Vanilla is the most popular scent for candles today. There is nothing better than walking into a home that has a vanilla scented candle burning. The wonderful aroma fills the room with the relaxing scent, welcoming everyone in. Vanilla varies depending on the maker of the candle so do your own research and find the vanilla candle that fits you! Come on over and see the different vanilla candles we have to offer at www.LarasCandleShop.com, you won't be disappointed!

Candle History

Hand Dipped Candles

Where did candles start? Who was the wise man or woman who thought, " I could use a little more light!" and created the candle? Archeologist believe that the first people to have a candle were the Egyptians and Cretes about 5000 years ago! For outdoor use they had torches which gave off a fair amount of light but produced a lot of smoke. The candles inside were smaller and still gave off smoke but not as much. These first candles were made of animal fat, called tallow, which was usually from sheep or goats. The Romans were the first to use a wick in the candle. They used these for traveling at night and worshiping the gods.
Next came beeswax in the middle ages. These candles were an improvement in the animal fat candles in that they burned cleaner. The only drawback is that they were very expensive which means the only ones with these better candles were the rich. After a while the churches caught on and many churches still use beeswax candles today.
In the 1800s paraffin started to replace tallow because it burned cleaner than tallow but was cheaper than beeswax. Paraffin is made from petrolium residue and is still used today.
Candles through out history have been used as a light source but when Thomas Edison came along and invented electricity the need for candles went down as electricity became more comon and afforable. The candle obvoiously did not get lost during history's movements forward. There were and still are power outages so many people kept the old standby around just in case.
In the 1980s the candle became more of a decorating tool instead of a main source of light. Slowly scents became more popular as another dimension sensory part of home decor. Not only are we pleasing the eyes but the nose as well. Today soy candles are becoming more popular because they are an all natural product that burns very clean. If it spills, as sometimes happens, it cleans up with soap and water. As we have come through history following the candle we see that it keeps improving and stays ever popular. Keep watching to see what is next for the useful and beautiful candle.

To find sigh quality candles at an amazing price come on over to my website now! www.larascandleshop.com

What does the term richly scented really mean when talking about candles? These are candles that keep their wonderful aroma inside and out. So if you plan on having a party you can take a richly scented candle and expect to enjoy the scent. You can use it inside to hide unpleasant pet or household odors. Richly scented candles do not have essential oils but scents similar to perfumes. This kind of candle is designed to give a good amount of scent throughout the candle as it burns. So you can expect to have the same level of scent even at the very end of the candle.
There are many scent categories to choose from such as floral, fruit and even bakery scents. The floral can be anywhere from a rose scent to freshly cut grass. Fruit scents are quite popular and there are many to chose from in this category alone. Fruit ranges from strawberry to melon. The bakery scents are fun because your home can smell like you have been baking cookies for hours but there is no mess to clean up. There are many other unusual scents to choose from. Look in the other categories that websites have to find scents like bubblegum, baby powder or cotton candy. You can find the perfect scent for you after a bit of searching and experimenting.
Soy is the best kind of wax to buy when getting a richly scented candle. The soy wax melts into a liquid as it is being burned. Because of this natural process during the burning it helps the scent stay even. Beeswax is another all natural product that works well with richly scented candles. It burns evenly and aids in the process of even, strong scents. These are the healthier choices for your home. For the wick you want to choose a lead free wick. Lead can be poisonous if you get too much in your body which is easy to do.
There are a variety of styles to choose from to fit your style. There are pillar candles that do not have any kind of a container but are quite pretty. You can by a stand to put them on. Jar candles are another type of candle that you can choose from. These have a container that is filled with the wax/scent combination and there is no mess to clean up. Pick what works for you.
Richly scented candles are a great choice when it comes to having a home or patio filled with your favorite scent. Have fun and find out what you like and go for it.
Visit us to see our scented candles at www.LarasCandleShop.com

Candles bring a special element to home decor. They bring a pleasing scent and a warm glow from the flame. There are many different designs and color to choose from so that your candle have a candle that fits your style. It is easy enough to find a candle pretty much anywhere. But there is a great feeling sitting in a room filled with candles you have made. It really is easier to make candles than you might think.
Most people think candle making is a hard, long process. This is not the case. The supplies and ingredient lists are small. The effort put into them, small though it may be, will all be worth it in the end. Another perk to making your own candle is that you can custom make the candle to fit the color and scent you want.
Most of the tools are things you already have in your home. For heating the wax an electric stove will work well. Use a pot, fill it half way full of water, then put a clean, used can to put the wax in. Bring the water to a boil and the wax inside will slowly melt. When you are done with the can used to melt the wax you can just through it away. Easy clean up! Next you will need a mold of some sort. It can be anything you have at home, a glass jar or a paper cup. These are the only tools you will need.
For the supplies you will need wax, a lead free wick and a scent, if desired. There are many options when it comes to waxes. The most common is paraffin wax. It is easy to work with and it comes in a variety of melting points so you can use it for different kinds of candles such as: votive candles or pillar candles. The next most popular is beeswax. This one is a bit more expensive because it is harvested in smaller amounts at a time. This wax makes candles burn evenly and put off a warm glow. Beeswax doesn't need a scent as it gives off a honey sent when burned.
There are also palm soy, and gel waxes you can use. Soy and palm are similar to beeswax and are becoming more popular because they are all natural products. They come in a variety of melting points like the paraffin and both burn clean. Which means your home will be cleaner. Gel wax is not really wax at all. It is a combination of resin and mineral oil. Gel wax is fun in that it is transparent and you can do a lot of fun things in the wax. You might even want to make some votive candles in a shape mold, for example a start cookie cutter would make a cute little candle to put into the gel wax for variety.
Now that we have gone through the basics of candle making I hope you feel more confidant in your next candle making project. Have fun and make it fit your style.

At Lara's Candle Shop we have a variety of scented candles, including Apothecary candles. Visit our store now so see what great products we have! http://www.LarasCandleShop.com

Who doesn't love a candle? They are great for decorating and for gift giving. There are a lots of different kinds of candles to choose from and soy candles are the best. Soy candles are becoming a very popular candle category. There is a good reason for this.
Actually, there are a few reasons. Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin. paraffin wax, when burned, can be harmful to the people or animals breathing the air in that room. The wick used for the candle can also be hazardous to your health. If the candle maker or seller does not say their wicks are lead free you do not want to buy from them. It has been known for many years that lead based paints or other products are harmful to people. Burning the lead based wick is just as bad. Even when burned, the lead stays just as harmful in the air you breath as it would be in the paint.
There are many options to choose from while still having the benefits of the soy wax candle. So the next time you are out shopping for a candle make the healthier choice.

Sale!!!

We are having a sale and it won't last long! Some of our candles are up to 50% off! Come on over and take a look at the high quality candles we have to offer!

Apothecary Candles, What Makes Them Different!

Those who love candles have run across the term Apothecary. Where did this name come from and how did it get attached to a candle? First, I looked up apothecary to find out what this word is, what it means. It turns out it is an old term for a pharmacist or drugstore. In England it means a druggist who is licensed to prescribe medicine. This term is not just old but goes back as far as history begins. These were the doctors and pharmacist all wrapped up into one! These men and women would help any one who was sick and even act as a midwife when needed.

Though this term may seem outdated to us the use of herbs as medicine, and it being the primary source of medicine, is not uncommon in many countries around the world. Herbal medicine is becoming popular again as many people look for different ways to be healthy. I have look for and used herbs to help myself and my family. The modern apothecary believes that nature gives us what we need to heal their bodies and spirits.Very interesting but what does this have to do with candles?

I had to dig a little deeper to find out what this had to do with candles. Why are some candles titled Apothecary? We now know that this is a professional who takes herb and make medicine. The next logical question is: Do the candles have herbs? It turns out that the answer is no. These candles are made the same way as any other candle or scented candle, it is the jar they are in. Let me explain, the jars that the Apothecary candles are poured into were the same type of jars that the Apothecaries used to keep their herb and other ingredients in. These jars have tight lids to keep air out. So, the next time you go shopping for a great candle you will be a well informed customer! When you come across the Apothecary section you will know what makes them so special. Well all that searching and all my questions were answered. It is the jar that makes it unique, that sets it apart. Imagine that.

Welcome to Lara's Candle Shop!

 At Lara's Candle Shop candles are my passion. At our website you can find a variety of scented candles, jar candles and unique candles that everyone would love to have in their home. We decided to create this blog to provide some information about candles. So feel free to post comments or questions you may have. Enjoy!