With the fall and winter holidays fast approaching you may be looking for an inexpensive source for candles to decorate your dinner table or to use as accents in your home. Votive candles are frequently used to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and we have just the ones you need. Take a look at our Recycled Votive Candles which are sold at a fraction of the cost of our regular scented votives. And better yet, until 10/25/2015 we are running a special buy 2 dozen get 1 dozen free sale on this product.
How do we make these votives?
Every day we use our votive molds to manufacture our regular scented votive candles. During this process wax that runs down the sides of the molds builds up on the table and around the base of the metal votive cups. Different fragrances and colors are poured into the molds each day based on what we need. As a result layers of wax in various colors and scents form on around the molds. When it comes time to clean the candle molds and tables, the wax is scraped off into boxes. When there is enough of the left over wax we melt it down and pour it back into the votive molds to create our Recycled Votive Candles.
Why are they such a great price?
The reason that we offer these votive candles cheap is NOT because they are poor quality but because we don’t know what color they finished product will come out or exactly what they will smell like. When you order our recycled candles you let us know the quantity you would like but the color and fragrance would be a surprise. Every batch of votives is unique.
Are they any good?
The votives will burn beautifully completely using up all the wax giving you the affect you want. Each one will last for approximately 15 hours when it is burned in a votive cup that is slightly larger than the candle. The wider the votive holder, the faster the candle will burn. The reason for this is that in a wide holder, the wax could flow too far away from the flame causing it to not melt and be used as fuel.
So if you are working on a budget (and who isn’t these days), are not particular to the color or fragrance of the votive candles, head over to keystonecandle.com and stock up on these for the holidays.
We want to tell you about an amazing air freshening product that does not require an open flame, like from a candle, or need to sprayed around your home. It is our Glow Bowl fragrance system. The Glow Bowl air fresheners are so simple to use, last for a long time, and are flamefree, and do a wonderful job of scenting the air. The entire system consists of 2 parts, the unit, and the scented gel.
THE UNIT
The Glow Bowl unit has an attractive wooden base, a 3 foot electrical cord with an inline on/off switch and a 2 prong plug, a 7.5 watt light bulb, and a clear cylindrical vase. The 7.5 watt bulb screws into the top of the flat base, sticking up. The glass vase is fully closed on the bottom but has a recessed section in the middle, large enough to allow vase to sit over top of the bulb. This allows the warmth from the bulb to heat a larger surface area of the scented gel causing it to release the fragrance faster.
THE GEL
The Glow Bowl gel is water based so it evaporates easily giving off a strong scent throw. Over time the scented crystals will shrink and appear to be getting dried out. This does NOT mean that you have to add more gel to the unit, you can simply add a little bit of water to it. This will rejuvenate the gel and it will continue to smell great. Once you have added water once, when the gel dries out again, it is best to remove the old crystals and replace them with new ones. You can mix more than one fragrance together to create a custom scent if you like. Be creative.
In addition to freshening you home up, the Glow Bowl system looks beautiful when it is turned on. The light from the bulb shines through the colored scent crystals in a variety of shades in mesmerizing way. They make fantastic nightlights too.
Our customers are always looking for new and decorative to display their candles. Well today we have added 5 votive candle holders to our website that are both decorative and functional. These two piece votive holders have a rustic iron frame which surrounds a removable glass cup. The sturdy heavy metal frame allows the holder to sit on a table surface, protecting it from the heat created when the candle flame gets near the bottom. Three of these holders have a handle which will also allow for the candles to be hung. Raising your lit candles up will let the candles light up a room better and gives you more options to be creative. The glass containers are larger than a standard votive cups and can be used with votives or tea lights.
We now have our 3 new candle fragrances available online and in our retail store for Spring and Summer. We have gone with a beach theme for 2014. The new candles are:
Tropical Pineapple – A decadent juicy blend of tropical island fruit with subtle hints of mango low notes and refreshing ripe pineapple high notes.
Beach Towel – This summertime fragrance perfectly captures the soft, clean, aroma of a fluffy beach towel warmed by the heat of the afternoon sun radiating off the sand.
Suntan Lotion – A perfect reminder of the fun, relaxing, sunny day at the beach, our suntan lotion fragrance features creamy notes of banana and fresh coconut.
These new fragrances are available in our paraffin jars, smooth pillar candles, votives, tarts, and tea lights. We are also offering 20% off of the regular price on these new candles for a limited time so now is when you should try them out and tell your friends.
Summer is fast approaching and it will soon be time to fill the pools, have outdoor parties, or head to the beach. We have the perfect candles to fit in with your summer time activities. Nothing says summer like a tropical fruit smoothie or these unique fruit scented candles. Our Mojito, Strawberry Daiquiri, and brand new Bahama Mama candles are poured into unique glass cups that can be re-used when the candles have been completely burned. These scented candles are made using palm wax which crystallizes when it dries making it look like they are full of chipped ice. The Mojito candle is scented with lime and mint, the Bahama Mama is fresh coconut and juicy mango, and the Strawberry Daiquiri is a sweet strawberry and cream. Each of these cool candles is topped with a decorative fruit accent whether it be a slice of lemon or orange, a cherry, or strawberries. Use these candles to decorate around your home or at your fun get-togethers this summer. Order a set of 6 or more and save nearly $2.00 per candle at www.keystonecandle.com/jar-candles.
Today we added the 4th color to our line of ceramic candle holders and pedestal trays. We now have red, yellow, green, and teal. These holders are great for use with our 3 inch and 4 inch diameter pillar candles, or the 16 oz., 26 oz. jars. The colors of these holders are really attractive and each one is coated with a shiny glaze to make it really pop. The holders also have a weathered finish making them look distressed. The pillar holders come in both a 9 inch or 11 inch tall option. The pedestal tray is 4.5 inches tall by 6 inches in diameter and is really nice for use with larger decorative items like vases or bowls. Matching these holders with the perfect color candle is easy with our wide selection of pillars and jars.
We recommend using:
Fresh Rain or Butterfly Garden with the teal
Sage and Citrus or Redwood Cedar with the red
Opium or Cranberry Chutney with the yellow
Gingerbread or Cinnamon Stick with the green
We also have a lot of beaded garland in beautiful colors which are excellent for accenting your displays. A decorative candle ring can also be used around the base of the holders or at the top around the candle for a more creative look. Stop by www.keystonecandle.com to see checkout all the other items we have.
Palm wax is an all-natural, renewable resource that is obtained from the oil palm in Southeast Asia. Due to its environmentally friendly attributes, palm wax offers a whole new choice for candle makers who market sustainable or renewable resource based extensions to their candle lines. It has been grown as a commercial crop in well managed and regulated estates since the early 1900’s. The oil palm produces fruit in bunches which are harvested, and sent to palm oil mills where the oils are extracted, sterilized, clarified and purified into crude palm oil. The crude oil is then sent to palm oil refineries where it is processed further into products such as cooking oil, shortening, cocoa butter substitutes, non-dairy creamers, soaps, and of course everybody’s favorite – Palm Wax.
Palm wax is a superb material for making excellent burning candles. It resists melting in hot summer months, holds fragrance well, and best of all, can be easily manipulated to produce an infinite array of surface patterns ranging from complex crystalline designs to smooth solid colors.
With the combination of quality fragrances, proper wick, and standard wax dyes, the finished candles have been described as having a crystal, feathered or marbled appearance and are clean burning with an excellent scent throw.
Choosing the right candles for your home or event can be more challenging than at first it may seem. There are many factors that go into which candle will work best. Some of the factors are, the environment the candles will be in, the number of candles being used, scented or unscented candles, and length of time the candles need to burn.
Lets assume that the candles being decided on are made by a reputable candle company and are high quality candles. That is, of course, one of the most important factors. There hundreds, if not thousands, of candle styles available to pick from so which one should you choose?
Why are you buying the candles? People buy candles for many different reasons, for decoration, ambiance, to freshen the air, all of the above. The answer to this question will begin you down one path or another. A soft romantic ambiance can be gotten from any candle when it is lit. However, you may not want to light a novelty candle (candle with a special shape or design) because it will be ruined once it is burned. If all your going for is ambiance then you need to consider the environment the candles are being used in. Is the setting a dinner for two or a bubble bath for one? Taper candles are the traditional “romantic couple” dinner candles. If you’re going for the bubble bath then you might just want a few tealights to surround the tub with.
If the candles are only going to be used for decoration, is it for your home or an event? Many people purchase candles to use in their homes that they don’t intend to burn. Pillar candles are very popular for creating decorative arrangements and centerpieces. With so many pillar sizes and colors available finding candles to match your home decor is relatively easy. If you are decorating for an event check with the venue about their rules pertaining to candles. Some have a strict “no candles” rule. Others allow candles but require that the candle flame not be higher than the top of the container they are in. The type of event will determine what style of candle you look for.
If you’re using the candles to freshen the air, the main factor to consider is the size of the room. Smaller rooms like bathrooms may only need a votive or small jar to freshen the air. For larger rooms such as living rooms or master bedrooms larger candles like a 6×6 pillar or 64 oz. jar might be a better choice. The larger the surface area of the liquid wax the faster the fragrance will be pushed into the air. Some fragrances are naturally “lighter” than others. A Vanilla scented candle may not be as noticeable as a Black Cherry, or a Honeydew as strong as a Lilac. Sometimes a subtle fragrance is all that is desired.
Jar candles are very popular because they reduce the potential for wax to spill or drip on to the table. Whatever the reason is for purchasing candles, if you light them make sure to not leave them unattended.
One of the biggest complaints about candles of all kinds is in regards to the soot that can be produced by them. There are a variety of ways to greatly reduce the amount of soot coming from your candles which will also help them to burn better. Today I will share some of these candle burning tips with you to help you have a better experience with you candles and save money. Lets first understand what causes soot from a candle flame.
What Causes Candle Soot
Soot from a candle is caused when there is incomplete combustion of the fuel. This can be caused by a number of factors. Two of those factors are the balance between the wax and wick in the candle and disturbing the candle flame. The fuel to the candle flame is the liquid wax which is being drawn up through the wick. Once the flame of the candle has started drawing the liquid candle wax up the wick, it does so at a steady rate. When the candle flame is disturbed the size of the flame changes and the amount of fuel being used is no longer consistent. When too much fuel is presented to the flame it is not all burned. The excess fuel is put off in the form of soot.
Avoid Burning Candles in Drafty Areas
Burning candles in a drafty area such as near an open window, air duct, or fan will cause your candle to put off a large amount of soot. When something causes the candle flame to bounce around the size of candle flame changes. A steady flame will use a consistent amount of fuel. A wick that is bouncing around will draw fuel up the wick at a variable rate, sometimes too much, other times, not enough. When a large amount of fuel is drawn into the wick and then the flame size shrinks, not all the fuel is burned. The extra oil is expelled as soot into the air.
Use Open Bottom Hurricanes and Vases
Many event locations, where candles are used for decoration, require that the candle flame not be exposed above the top of an enclosure. This could mean the flame of your votive candle must be below the top edge of the glass or that pillars and taper candles need to be in tall cylinders or hurricanes. At first this sounds like a good idea to also keep the draft away from your candles, and it is. However, using a closed bottom cylinder or vase can create problems of its own. Fire needs and uses oxygen to burn. When you have a candle down inside of a container the oxygen is quickly used up and more is needed for the flame to continue burning. Naturally, more air is sucked into the container through the top but at the same time the warm air heated by the candle flame is trying to get out. This fight between the warm and cold air causes turbulence (a draft) in the container which causes the candle flame to dance and produce soot. The best way around this problem is to use a cylinder or hurricane vase that is open on both ends. Raise the container up off the table about a half inch using something that can spaced apart so air can get in through the bottom. For my test I used 3 stacks of coins, which I am not recommending you use, but to give an example of what I mean.
Put Candle Cappers On Jar Candles
If you are burning a jar candle with an opening of about 3″ you can purchase a candle capper for less than $4.00. Obviously there is nothing you can do about the jar having a closed bottom but these jar cappers will help regulate the air flow in and out of the jars and reduce sooting. Jars will usually produce more and more soot the further down into the glass they burn. This is because the flame is getting farther and farther away from the fresh source of oxygen. Here is a video that demonstrates how these jar caps work.
Trim The Wicks
The easiest way to reduce the amount of soot from a candle is to keep the wicks trimmed. I recommend starting with about a 1/4″ wick for the first lighting. If after a few minutes the candle flame looks too big or is bouncing around (while not in a draft) you should trim the wick a little shorter. Keep an eye on your lit candles, they should never be left burning unattended. If your candle has been burning for a long time the wicks may need to be trimmed again. Don’t be afraid to blow a candle out, trim the wick and relight it.
Purchase Quality Candles
Make sure you are getting a well made candle. A well made quality candle doesn’t mean expensive, it means well made. Anyone can melt some wax through a string in it and call it a candle. Is it a candle? Yes. Will it burn? Maybe. Should you spend your hard earned money on it? Probably not. The internet is full of pages on which people are selling candles. Google search term candles, currently there are 165,000,000 results. An experienced candle maker will know how to match the wick size, wax type, fragrance, and candle size to produce a great burning candle.
Conclusion
Use these tips to get the most value and the best burn out of your candles.
One of the commonly asked questions in our candle shop is “Do you have anything that will cover the smell of cigarette smoke?” I am not a smoker, my wife is not a smoker, in fact nobody in my house smokes, my parents didn’t even smoke. I really don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke as is the case with many people. Often times the smell of cigarette smoke can become a point of tension between people living in the same house where one smokes and the other does not. We have a candle that will help eliminate the smell of cigarette smoke from your home and help relieve some of that tension. The name of this amazing candle fragrance is “Smoke Eater”. Before you picture an army of smoke eater Pacmen charging forth and devouring the smoke particles out of the air, that isn’t quite how it works.
There are a number of different sections of olfactory sensors in your nose, similar to the taste buds on your tongue. These sensors pick up different types of odors like sweet, dry, tart, spicy, etc. The particles from the cigarette smoke interact with a variety of these sensors causing your brain to recognize the scent. The fragrance from our Smoke Eater candles counter balance the negative smell of the cigarette smoke, neutralizing it. Then adds positive, pleasant aromas which causes your brain to tell you that you are smelling something which is good.
Like I started off this post, I have never lived with a smoker so I can’t speak from personal experience. However, we have repeat customers who live with smokers and swear by our Smoke Eater scented candles. We offer this fragrance in our scented pillars, votives, jars, tealights, and tins. Once you have had a chance to try this fragrance in your own home, leave a comment and let us know what you thought.
Our customers are always looking for new and decorative to display their candles. Well today we have added 5 
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