We are getting ready for our Cupid's Candle Crafting Workshop on February 8th! Just in time for Valentine's Day, our guests will have the opportunity to design and pour their own personalized candles. Leading the workshop will be the amazing Vanessa, an experienced candle maker and fragrance mixologist. To get everyone even more excited for the event, let’s take a moment to get to know Vanessa a bit better and how to make your own candles!
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started with candle making?
Hello! My name is Vanessa Smith. I am a busy working mom who also co-runs an awesome event planning company! My interest in candle making started back in July of 2020 when I was looking on Etsy for a gift for a friend. I got the idea to make a candle for her instead of buying one. That began my journey down a rabbit hole of all things candle making. I learned there is a lot more to it than I initially thought. What type of wax should I use and what temperature should the wax be depending on its type? What type of candle vessel? What fragrance oils do you use? Cotton wicks vs wooden wicks, and so much more!
2. What do you enjoy most about the candle making process?
A few things I enjoy most about the candle making process is trying out different fragrances. I have an obsession with finding new, multi-layered fragrances. Our sense of smell is so personal, we hold a lot of memories in scent, and I love finding new combinations that awaken different feelings and memories. Our sense of smell is closely tied to memory because of the way the brain processes scents. The olfactory system, responsible for detecting smells, is directly connected to two brain regions involved in memory and emotion: the limbic system and the hippocampus. Because of this deep connection between smell and memory, scents can serve as powerful triggers for reliving emotions and experiences. For instance, the smell of a certain flower might remind you of a specific person or a particular season, linking it to the emotional context of those memories.
3. What has been the most challenging thing about creating candles?
The most challenging phase is in the beginning. The testing phase. Finding the right type of wax, wick, container, and fragrance blends, can be a daunting process. Each type of wax has a different temperature it needs to reach. From there, you must learn when to add the fragrance oils, how much you should add, how big of a vessel you should use, what size of wick to get the optimal melt pool, and so many more details you have to figure out. Thankfully today there are a lot of YouTube channels, Facebook pages, and other resources out there so that beginners have a much better starting off point than in the past.
4. What are some of your favorite fragrance combinations, and why?
I am always partial to woodsy fragrances. I have found that mixing a woodsy fragrance, whether it be cedar, balsam, or sandalwood, with a vanilla, cardamom blend, is such a warm and decadent combination that truly delights my senses. Everyone has a different fragrance preference. I know many people prefer more floral notes like orchid, rose, and wildflower. While others only want the bright fruity fragrance like lemon, plum, or apple! It is so unique to everyone and I love to see what others gravitate towards. It gives a little glimpse into who they are!
5. Can you walk us through the process of creating a custom candle from start to finish?
Creating a custom candle always starts by selecting the size of candle you want to make. For classes, we usually do 6 or 8 oz candles. From there, I have everyone learn how to center their wick. Then the fun part begins! Creating your own custom fragrance blend! There are a variety of single note options for people to play around with and make their own custom fragrance that's perfectly suited to their scent preferences! For example Very Vanilla, Apple Spice, Sweet Cardamom, Grass, Rain, Lemon Pound Cake, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, and SO much more! There are a few pre-blended candle fragrances to choose from as well. Black Cardamom & Cream, Sweet Plum & Amber, Maple Chai + Sweet Cream, and more! After people are satisfied with their fragrance creation, I will measure out their coconut apricot wax in their own little pitcher. They can choose to add dye to their wax if they don't want a white candle. From there they will combine their fragrance oils into the wax and stir and stir! Once the oils have properly fused with the wax, then it is time to pour into their prepared vessel. After the pour, the candles are carefully set aside to cool. Everyone can then pick their own custom made candle label, learn more about the history of candle making, eat some snacks, have a drink, and mingle!
6. What tips do you have for beginners who want to start making their own candles at home?
I recommend the YouTube channels Standley Handcrafted, Wade (Black Tie Barn), and Memory Box Candle Co to learn all the basics and beyond of candle making. I also recommend joining Candle Making for Beginners Facebook Group! Spend a lot of time researching before you make any purchases online. I order a lot of my supplies from Candle Science. Also, Makesy has a lot of high-end fragrances I order from time to time. There are a lot of companies out there, make sure you read the reviews and do a LOT of research first!
7. What are some common mistakes people make when making candles, and how can they avoid them?
If you are serious about making candles, don't order those pre-made candle kits. Do your research and order the wax, wicks, vessels, everything individually. Learn about the flash point of the wax. Learn about the ratio of fragrance oils to wax, this is very important! Learn about melt pools, hot throw vs cold throw, burn time, trimming wicks, properly wicked vessels, and candle safety!!!
8. How do you come up with new and unique fragrance blends?
Practice, time, research. There are suggestions on the Facebook groups, or you can look at the high-end fragrance websites and they list out their top, mid, and base notes in their blends. If there is one that sounds interesting to you, you can try to recreate it or reinvent it!
9. What makes your workshops unique and special?
I provide a wide variety of fragrance oils for people to play around with. I also create a variety of custom labels for people to choose from so they really feel their creation is unique and their own. Besides the candle making, I also talk about the history of candles, the variety of fragrance notes, a bit on the science of the process, and offer food and drinks to create a fun atmosphere!
10. Where can people find more information about your workshops and purchase your candles?
People can find out more about the candle workshop at lunargalas.com. There will be an online Lunar Galas store with candles in the near future! They can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for future updates!
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