiar with two out of three of those glass brands. I will also look at the canning supplies sections of the local grocery stores. I am trying to avoid buying any online just yet since I don't know what style I want to make and how much wax would be needed, etc. My goal is to make a few to add to Christmas baskets this year and then take time to learn what I need to expand my candle making next year.

Are container candles a better choice for a newbie than little votives? (I thought it might be.)

Edited by evergreen
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Hi Candybee,

Unfortunately, we don't have any candle supply stores in my area. Michaels would be the only thing close.

I intend to buy beeswax from local beekeepers. I have bought some for cosmetic use already but would need more for candles. The soy wax I would buy online. I have a couple of pounds of container wax blend already since I bought it to use for batik a few years ago.

Thanks!

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I highly recommend starting with votives. That's what I started with and learned a lot about the nature of wax and wicks. Votives make great gifts, in that there are some great votive holders and you can give a variety of fragrances. That's how you begin to find out what fragrances people will buy in your area. HTH.

Steve

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I just get my containers from Fleet Farm, Farm & Fleet, or Menard's for now and I use Jelly Jars. I do agree with Chuck though with starting with votives. That's what I started out with and I'm glad I did. It gets you used to the whole candle making process. HTH!

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