Category: Candle Accessories

Transcription

1 Candle.LifeTips.com

2 Category: Candle Accessories Subcategory: Candle Accessories Tip: Candle Holders: Size and Type Does Matter Some may think that any container will work for any type of candle but this isn't true. Making sure your candle holders are designed properly and fit your candles is important for longer burning times and candle safety. When choosing candle holders it's best to pick ones that are made specifically for this purpose. Make sure your candle holders are sturdy and will not tip over. Also, be sure the candle holders are large enough to contain any and all melting wax from the candles. Remember, votive candles liquefy completely so simply placing the candles on a flat surface will result in hot wax running everywhere. To make sure your candles last as long as possible, make sure the candle holder is a snug fit. Votives should be burned in candles holders that are only slightly bigger than the candle. If the candle holder is too large the votive will spread out in a pancake effect when melting and most of you candle will be wasted. Tip: Handy Candle Tools: The Wick Trimmer Keeping your wicks trimmed on your candles is very important for candle safety. Here's why getting the right candle tools will make this task much easier and safer. Each time you light a candle the wick should be trimmed to approximately a ¼ inch (the width of a pencil) to keep candles from smoking excessively. Candle tools, called wick trimmers, are made especially for this task and are designed to make reaching those wicks easier. Shaped like a pair of scissors, wick trimmers are long and thin and the tip portion, which does the trimming, is curved up to cut the wick flush. That's much easier than trying to stuff a bulky pair of scissors into your candle holders. Be sure you dispose of the trimmed wick instead of leaving it on the candle, which can ignite and be a fire hazard. While burning your candle, if the wick develops a mushroom shape at the tip, gets excessively long, or starts smoking, it's time to put out the candle and trim the wick again. Be careful not to spill the hot wax or burn yourself on heated candle holders. Gently snip the wick and you can then re-light you candle. Category: Candle Centerpieces Subcategory: Candle Centerpieces Tip: Custom Candles: Printed Candles Candles can be customized in many ways. Sometimes it's the scent and color combination or the size of the candles that matter. Some custom candles are printed with a message or a favorite photo. For businesses, organizations, or just to make a

3 special occasion have custom candles printed with either your business logo or your special message. A candle with your business name and/or logo on it will hold a lasting impression with customers. To mark a special occasion like an anniversary, birthday or retirement have a special message placed on a candle to commemorate the date. For the ultimate in personalized custom candles there are companies that will allow you to in any picture and have it transferred to a pillar candle. This is perfect for weddings, for a special friend or even just to have a picture of your favorite pet on a candle. A custom photo candle with a baby's first picture on it makes a great gift for grandparents, aunts and uncles. Just be sure when ordering this type of candle to allow time for production. Custom candles always take longer to create than ordinary candles. Tip: Decorative Candles For Men For the most part candles are thought of as women's domain but men are beginning to appreciate the finer things in life as well. Here are some suggestions for many candles for the guy on your gift list. A stone shaped Tropical Mango and Vanilla decorative candle with a clay handkerchief candle holder is perfect for the man who loves a good cigar. This masculine candle and holder not only look great but eliminate odors from cigar and cigarette smoke. This decorative candle is perfect for a den or anyone who smokes. These odor eliminating candles are also available in pillar candle form as well. Sometimes all it takes is a manly scent to make a man appreciate a good candle. Avoid flowery, fruity or feminine scents. Instead go for more masculine scents such as Coffee, basil, sage, mint or a musk type of fragrance. If possible, search for a company that allows you to choose your decorative candle colors and choose a plain white candle if possible. The less girly (as in no mint green or pink) the better liked the candle will be. Tip: Make Your Own Decorative Candles Decorative candles can be done easily and inexpensively at home. All you need are some basic supplies and you can decorate candles to your liking. To easily decorate taper candles choose some small stickers that will fit on the sides of your candles. If you plan on burning these candles make sure to place the stickers at least half way down the candles, as you can't burn where the stickers are. Place the stickers where you want them and then melt some clear sealing wax in an old pot. Once the wax is completely melted carefully dip your decorative candles by the wick into the wax to laminate them. If you have long candles you may have to dip one end at a time. This is perfect for Christmas dinner candles, Thanksgiving dinner candles or just a romantic evening with little lips or Xs and Os stickers on your decorative candles. Tip: Make Your Own Photo Candle Centerpieces Nothing could be more personal than a candle centerpiece wrapped in a personal photo. These make perfect wedding centerpieces, anniversary party favors or gifts or just a special candle for a special someone. To make your own photo candle

4 centerpieces you will need: A photo to use for the candles Round pillar candles Embossing tool Straight pins Double stick tape ½ inch thick ribbon Small decals (optional) First you will want to make photocopies of your picture one for each candle you're making. Curl the photocopies in a roll so they will fit the round pillar candles better. Then cut the photocopied photos to fit the candles and use the straight pins to fasten the photo to the candles. Now use the embossing tool to heat and melt the top layers of wax on the candle. Continue to do this until the wax saturates the photo and coats it completely. At this point you can remove the pins and start to decorate your candle centerpieces. Attach a ribbon at the base of the photo and knot the ends to make a small bow. You can also use scrapbook embellishments that will thread on the ribbon to further decorate the candle centerpieces. If you want to add a message on the candle centerpieces you could use rub on stencils or attach a small, decorative piece of paper in the same fashion you did the photo, which has names or dates written on it. Tip: Matching Decorative Candles To Your Party Having a fun poker night and want to set the stage with details? Try some poker inspired decorative candles. Miniature floating card candles are perfect for poker night and a set of candles shaped as dice fits right in with game night. Don't forget a Royal Flush pillar candle to top it all off. Not only are these decorative candles in keeping with the night's theme but, since they are scented, they'll help cut down on any cigar or cigarette smoke that may be in the room during the big game. Having a girl's night party? Place martini gel candles throughout the rooms to set the mood for fun. Gel candles in martini glasses, complete with an olive, look just like the real thing. Serve martinis or cosmopolitans to keep with the theme. Want to get really girly with your decorative candles? Floating candles in the shape of lipstick, high heeled shoes and purses in a bowl of water adds another feminine touch to the night. Tip: Unique and Unusual Candle Centerpieces Because flowers tend to wilt so fast you may want to consider alternate types of candle centerpieces. For something unusual try placing your votive candles inside a birdcage. The cage can be spray painted any color you wish and the candles can be simply set at the bottom of the cage in a votive holder. For added decoration, add ribbon or dried flowers to the outside of the cage. For a unique candle centerpiece skip the usual candle holder and use small Greek-style columns to hold your pillar candles. These can be bought at any craft store and are relatively inexpensive. The columns can be decorated with wrapped ivy or dried flowers and can either sport a pillar candle or a bowl with a floating candle on the top. For very simple yet elegant candle centerpieces try using a wax sculptured piece with a votive candle holder behind it. These unique wax centerpieces house the votive holder in the back of them and the candle illuminates the carved wax piece, revealing the detailed design. These are beautiful and will set a romantic mood perfectly.

5 Category: Candle Gifts Subcategory: Candle Gifts Tip: A Candle Gift Idea For The Candle Lover Do you know someone who just can't get enough candles? Many candle companies have the ultimate gift idea for just such people. It's called a candle of the month club membership and it's the candle gift that keeps on giving. Signing up someone you love, or even yourself, into a candle of the month club will ensure that you always have a supply of candles coming in during your membership. Each month a new shipment of candles will come straight to the recipient's door. Each month will be a new candle scent so the recipient gets to experience new fragrances they might otherwise not have tried. This candle gift idea is great for those that burn candles on a very regular basis. Do your homework to see which company offers the candle of the month club that will suit your needs best. Some send only candles, some send candles and a candle holder each month. If you or your recipient only burns votives or pillars look for clubs that offer these types of candles exclusively. Then the only other decision to make is how long you want to enroll your loved one into the club. Most companies offer a three, six, nine or twelve month membership. So if you're looking for a candle gift idea for the candle lover you know, consider a candle of the month club membership. Tip: Add A Personal Touch With A Custom Candle Gift Set Getting personal is the key to great gift giving. Show you care by giving a custom made, personalized candle gift set for any occasion. For that special someone, or a dear friend, a personalized candle gift set with an engraved candle holder will remind them of you for years to come. The candle can come wrapped with a custom message just from you and the candle holder can be engraved with the same message or a completely different one. For those who like to give thank you gifts to their clients, try gifting your valued customers with a custom candle gift set. Your customers will be touched by your thoughtfulness, and the gift can contain your name and contact information on it for future use. A gift like this will make a bigger impact, and likely get more repeat business, than a simple business card or flowers. If you have someone on your gift list that loves to be pampered, indulge them with a custom bath and candle gift set that contains both scented candles and soothing bath products. Many companies will let you choose your candles, type of soap and other bath goodies to create a gift set just for your recipient. Tip: Aromatherapy Candle Gift Sets For centuries, aromatherapy has been used to ease everything from stress to upset stomachs. For the candle lover on your list try giving them an aromatherapy candle gift set in one of many varieties. For those who are under a lot of stress try an

6 aromatherapy candle gift set in Lavender, Patchouli, or Lemongrass. To give someone a boost of energy each time they light their candles try scents such as Basil, Peppermint or Rosemary. For someone who seems sad and needs a pick-me-up try and aromatherapy candle gift set with a Grapefruit, Clary Sage or Orange scent. When choosing an aromatherapy candle gift set be sure to check if the candles are truly scented with essential oils. Only candles that give off the fragrance of 100% pure essential oils can be true aromatherapy candles. The essential oils have properties that are not present in synthetic fragrances. So to ensure you or your gift recipient receives all the benefits of the aromatherapy candle gift set make sure to ask if they are scents with pure essential oils before buying. Tip: Buying The Popular Housewarmer Jar Candle The Housewarmer jar candle is popular among those who love candles. They come in over 80 different scents and their lovely glass jars can be reused after the candle is gone. Some of most popular scents in the Housewarmer jar candle line are Lavender, Clean Cotton, French Vanilla and Cinnamon Stick. If you're buying a Housewarmer jar candle for the first time, or purchasing one for a friend, you may want to check out their full line of top sellers. One of these popular choices is likely to be a favorite. Another option if you want to purchase a popular Housewarmer jar candle is to buy according to the season. Check online and see the list of seasonal favorites and find one that's to your liking. If you want to purchase a Housewarmer jar candle but you're on a budget, try looking at the company's best for less section. There you'll find great candles with a smaller price tag. Tip: Candles As Party Favors If you're looking for a unique idea in party favors try using small candles. They smell great, people love them, and they're more useful than traditional favors. Hand out decorated votives for an office Christmas party or to celebrate a milestone at work. Have the candle party favors personalized with a message regarding the occasion to make a great keepsake. For a retirement party, have the retiree's name on the label, along with a little note about the person and their career. For a baby shower use baby powder scented candles wrapped in tulle as the perfect party favors. If you know the sex of the baby make the tulle and ribbon blue or pink, if not keep the colors neutral. A personalized message with the baby's name and birth date should be on each of the party favors if the baby has already arrived, or a more general message if baby is yet to be born. For unique graduation party favors, try giving a boxed set of beeswax candles rolled to look like diplomas. You can either have the candles in the grad's school colors or keep the party favors their natural color and use colored ribbon for the school colors. Have a small message tag noting the grad's name, date of graduation and from which school.

7 Tip: Getting Personal With Candles When giving a gift we should always strive to make it as personalized as possible. This shows you really put thought into your gift giving decisions and is more likely to be enjoyed by the recipient. Candles are no exception to this rule, so here's a guide on personalized candle gift ideas. Look for candles shaped to represent things your recipient likes. Have a friend that likes to bake? Try giving them a candle in the shape of a pie or banana nut loaf. For the person who loves coffee, give them an espresso scented candle in an espresso cup. Gift ideas for golfers are candles shaped as golf balls or a golf inspired candle holder. If you know your recipient well enough to know their favorite scent and favorite color another gift idea is purchasing candles from companies that take custom orders. This type of store will be found on the Internet and will allow you to combine any color/scent combination they have. This way your recipient gets the scent they love and perhaps a candle to match their home décor as well. Tip: The Non-Fat Candle Gift Basket The candle gift basket is low on calories but big on enjoyment. If you're considering buying a gift basket try a candle gift basket instead of the traditional food ones. For a candle lover, nothing is better than a candle gift basket filled with a variety of scented candles. The variety of candle baskets is almost endless. Some have candle holders and other goodies such as scented teddy bears or classical music CDs as well. For a relaxing evening a basket with soothing music, some candles and a couple of champagne flutes is the perfect gift. A word of caution- thought you probably won't find this from professional gift basket makers, never purchase gift baskets that have both candles and chocolate in them. Chocolate will absorb the scent of the candles and be tainted. For those that just can't get enough candles try a basket filled with just candles. Try for a variety of sizes, such as one jar candle and several votives or tea light candles. Some will come with only one scent while others may offer a variety of scents. Candle gift baskets are also perfect for those who are on dietary restrictions. Anyone on a diet, diabetic or with allergies would probably appreciate deliciously smelling candles instead of a basket filled with treats they couldn't eat. Category: Candles Subcategory: Candles Tip: Candle Wedding Favors It can be difficult to decide on what type of wedding favor to give as a thank-you to all those friends and family that attend your wedding. The candle wedding favor is an inexpensive gift and is sure to please everyone. There are a large variety of candle wedding favor types to suit any couple's tastes. For those who love elegance try a

8 wedding cake shaped candle wedding favor. For those with simpler tastes a small, decorated jar candle or boxed votive candle makes a great gift. The best part of candles as wedding favors is that, in most cases, they can be customized to include the label of your choice, your favorite scent, and a beautiful message from you to your beloved guests. Extras, such as lace or tulle, can also be added for that extra special touch, but if you're on a budget there are options to save you money. Try looking for sales or asking if discounts are given on bulk orders. If you'd still love to have your candles dressed up try having the company create a beautiful message but do your own decorating with ribbon and tulle yourself. Tip: Choosing A Candle Making Supply Store So you've decided to make your own candles. Before you melt any wax or decide on scent you'll need to pick your candle making supply store. If at all possible, try to shop around before purchasing from a supply store to ensure you get the best prices on your supplies. If you plan on shopping locally there may only be one or perhaps two stores to choose from but you will save shipping costs. Just be sure to do a quick check online to make sure that any shipping costs you're saving isn't being eaten up by higher prices. If you plan to purchase from a candle making supply store on the Internet you'll have many to choose from. Try joining a candle making group before hand and get recommendations on suppliers from other candle makers. When you choose a candle making supply store look to see if they have a beginner's kit available. These kits usually cost less than buying all the items you'll need separately and will ensure you don't forget to purchase anything that you'll need for your first batch of candles. Also, be sure to take advantage of any extras that they offer such as a newsletter to keep informed on new products and sales and any instructions that may be posted on the website to help you avoid pitfalls or troubleshoot a bad batch of candles. Whether you purchase from a local store or off the Internet, be sure to find a message board that caters to candle makers. Here you will find lots of useful information and be able to seek help and advice instantly. Tip: Choosing A Type Of Wax Candle Though many people may think any wax candle is made from the same type of wax, there are actually three popular types of wax candle on the market. The type of wax candle people are most familiar with is paraffin wax. These types of candles are easily found and come in varieties such as votives, pillars, jar candles, tarts and tea lights. They are usually relatively inexpensive and can be found just about anywhere that home décor is sold. A soy wax candle is made from the soy bean and is another popular candle choice. Soy candles usually have long burn times because they have a lower melting point and tend to emit less soot. The soy bean is a renewable resource and purchasing a soy candle helps support American farmers who grow the soy bean plant. Beeswax candles have been around for centuries and are virtually soot free. They emit their own sweet, honey smell and it is suggested that beeswax candles can be

9 great for those with allergies because they are naturally colored and scented. Tip: Decorating With The Floating Candle If you're looking for a unique way to decorate with candles or an out of the ordinary centerpiece for a table try using the floating candle. Brighten any room instantly by placing a floating candle grouping in a bowl full of water. Try adding small, floral shaped floating candles in a variety of colors for a garden bouquet effect or one large flower floating candle surrounded by a few miniature ones in a different, but complimentary, color. This type of floating candle arrangement would be a stunning alternative to the traditional dinner candles during a romantic meal. Look for heart shaped floating candles for that extra romantic touch. For an indoor party, a floating candle grouping in the bathtub will certainly impress your guests as they visit your powder room. Fill your tub with lukewarm water and place a few lit floating candles in the water. Having the party outside? Place bowls of floating candle arrangements on patio tables, in secure basket hangers and hang them around your patio or in your swimming pool if you have one. Just remember to keep lit candles away from all things flammable. Then get ready for the compliments from your guests. Tip: Finding Your Favorite Scent With Sampler Candles With literally hundreds of different scents of candles out there it can be difficult to choose a favorite scent. Sampler candles, miniature versions of larger pillar or jar candles, are a perfect way to test out a fragrance before committing to a larger candle. Votive sampler candles usually come in one to two ounce sizes and burn approximately 15 hours each. These mini candles come in the same scents as larger candles but allow you to test out a fragrance to ensure you like the scent before ordering a larger candle. Often sampler candles will come in a variety pack that allows you to test out multiple fragrances before placing a larger order. This is a great way to find out the quality of a company's candles and if their scents are strong enough for your liking. Jar sampler candles are also available from some companies and are usually three to five ounces in size. Because jar candles can throw their scent a little differently it's sometimes a good idea to order one or two sampler jars to see the candles burn time and how evenly they melt. Tip: Make Your Home Inviting With A Scented Candle The right scent can set the mood for your guests when they enter your home. If you want to create an inviting and warm environment try using a scented candle to put that welcoming feeling in the air. To create a warm and homey feeling try using scents that remind you of fresh baked goodies. Ones to try are Apple Pie, Butter Cream, or Vanilla. Want an uplifting mood in your home? Try fresh scents such as Mint, Lemon or Lemonade, or Mango. If you're looking for a relaxing evening scents such as Lavender or Green Tea are calming and will put you and your guests into a mellow mood. When

10 you are selling your home burning a scented candle just before a viewing can make a big impact on potential buyers. It will create a warm and comforting feeling that may make people feel more at home in your house and cover up any faint but unpleasant odors from pets or smoking. Tip: Spotting A Quality Candle With so many different candles on the market today it can be hard to know if you're getting your money's worth in terms of quality. When burning a new type of candle there are a few things you should look for to ensure you're candle is of good quality. A quality candle should come with instructions that tell you how long to burn your candle for. It's important to burn your candles for the minimum amount of time suggested as you want the top surface of the wax to liquefy either entirely, in the case of votives, or to the edges in the case of jars and pillar candles. This helps avoid a condition called tunneling in which the candle only melts down through the middle, leaving large portions of the edges unburned and wasted. Also, check to see if your wicks are burning properly. Be sure to trim them before each use and periodically if they get too long during burning. If you notice excessive smoking or if they wicks are drowned by the wax pool it may be due to the wrong type of wick being used. Pay attention to burn time. While different types of candles will vary slightly but keep track of how much time you get from a new candle to ensure you're not wasting money on a candle that burns up too quickly. Lastly, how does it smell? Some candles may have a strong scent when unlit but end up putting out very little fragrance when burning. A quality candle should put off enough scent throw to be noticed and enjoyed. Larger candles will tend to put more scent in the air but even a small votive should give off some scent when burned. Category: Discount Candles Subcategory: Discount Candles Tip: Comparison Shopping For A Discount Pillar Candle Any store can say they offer a discount pillar candle at lower prices but just because it says discount doesn't mean you're getting the best price. Some companies go so far as to put the word discount in their name, especially on the internet, but before you go ahead and assume you can't get a discount pillar candle for less anywhere else do some price comparisons. Their great bargain on that pillar candle may be as much as a few dollars more than you can get from a well known candle company. Quality is also a huge factor when buying candles. Many places can offer you cheaper candles but if they are mass produced with low grade waxes and cut fragrances (meaning diluted and less aromatic) your discount pillar candle could end up smelling like a hunk of unscented wax. If you do find a place that offers a discount pillar candle try test driving a smaller candle of the same product line, such as a votive, and see how it performs first.

11 Does is give off a good scent throw? Does it burn evenly and last a reasonable amount of time? If you're happy with the quality of your smaller candle there's a greater chance you'll be happy with your pillar candle. Also, keep your eye open for well known brands that come on sale. Some candle companies are renowned for the quality and strong scent of their candles. Keep an eye on that company's website or, if they are available in stores, watch the store's fliers for sales. You may be able to get a famous brand, quality candle for less than you would a lesser quality discount pillar candle. Tip: Discount Candles: Are They A Bargain? Nobody likes to pay full price if they don't have to. It may seem like buying that discount candle is a huge savings but if the quality isn't there it might not be worth the little money you save. Do your discount candles have powerful scents? Some cheaper candles are not made with the same amount of fragrance oils as other candles. Where a discount candle may only have 2 percent fragrance added to their candle wax a quality candle can have upwards of 6 percent. Also, some discount candles may have alcohol added to their fragrance that gives them a strong scent when sitting on the store's shelf but may fade quickly when brought home and burned. The way in which a candle burns is also an important factor when deciding if you're getting your money's worth. A quality candle should burn evenly and most of it should melt away. Jar candles and votives should almost completely liquefy, leaving no large trace amounts of wax on their containers, and pillar candles should burn close enough to the edge to remain contained but not tunnel a narrow hole down the middle. If half of your wax isn't melting then you are only enjoying half the candle. Be sure the fragrance of your discount candles are strong enough to be enjoyed and the candle burns evenly. If this isn't the case, you're not really saving any money. Tip: Finding A Discount Scented Candle Online The Internet is a great resource for finding what you want at a lower price. Doing your homework and hitting the search engines may just reveal a way to buy a discount scented candle instead of paying full price. There are many Websites solely dedicated to helping customers source out the best prices on almost anything. Typing discount candles into a search engine will reveal many Websites that list places you can find candles for less. Browse and compare the offering on these sites and chances are you'll find the discount scented candle you were looking for. Also, many Internet only candle stores are able to offer you a discount scented candle that traditional brick and mortar business may not be able to. Overhead is a big part of how much a company must charge for their products. An Internet only business will most likely have a much lower overhead, in terms of renting space, employees etc., and may be able to sell their products at a reduced rate. So compare the prices of candles you find Online and in traditional stores and see if you can snag yourself a discount scented candle on the Internet.

12 Tip: Finding Candles On Sale Everyone likes a bargain and finding your favorite candles on sale is always a good thing. Here are a few tips for knowing where to look when searching for a candle bargain. If you have a favorite candle company you regularly buy from check to see if they have any loyalty programs. More and more companies are realizing that's it's easier to keep their existing customers happy and coming back for more than it is to convert new ones. Therefore, many companies are giving credit for purchases you make and you can redeem those credits and get your candles on sale without having to wait for a sale. A good loyalty program should be free to join and should credit you for each and every purchase you make. Some candle companies will offer a percentage back from each purchase, while others may offer a points system. Just be sure the points system is worthy of the money you spend. Sometimes a point system will have you spending a lot of money with little reward in return. Also, check for companies that offer bonuses when you spend over a certain amount of money. If this is the case, you may want to make larger orders twice a year instead of multiple small ones to cash in on the bonuses. You may find you're not only getting your next order of candles on sale, but maybe for free. Tip: Membership May Mean Discount Candles It's not unusual for non-competing companies to cross promote each other by offering discounts or specials to each other's customers. If you belong to an association or shop frequently at specific stores, you may be eligible for discount candles if they've paired up with a candle company. If you have a membership card in an association some candle companies may allow you to show your membership card and receive discount candles when you shop there. Be sure to check with any clubs or associations you belong to and see if membership with them offers you a discount with other stores. Companies are always looking to reach their target market in new ways. Look for cross promotions between similar types of businesses such as bath and body stores or home décor stores that may give coupons for discount candles at a store they have chosen to help promote. Category: Electric Fragrance Subcategory: Electric Fragrance Tip: A Look At Various Candle Warmers Candle warmers, hot plate-like devices that melt candles without an open flame, are becoming very popular. The most basic candle warmers resemble a coffee mug warmer and are little more than a hot plate that plugs in. They heat the candles from the bottom up but apply no heat to the sides of the candle jar. This means it may take some time

13 for the scent to be released from the candle. They are less expensive than other models and if all you want is a slight fragrance in the air these basic candle warmers may just do the trick. More advanced candle warmers actually allow the candle to sit inside them. Resembling a mini deep fryer, these candle warmers are 6.5 inches tall and have a 4.25 inch wide opening to fit any standard sized jar candle. Because these warmers engulf the entire jar scent is released from warming both the sides and bottom of the candle. Scent is released quicker with this method. Tip: Electric Candle Warmers If you have jar candles in your home but either prefer not to have an open flame or can't burn candles then an electric candle warmer is a great alternative. These devices plug into the wall and have a hot plate surface that you place your jar candle on. Now, instead of relying on a potentially dangerous open flame to release your candle's fragrance, the gentle warming from the hot plate below will slowly melt the candle and scent the air. An electric candle warmer is perfect for teachers, college students in dorms, offices or the elderly. Anywhere that you can't or shouldn't have the open fire of a candle you can still enjoy the jar candles you have in a safe manner. The best part is jar candles are easily accessible and can be used many times before being used up. This may be easier and more cost effective than melting candle tarts. Tip: Safe Scents With an Electric Fragrancer For those who love the soothing scents of candles but either can't or shouldn't have an open flame, try using an electric fragrancer as a safe alternative. An electric fragrancer gives off scent by electricity when plugged into a wall, as opposed to traditional candles that use flame. For spaces such as dorm rooms, offices, or homes with small children using an electric fragrancer is much safer than having an open flame. Put the candles away and plug in the safer alternative. An electric fragrancer would make an ideal gift for an elderly person either in a retirement home, or who may forget to put out a lit candle. It's well known that certain scents can promote appetite, stimulates memory and give a sense of well-being. An electric fragrancer can stimulate the appetite, memory or well-being through scent without the risk of fire from an open flame. Tip: The Aromatherapy Ring Do you want to add fragrance to the air but not with candles or traditional electric fragrance product? Try the simple terra cotta aromatherapy lamp ring to scent your home. These little rings fit around any standard light bulbs in your lamps and hold essential oil that you drop in the ring. When the lamp is turned on the heat from the light bulb warms the oil and releases the fragrance. This is perfect for those who can't burn candles or in an office where obvious electric fragrance products might get in the way. The strength of the scent can be controlled by how much oil you place in the ring. For a light scent start with eight drops you can always add more later. Also, don't be afraid

14 to experiment and blend scents to create your own favorites. To reduce stress try 6 drops Clary Sage, 2 drop Lemon and 2 drop Lavender To reduce irritability try 6 drops Mandarin and 4 drops Lavender This method of electric fragrance is perfect for the energy conscious and those who care about the environment. You don't need to use any more electricity than what you already were to power your lamp and using pure essential oils is a natural way to fragrance your home without chemicals. Tip: The Scent Ball: The Low Profile Electric Home Fragrancer Many electric home fragrancers can seem bulky if space is limited. If you're in cramped quarters try using a scent ball instead of a traditional home fragrancer. A scent ball electric home fragrancer simply plugs into any electrical outlet. You add a few drops of essential oil to one of the cotton pads and insert the pad into the scent ball. Now the fragrance is slowly released into the air through this discreet scent ball. The best part of this type of electric home fragrancer is that you are in total control of the type of scent you enjoy. Because you place the drops of oil on the pad, you can mix scents to create any fragrance you want. It's like having hundreds of regular air fresheners in one. Here are some recipes to try: To relax try 5 drops Chamomile and 2 drops Lavender For a boost of energy try 2 drops Basil, 1 drop Cypress and 2 drops Grapefruit For happiness try 3 drops Bergamot, 1 drop Ylang Ylang, and 1 drop Grapefruit Tip: Using An Electric Home Fragrancer Safely Around Pets When you share your home with pets you sometimes need to take extra precautions that items we bring into the home are just as safe for them as for us. Here are a couple of tips for using an electric home fragrancer in your house when you have pets. Chances are if you have pets you probably use some type of deodorizer to ensure your house doesn't begin to take on any distinct pet odors. While candles can be dangerous around some pets, such as cats that like to jump up and might knock over a burning candle, an electric home fragrancer is safe in most cases. You will want to ensure that there is adequate ventilation for the fragrancer and never keep a pet in a small, unventilated room with an electric home fragrancer. Small pets, such as birds or hamsters, can be especially sensitive to strong scents. If you do use an electric home fragrancer and you have this type of pet make sure to plug the fragrancer in as far away from the pet's habitat as possible. Also, try to purchase a fragrancer that allows you to adjust the strength of the scent and have it on either low or medium strength only. Category: Home Fragrance Subcategory: Home Fragrance Tip: An Easier Potpourri Home Fragrancer

15 Some people love the look of a bowl full of dried potpourri as much as they love the smell. This isn't always the case, though, and if you just want the scent of this home fragrancer without the bowl of dried flowers try displaying a bowl of potpourri beads instead. These tiny, pearlized resin beads are infused with fragrance and act just like potpourri. You can set them out in a decorative bowl and they'll act as any home fragrancer, scenting the air around them. These little beads are also perfect for making your own sachets or car fresheners. Simply take a small organza bag and fill it with the beads. This is a lot less mess than traditional potpourri but with all the same great fragrance. Tip: Hassle Free Scents With A Home Air Fragrance Diffuser Sometimes burning a candle or plugging in a tart warmer just isn't feasible. If you're looking for a safe and low tech way to fragrance a room try a simple home air fragrance diffuser. The home air fragrance diffuser consists of a ceramic or glass jar that contains fragrance oil and a set of long stick-like reeds. By opening the jar and placing the reeds into it, the reeds wick up the scented oil and release it into the room. There's no open flame to worry about and no need for electricity. Just set it somewhere that it won't get tipped over and let this simple little home fragrance product do its job. This type of home air fragrance item is perfect for the office, retirement homes or dorm rooms where open flames aren't allowed. Also try them in a sun room or gazebo where electricity isn't available. To rejuvenate the scents just reverse the sticks. Tip: Home Fragrance Candles From The Kitchen If you love the smell of fresh baked cakes and pies but hate the work involved, candle makers have found a way to make your nose happy with "baking" candles. These scents are fragranced with the smell of angel food cake, chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies. You get all the fragrance without any of the calories. Light a peach pie candle and feel like you just spent an hour in the kitchen baking but without another hour of clean up to go. These home fragrancers are perfect when you're selling your house - just plug them in and let the smell of your home frangrancer warm your home. Tip: Outdoor Home Fragrance: The Better Citronella Candle For years people have had one scent choice when trying to keep mosquitoes at bay. While citronella can be effective, it's not often the best smelling candle. Now you can have it both ways; a great smelling candle and some protection from those nasty biting insects. There are now home fragrance candles on the market that have combined the scent and effect of citronella with other great smelling scents. Available in jar candles, pillars, tea lights and tarts, you now have a multitude of choices in your outdoor home fragrance candles. Not only do they help you enjoy the outdoor but they look much better than a plain, yellow candle. Choose your outdoor home fragrance from such yummy scents as Garden Spice, Garden Green Herb, Garden Sunny Blooms and

16 Garden Wild Berry all with a hint of citronella. Now doesn't that sound better than old yellow? Tip: Removing Pet Odors With A Home Fragrance Product We love our pets, be they a dog, cat or gerbil, but those cute little critters do have a way of scenting our homes in an unpleasant way. That's where a specially designed home fragrance product can help eliminate those unwanted pet odors. To rid your home of pet odors on a daily basis try burning a candle specifically for pet odor control. By regularly lighting this type of home fragrance product you can keep any pet odors at bay without a lot of work. For spot odor removal, such as the dog's favorite place on the couch, try an odor eliminating fabric refresher. These are perfect to spritz on your furniture or carpets a couple of times a week or just before company arrives for a quick burst of fresh scent. For small, contained areas, such as where you store your kitty litter or where your hamster resides, try using a small space deodorizer. Just hang this home fragrance product somewhere out of your pet's reach and it will control litter box or cage odors easily and efficiently. If you prefer to have constant odor control without having to light a candle try a plug in home fragrance product. This will act like a candle, scenting a room consistently, without having to worry about an open flame. Just be careful not to place one of these in a small space that your pet resides in, such as caged animals, without proper ventilation. Category: Tart Candles Subcategory: Tart Candles Tip: Blending Your Own Scents With Candle Tarts Tired of the same old scents from your candle tarts? Try blending scents together to create your own new fragrances. Because you can fit a few small candle tarts in a tart warmer at the same time try mixing two scents together, such as strawberry and a lemon scents for a strawberry lemonade fragrance. Another one to try is blending cinnamon with an orange scent or a coconut with a pineapple or lime fragrance. The possibilities really are endless. For a harmonious blend try keeping blended scents in the same scent family. Floral scents usually go well with other floral scents and fruit or food fragrances usually blend well. Two strong scents may end up battle it out instead of blending so some experimentation may be required. Don't forget to write down which candle tarts you put into your tart warmer so that if you like it you'll be able to duplicate it. Tip: Choosing A Decorative Candle Tart Mold When making candle tarts there are a wide range of candle tart molds to choose from.

17 Some are very basic cube shapes but for those who like to do things with flair there are many more decorative options to choose from. Round molds with scalloped edges make the candle tarts look like little flowers when finished and are very easy to find. Delicate mini heart or leaf molds are available. The heart ones are perfect to scent with cinnamon for cinnamon heart tarts or a soft, romantic scent for Valentine's Day or a romantic evening. A small, round candle tart mold would be perfect for making chocolate truffle tarts. Use chocolate truffle fragrance oil and color the tarts a dark brown to make them look like truffles. Then place them in a small box and either keep them all to yourself or give as a gift. Just remember to let them know those little treats are for melting, not eating. Tip: How To Recognize Quality Candle Tarts It can be difficult to know quality candle tarts when you see them. Here are a few tips to help you spot the goodies from the baddies. How do they feel? Candle tarts with a lot of fragrance oil in them should have a slightly greasy feel to them. The more fragrance oil in your tarts the stronger they will smell when melting. Feeling them is one thing, but recognizing quality just by looks is another matter. Candle tarts can be made from paraffin wax or soy wax; either is fine. Pure soy wax candle tarts should have a creamy appearance to them, but may have a frosted appearance if it is a blend of soy and palm wax. Blending is not a bad thing but if you're a purist you may want to make sure your soy candle tarts is 100 percent soy. Paraffin waxes usually smooth and opaque but can have a mottled appearance, depending on the type of wax. Again, either is fine and one doesn't suggest better quality over the other. The truest way to tell quality is to melt them. It is often said that soy wax products last longer due to their lower melting points. Pay attention to how long your paraffin and soy tarts last to see which one is the better value. Tip: The Right Candle Tarts For The Occasion Because candle tarts can be blended to create customized scents use this to your advantage to set the stage. The right fragrance in the air can put people in a festive mood or calm you after a stressful day. Candle tarts for a party: ½ a tart of Macintosh apple and ½ of Tangerine and Peach. The fruity scents will liven up the crowd, especially in summer. Jellybean- ½ a tart of Grapefruit and ½ a tart of Cucumber and Cantaloupe. This delicious scent will perk up your guests. Serve bowls of jellybeans for fun. Candle tarts for a relaxing evening: ½ a tart of Hazelnut Coffee and ½ a tart of French Vanilla. Curl up with a homemade specialty coffee, a good book and this soothing scent in the background. Candle tarts for a romantic evening: ½ a tart of Midsummer nights and ½ a tart of Plumeria. This sensual blend will set the mood for love. Melt these tarts while you have a hot bubble bath for two. Tip: Unique Candle Tarts

18 Most candle tarts are fairly simplistic in design but for those who love added detail try one of these unique candle tarts in your burner. The cookie candle tart looks, well, just like a cookie. These cookies come in a variety of different cookie types and smell just as they look. The vanilla cookies are vanilla scented and the fudge cookies are fragranced with a rich chocolate aroma. For themed occasions why not melt candle tarts that are in keeping with the event. For a baby shower try candle tarts in the shape of baby booties, baby feet or teddy bears. If you want to freshen up the air during the big game melt some football shaped tarts in a neutral or masculine scent that the guys won't mind. Category: Votive Candles Subcategory: Votive Candles Tip: Dragonfly Themed Votive Candle Holders Dragonfly themed décor is very popular and always a sure sign that spring and summer are on the way. Try adding some votive candle holders with beautiful dragonflies in your home or on the patio in honor of those warmer days to come. Simple glass votive candle holders, or votive cups, fit a votive candle perfectly and can be placed almost anywhere. With a delicate dragonfly or flowers etched on the glass these little votive holders are decorative and go with almost any décor. If you want a votive candle holder with a little more style to it, try a mini lamp style glass votive holder. These are perfect to put on display on a patio table or in a gazebo on those warm summer nights. Looking for a housewarming or hostess gift? Try giving two of these types of votive candle holders and a few votives in a summer fragrance. Almost every home burns scented candles so chances are you're recipient will love this gift. Not only will these votive holders be decorative but useful too. Tip: How To Buy Wholesale Votive Candle Holders Traditionally, wholesale products are sold only to retailers who run their own business. If you want to purchase wholesale votive candle holders chances are you'll need to be a registered business with a tax ID or some sort of business license. If you are a business you'll most likely be eligible to buy wholesale votive candle holders but be aware that there will likely be a minimum order amount that you'll need to spend on each order. Wholesalers buy in very large quantities and they want to sell in large quantities as well. You may have to buy cases of candle holders at a time, which is good if you are buying for a business, but not so great for personal use. If a company does let you purchase wholesale votive candle holders from them, without being a business, you'll still have to buy in quantity to get any great savings. This is fine if you can go in on an order with some friends or you need a large quantity for a wedding or event but if you're only buying one or two the best thing to do is compare prices. A company's wholesale prices might be just as much or more than retail candle holders from your local department

19 store. Tip: Husky Holders For Your Votives If you love different and unique try using dried corn husks to decorate your votives. Corn husks can be bought at craft stores and usually have a beautiful, delicate coloring to them. They're perfect for those romantic meals on a hot summer's night. To make corn husk covered holders for you votives you will need: A cutting mat Utility knife A ruler Dried corn husks Votive holders Scented votives Double sided tape Ribbon Scissors On your utility mat, cut the widest part of the corn husks to match the height of your votive holders. Apply your double sided tape about a ¼ inch from bottom of the votive holder. Press on two or three of the corn husk pieces, overlapping their edges to cover the entire holder. Finish off by tying a ribbon around the votive holder. Now place your votives in the holder but be sure to trim the wick short and keep it short. Dried corn husks will burn easily so keep a close eye on your flame. Some great summer scented votives are Cucumber and Cantaloupe, Fresh Peach, and Island Mango. Tip: Unique Holders For Votives Want something different from the same, boring candle holders? Try using peppers for your votives. Choose peppers that are large enough to fit a glass votive holder. Also make sure that the peppers are uniform in shape and as square as possible so they will be sturdier. The stem end of the pepper will be the base of the candle holder. Cut the stems off so it is even with the rest of the peppers. Now turn the pepper over and cut one inch off the opposite end. You'll now want to scoop out all the membranes and seeds, being careful not to tear the peppers. The peppers are now ready for the votives. Gently twist them into place and test them for stability before lighting. These are so cute and great as a centerpiece for an informal dinner or outdoor meal. Category: Wedding Candles Subcategory: Wedding Candles Tip: A Potpourri Wedding Candle Centerpiece Add a splash of color to your wedding candle centerpiece by combining a candle and potpourri in your table centerpieces. Specifically designed glass cylinders can be purchased that will hold potpourri in the bottom of the container and have a separate insert that sits at the top of the cylinder and holds a votive. Available in a set of three different sized cylinders, these wedding candle centerpieces will add a soft glow to your wedding tables and add color via the potpourri. Choose potpourri and candles to match your wedding colors for that perfect added detail. If you want wedding candle centerpieces minus the candles you can always display a larger glass bowl and just use