Wizard Candles

If you’re looking for a gift that will make the recipient’s holiday feel all the more special, here are a few holiday inspired gifts that are sure to delight:

~ Gel Candles – a gel candle differs from a wax candle because it is made of, you guessed it, gel, this however gives the candle some unique properties such as the flame giving off a colored light, and also the candle itself projecting its color onto the surface it is resting upon. 

~Sleds and Sleighs – great if you live an area of the country that receives a lot of snow, and fun for the whole family!

~Fudge and Chocolate – what would the holidays be without tasty treats to satisfy the sweet tooth?  Most any recipient is sure to enjoy fudge or chocolate candies in a variety of flavors

~Snowglobes – these are classic holiday ornaments and at least one should be present in every household; both kids and adults love these fun items! 

Though it’s served for centuries as heating, lighting, and a source of aesthetic comfort, the classic paraffin wax candle has undergone little change.  Candles have existed for thousands of years and were first common in churches dedicated to various deities.  No one is quite sure when the candle was conceived because it is so ancient, but it is believed the earliest candles were created with beeswax and various fats around 3000 BC.  Paraffin wax is a bi-product of petroleum refinement, and comprises a majority of candles in modern times. 

Paraffin candles are great for parties, birthdays, holidays, romantic occasions, or just for their delightful sight and scent on an occasion of your choosing.  The candles symbolize warmth, togetherness, and hope. 

It can seem like you’re in a rush to do a hundred things all at the same time when you’re preparing for holiday guests.  To make your party or gathering seem manageable, consider taking the time to plan out what you need to get done each day.  Start bringing out your holiday décor early, and clear off tables, shelves, and mantles where you intend to display it in advance.  If you happen to have kids, and think they are careful enough to handle your Christmas ornaments, allow them to help placing them around the house.  This will help save you time, and give them something to do. 

Once you’ve finished decorating, you will want to do things like food preparation and lighting pillar candles closer to last minute, but be prepared with recipes and matches.  Organizing your schedule will keep you from going mad under all the pressure! 

If you’re like me, you always have trouble finding that perfect gift for mom during the holiday season.  Here are a few potential gift ideas that most moms would be happy to own.

 ~Cookware; be careful with this gift, you don’t want to send the message that you expect her to cook for you!  However a lot of moms love cooking, so a new piece of cookware or a helpful kitchen appliance could be most welcome.

~Jewelry; what mom out there doesn’t love receiving jewelry from a loved one?  Make sure it’s something that reminds her of you and she’ll probably even wear it! 

~Scented candles; figure out her favorite smell, buy a scented candle to match, and you have a great stocking stuffer

Paraffin candles have great scents, but a candle made from beeswax is more natural and has several benefits paraffin candles do not.  Beeswax candles can burn about three times as long as similarly sized paraffin candles.  Beeswax is also a natural by-product of honey production, so it is more environmentally friendly.  Indoor air pollution tends to be more significant than outdoor pollution, and contrary to other candles, beeswax candles can actually clean the air around them as they burn.

Beeswax candles can be found at specialty stores and online.  General stores like supermarkets tend to only carry traditional wax candles.

The first uses of the pentagram were found in Mesopotamian writings from around 3000 BC.  For the Babylonians, the edges of the pentagram represented the five known planets, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Venus, with Venus at the top point representing the Queen of Heaven.  This representation of the edges of the pentagram perhaps lead to the neo-Pythagorean interpretation of the edges representing the five elements, water, earth, fire, air, and the divine. 

The pentagram was also a symbol of several different religions.  The Christians believed the pentagram to symbolize the five wounds of Christ’s crucifixion, while the Mormons used pentagrams in temple architecture.  The pentagram is also a symbol for Pagan religions such as Wiccans, representing again the four elements in addition to the divine, or spirit fifth element. 

Pentagrams have become a part of modern society with their applications to several different religions and cultures, and are now available as stationary, shirts and apparel, and pentagram candles for religious needs.

How to make your own soy candles 

For those interested in candle-making, but who want to remain environmentally-conscious, soy candles are a fun craft option.

Handmade soy candles:
• Start with soy wax flakes, and measure out the appropriate amount for the size and style of candle you’re making
• Melt your wax, in a double-boiler, wax melter or kitchen candle
• Once the wax is melted and the temperature is between 170 and 180 degrees, add the dye
• After the dye, add the fragrance (while the wax temperature is around 175 degrees), and stir with a whisk
• Reduce the heat of your wax to between 150 and 155 degrees, and pour the wax into your molds (make sure the molds are warm before you pour the wax in)
• Once a think skin has formed across the top of your soy candles, insert a wick
• Let the candles harden for approximately four hours

In a time where everything has an environmentally-friendly alternative, candles aren’t about to be left out. Soy wax candles are a healthier, greener substitute for the common paraffin candle. So, what’s the difference between them?Soy wax candles are made from hydrogenated soybean oil, and were invented in 1992 by a man looking for a cheaper alternative to beeswax. Paraffin candles are petroleum-based, and have been shown to release carcinogens into the air when burned. Soy wax doesn’t release CO2 into the atmosphere when burned, and can last up to 50 percent longer than a paraffin candle. Soy candles are also shown to release 90 percent less soot than paraffin ones, which can coat and stick to the furniture and walls in your home.

Not only are soy candles a safe choice, they are also easier to clean up than paraffin candles. Spilled soy wax can be cleaned up with soap and water. The candles also have more fragrance distribution than their paraffin counterparts.

Gel candles are strongly scented, and the light of the flame casts the gel’s color around the base of the candle container and backlights the candle embed. Gel candle wax is clear, which allows for the unique glow from the candle flame.

Candle gel is 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. The resin, mixed with the mineral oil, forms something very similar to Jell-O gelatin. Gel candles burn about twice as slowly as traditional wax candles. The flames are much smaller, and the candle wick should be trimmed regularly.

Wizard Candles has a huge assortment of decorative candles, including Celtic candles. Show your pride in your heritage with one of these quality paraffin candles. The Celtic balance candle, combining the scents of rose and patchouli, shows the forces of the masculine and the feminine at work with incredible knotwork detailing in the skirt.

Other choices include Bast (Egyptian cat goddess), obelisks, cubes, gods, goddesses, pentagrams, different pillar shapes, and many more. Any of these beautiful candles are also available wickless for use as statuaries, and special scents can be requested as well.