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December 3
 Candle Do's and Don'ts: Tips from a wax chandler

Illustration of the number 3 in the center of the image. Surrounded by candles of different sizes and shapes.
Illustration: Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut e. V.

Find out from our candle expert which candles to avoid making and why a dusty candle should be cleaned: Wax chandler Franz Fürst.

Wax chandler make candles using a very traditional method. As they are constantly working with candles in their training and profession, we asked a wax chandler for some candle tips. The result is a "do's and don'ts" list for candles.

Sticky note with a checklist. Heading: do & don't. A purple candle is depicted on the note Illustration (Candle) Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut e. V. | Illustration (do & don't): Alina N © Canva.com | Illustration (Checklist): Andika Setiawan © Dikas Studio via Canva.com

Candle tips from a Wax Chandler: DO

  • DO: Buy “drawn” candles.
    There are pressed, drawn and moulded candles. To make a drawn candle, a wick is stretched over two large drums and pulled through a wax basin. Drawn candles have many advantages: One of them is that they glow particularly beautifully.
     
  • DO: Buy cylindrical candles
    The round shape of a candle allows the wax to flow evenly towards the fire. This way, the wax is used most effectively - and the candle does not end up with a hole in the middle.
     
  • DO: Clean the burning bowl
    If the candle is dusty, clean it with a cloth before lighting. Otherwise, the liquid wax will absorb the dust and clog the wick. The candle will not burn properly.
     
  • DO: Buy beeswax candles from a professional
    The smell of beeswax is one of the only smells that cannot be reproduced artificially. This makes a beeswax candle very special.

Candle tips from a Wax Chandler: DON'T

  • DON’T: Make your own beeswax candle
    It is better to buy beeswax candles from a professional. In order to use beeswax, it must first be cleaned of the so-called floating particles. If this is not done, the floating particles will clog the wick and the candle will not burn properly.
     
  • DON'T: Buy scented candles
    The scent of a candle is created by the scented oil added during the candle making process. It smells good when it's on the shelf, but when the candle is lit, the perfume simply burns off.
     
  • DON'T: Make candles with dried leaves, shells etc. in the wax
    Can be lit if you buy the candle from a professional and the applications can be removed before burning. Otherwise it can easily happen that the candle suddenly bursts into flames.
A portrait of the wax chandler Franz Fürst. He has gray hair and wears a blue hoodie.

Wax chandler Franz Fürst knows all about candles. | Picture (Detail): © privat

Giveaway

Question: Have you ever tried making your own candles?

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We will also be giving away three vouchers for a German Online Training worth €299 each. By entering the competition, you accept the terms and conditions.

We wish you good luck!



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Competition 1 of 6 has ended!

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