Who doesn't love candles, they are an inexpensive way to add fragrance and ambience to your home.  I'm writing this guide to answer some of the questions that I'm frequently asked and to hopefully clear up some of the misinformation about candles. 

How they are made

To put it simply candles are either made from soy, vegetable or paraffin wax. That has been melted down either in a wax melter or presto pot, colored, scented, and poured into a mold or a heat safe container.
Once you learn how candles are not all that diffacult to make but it is very messy and you can end up spending a lot of money on supplies.  As a hobby it can be very expensive and does require many hours of testing to ensure that you are putting out a safe product.
      

Candle Myths

Contrary to what some people would have you believe paraffin candles don't cause cancer. (Believe me the government has tested them)  Those scare tactics were started by people to sell their own product by bashing someone else's.  In the long run this kind of behavior hurts more than it helps, because they run the risk of losing their credibility.  The true fact is the market is large enough to support us all no matter which type of candle you prefer. 

What to look for in a candle,  When it comes to choosing a candle it can be very hard to tell a well made one from a poorly made candle.   Probably the only thing that I would advise is purchase from people that you know are reputable.  I always say that you get what you pay for.  A candle from a discount store is not going to be near the same quality as one from say your local candle shop.  The type of candle that you choose is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.  I prefer soy but that is not to say there is anything wrong with paraffin candles. 

Soy  and beeswax  burns cleaner than paraffin, in fact highly refined paraffin will burn just as cleanly. The type of wick used as well as the fragrance & dyes more than anything affect how cleanly the candle will burn.  so in effect the cleanest burning candles would be unscented and undyed candles burning in a draft free area.  Keeping your wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch will also help.

Triple scenting is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.  One that I have to admitt to being guilty of myself.  What it means is that the candle is scented with three times the amount of scent reccomended by the manufacturer.  Which is something that most of us already do, otherwise we wouldn't have the highly scented candles that the public requests.

 Lead Wicks, it's funny how often that still comes up. But lead wicks(a known health hazard) have not been produced since the 1970's.  Some candles that contain lead may still be around but that would be extremely rare.  (I would probably be careful about burning a candle produced in a third world country.) Metal wicks use zinc or a zinc alloy (which has been tested to be safe). Wicks are also made from specially treated paper, cotten, as well as  hemp. 

 Gel Candles Exploding, Snopes said that it did in fact happen but it was caused by the container not the gel exploding. The gel gets hot and expands causing the container to explode. For example if you leave a ceramic coffee cup on a burner long enough it will explode.  So if made properly using a heat safe container gel candles are just as safe as any other type of candle. 

Candle Tips 

Trim wicks to 1/4 ich prior to each use.
Keep burning candles away from drafts and vents.
Keep away from children & pets
Always burn on a heat resistant surface.
Never burn on or near anything that can catch fire.
Never leave a burning candle unattended or out of your sight.