Using Pillar Candles

Candles are no longer essential in our society.  However, before our homes had on-demand energy in the form of electricity and gas, they were absolutely necessary for light at night.  Using candle wall sconces they'd be held in place in rooms, and people would carry them for portable light. 

Of course, they're no longer strictly a necessity (except perhaps if there's a power cut), but the market for them is still high.  This is perhaps because, although there's no necessity for them anymore, they can add an amazing ambience to your home; their ability to alter (to improve) moods is clear.

If you've placed candles around your home, the chance is that a lot of them will be pillar candles.  Scented pillar candles can be great for use as centrepieces on mantles or on tables in the living room or dining room.  A quick word of caution though: If you do have fragranced candles in your dining room, don't light them when you're serving food.  It's always best to use unscented pillar candles around food, as the fragrance of a scented candle can distract and even alter the scent and taste of the food.  Don't spend hours cooking only to ruin your meal with the wrong choice of candle!

When you're choosing a scent, have a think about what season it is and what room you'll be using it in.  You can find specific candles for Christmas and different ones for summer, for example.  You could even have a different scent for every room in your house.  They're also really easy to fit in with your home's décor because they are sold in such a huge range of shapes and colors.  As opposed to jar candles (which can often be hard to light due to the difficulty in reaching the wick), the pillar variety is usually very easy and safe to light due to their easy-to-reach and exposed wick.

They're all similar in shape (a pillar shape, of course), but also come in multiple sizes and colors.  They can be made by method of layering, dipping, rolling or sculpturing.  However, when it comes to cheap pillar candles, the most common method is certainly by molding.  This is an inexpensive process, and is actually simple enough to do at home.  However, it is rather time consuming.  These days, most candles made in this manner will be mass-produced in a factory.
Candles can be made from gel, beeswax, soy or even plant wax.  However, the most common material used is now paraffin wax.  The wax will be thoroughly melted.  It begins to melt at around 130 degrees Celsius; a special thermometer is used to judge when the temperature reaches 190 degrees, and it is kept stable at this temperature in a melted condition.
At the same time, but in a different container, a mixture of stearic acid, perfume (for scented candles) and dye is mixed together.  The stearic acid is simply used to keep the wax hard because paraffin wax is too soft to be used in a large pillar candle.  The solution is mixed well and then added and thoroughly mixed with the melted wax mixture.  A mold will have been chosen, and so the wick is suspended in the middle of the mold as the candle mixture is poured in around it.
The mold is then left for some time until the candle cools and hardens.  After it has completely cooled, the candle can be removed from the mold; and that's the basic process that's been used for many years.  This is why you can buy bulk floating candles etc. for such a low price.

The possibilities for decorating and arranging the candles are huge. Because they're so simple and stand on their own, they don't necessarily need expensive pillar candle holders to be used as decoration.

Try experimenting with different groupings of the candles, but always use some form of flame-proof, heat-resistant base for safety's sake. Grouping candles at different heights can often work well, as can grouping complimentary colors. Try going for candles the same color as the room's walls at first, and then use a color wheel to choose colors that will fit well.

Soft colors can be great for ambience on a cold evening, whereas bright colors such as reds and purples can be exciting. In the display, it's sometimes a good idea to work in additional candles (for example floating candles) around large pillar candles. If you do want to use a pillar candle holder, shop around, as it's possible to find inexpensive holders that still look great.

If you use a room for anything at all, simply find an small unused place to decorate with the candles, and create a brilliant focal point for the room. This will improve the ambience as well as your own mood!