Reed diffuser products spread fragrance throughout the home without the use of heat or flame. A reed diffuser is a bottle full of fragrance liquid with reeds inserted in the liquid. The fragrance travels up the reeds and then diffuses into the air.
There are all different types of bottles that can be used. Keep several bottles on hand and swap them out whenever you want to change the look of a room. Glass bottles can be ornate, colored, patterned and of all sizes. You can match the bottle to fit the style of any room.
It is also possible to change the fragrance used in the diffuser. Choose a calming fragrance for the bedroom or a soothing, fresh scent for the bathroom. These fragrance oils are known as refills. Oils can be specifically crafted by The Candlemakers Store for your needs or standard fragrances can be purchased. The fragrances that last the longest are those that are completely made of oil and do not contain any water or alcohol.
Several types of fragrances that work well include spices such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and allspice. There are also flavors that are reminiscent of baked goods such as lemon chiffon pie, cheesecake, chocolate, sugar cookies and apple pie. Exotic fragrances include frangipani, jasmine, hibiscus and other tropical flowers. Soothing tones include beach, laundry, ocean breeze and evergreen forest. Purchase large refills that contain 100 milliliters or more or choose smaller refills until you find a fragrance you like.
The diffuser reeds are made of wood and it is best if you change the reeds each time the fragrance is changed. The fragrance travels up through the reed through a small channel in the center of the wood. If you use an old one then you will be mixing fragrances. These products are available in bundles as you want to use more than one reed per diffuser.
Fragrant candles of course require flames which can be a safety issue within the home. Diffusers are a safer alternative for individuals that have pets or small children.
Another advantage of diffusers over other types of home fragrance devices is that they do not require electricity. Therefore, you do not have to worry about an increase in your power bill as you would if you plug in a fragrance device in each room. The fragrance produced by reed diffusers is actually based on all natural capillary action and diffusion.
Reed diffuser products are only one type of home fragrance device. Other items that can provide a range of aromas to rooms include scented candles, oil burners, salts and potpourri. The type of home fragrance you use will depend on the strength of the fragrance and how long you want it to last. Fragrance oils tend to have stronger scents and last longer than other types of fragrance products.
Although it is easy to simply walk into a store and choose between the numerous varieties of soaps that are available, there is much to be said for hand made soap making and having the joy of using a bar of soap that you have created yourself.
The homemade variety looks and feels very different to those that are mass produced, and has loads of character as no two bars produced by hand are ever the same. There are basically four ways to make your own soap at home, each with their own variations, advantages, and disadvantages. Regardless of the method you choose, you can produce soap with a level of personalization that no store-bought, factory-made bar can ever hope to compete with.
The first is called the melt and pour method, where ready made bars are melted and mixed with your own fragrance, and then reshaped into fresh blocks. Second, and one of the most common ways to make soap is the cold process, where blocks are hand made from start to finish, using lye and various oils. The third is a variation on the cold process, where cooking the mixture is involved. The fourth, called re-batching, is where a ready made bar is ground up, milk or water is added, and coloring and fragrant ingredients are combined and the result is reshaped.
Coloring your hand made soap adds to the fun of the whole process, and also adds to the sophistication and overall appeal of your soap. The general rule is to keep colors subtle, and match them as closely as possible to the fragrance of the bars. For instance, if it is lavender scented, then a nice shade of lilac will complement the fragrance, or, if the scent were peach, then the obvious color to go for would be a soft shade of peach.
Colors can be obtained by using natural ingredients, such as barks, seeds, or flower petals, or, an easier method is to make use of commercially produced pigments. Cosmetic grades of mica can also be used to add a glittery effect to your items, which is a really nice touch if intended as a gift for someone special. Most use FD&C Colors that are skin safe and provided by respected suppliers such as The Candlemakers Store. They are the easiest to use and the most cost effective.
A beautiful soap must have a lovely perfume as well, and there are numerous scents that are readily available for adding that special fragrance to your soaps, such as sandalwood, vanilla, lavender, rose, jasmine, coconut, and many, many more. The wonderful part about scenting your hand made items is that you can blend different scents together, and have your own, unique fragrance for each batch of soap that you make.
Choosing the fragrances you want to use depends on your creativity and resourcefulness. For instance, if the items you are making have fruity colors, then stick to the theme and go with the same type of scents, or, if it is intended as a gift for someone, then you could use a fragrance that is special to that particular person, who will then know that you have put a lot of thought into the making of the gift.
For additional information on best soap making practices, contacting a respected supplier of soap and candle making supplies is advisable.
We recently received a question about the difference between A Grade fragrance oils and reed diffuser oils. Namely, what they’re used for and why they’re priced differently. It’s a variation of a question we’ve been asked several times, so it couldn’t hurt to share.
Here’s the question we got:
“Our company is in the process of ordering fragrance scents to make reed diffusers oils. We plan on mixing an assortment of concentrated fragrances with unscented base oil.
I’m a little confused as to your price for oils based on concentrated or pre-mixed.
For example a 32 oz bottle of Sandalwood can be purchased as an A Grade oil for $54.00. Is this pre-mixed with base (ready to pour)? Conversely, if I navigate to this page, I can purchase a 32 oz bottle of Sandalwood oil for $26.00.
Basically, could you instruct me as to the pricing for concentrated oils (not pre-mixed)? Do I look under Skin-Safe Fragrances, or do I look under Reed Diffuser Products/Diffuser Fragrance oils?
Thank you in advance for your help, and we look forward to working with you shortly.”
And our response:
“Thank you for your inquiry and considering our fragrances for your products.
The A Grade Sandalwood is the Pure and Strongest formulation available for that fragrance in a pure skin-safe fragrance oil, 32 oz bottle at $54.00. These fragrances are found under Skin-Safe fragrances. These products are skin-safe and ready for use in candles, lotions, body/room sprays, soaps, potpourris, etc.
The Reed Diffuser Oil Sandalwood, 32 oz. bottle at $26.00, is the Sandalwood fragrance oil blended with our Unscented Reed Diffuser Base and is ready to pour, as-is, into your Reed Diffuser bottles for use as a Reed Diffuser. These products can be found under Reed Diffuser Products, then Diffuser Fragrance Oils.
The A Grade Sandalwood will NOT work properly in its straight form as a Reed Diffuser Oil, as there is different chemistry to get the fragrance to diffuse into the air, which is NOT present in a standard Fragrance Oil. You can get the same smell, in any of our fragrances, in a Reed Diffuser Oil by either purchasing the Reed Diffuser Fragrance Oils in whatever size you may need or you can purchase the straight A Grade Fragrance Oil and the Unscented Reed Diffuser Base and blend these two products to create your own Diffuser Oils. The latter works well if you make multiple products like candles, lotions, soaps, diffusers, etc. and you want the same fragrance throughout your product line or if you want to blend your diffuser oils stronger or weaker for your specific application. Our pre-blended Reed Diffuser Fragrance oils are approximately 50/50 blended with our Unscented Reed Diffuser Base.”
We always love sharing information to help crafters. Do you have a question?
There are so many more uses for fragrance oils than just for candle making, that it can be hard to keep up with it all. Many individuals dilute them and use them just as massage oils without even realizing their full potential. You can use them to add scent to candles, in your bath, in your lotions, in sachets and so much more. In the article below, we are going to give you some lesser known ideas for using fragrance oils.
One popular use for fragrance oils when added to the proper base is in a reed diffuser. This is a great method for releasing a subtle, pleasant fragrance in the house. Diffusers of various types can be used in homes. Many fragrance connoisseurs prefer aromatic diffuser reeds because there’s no heat or fire involved. Reed diffusers also emanate no soot or film, so they’re safe for any space.
Safe for skin fragrance oils when diluted can also be used on your skin as a perfume. If you find an oil that you’ve become attached to, dilute it in the appropriate base to 1% then dab a small amount of it onto your skin. The smell will linger for a long time and it’s sure to be a unique-to-you fragrance.
For those of you who enjoy air freshener sprays, you will be surprised to learn that you can make your own type of spray just by carefully mixing a spray bottle full of air freshener spray base with a few drops of fragrance oils. Check with suppliers for measurement details.
You can also put a few drops of fragrance oils on fake trees or flowers. This way, the fake flowers and trees will smell good – almost as if they were really living. (Oils can stain fabrics so test in an inconspicuous area before adding a lot of it.)
Some people choose to put a couple of drops inside their pillow case. This helps to keep the pillow smelling fresh. Then, each time you lay on it, you’ll fall asleep amid your favorite aroma.
When you are wrapping that present for your friend or family member, make sure you have your favorite (or their favorite) fragrance nearby. If you use a bow, you can put a couple of drops on the bow. This will leave the bow smelling great. You’re sure to have the best smelling present in the house.
You could also put some on a windowsill where the sun shines through. Just a drop or two is enough to pervade your home once the sunshine hits it.
When you have a smelly drain, drop a couple of drops of this solution down it during the night and close the lid of your toilet. For general household odors, mix the fragrance in the appropriate base and use 1 or 2 drops for air sprays. This is a great trick that not that many people know about.
Along with a drop here or a drop there, fragrance oils can be combined with premixed bases to create bath salts, body splash, soaps and much more. Ask your local candle making supplier for additional ideas.
Candles have been around for ages. Over the years, candles have been used in a wide range of settings – religion, health, household emergencies, aesthetic value and for therapeutic reasons. Candles are common commodities in the house. For years, candles were typically made of the common paraffin wax. But now, a lot of people are concerned about going organic and natural. As a result, more manufacturers are trying offering alternative materials for candle making, materials like beeswax and soy candle wax.
Soy candles are of course made from soy wax. This wax comes from hydrogenated soy beans. Soy candle wax is a cheaper natural wax than beeswax.
There are a lot of advantages to using soy candle wax compared to paraffin and beeswax. The following describes the benefits of creating soy-based candles.
Beeswax candles were first introduced as a natural alternative to paraffin waxes but the cost of beeswax has dismayed many candle makers. Soy candles, on the other hand, are cheaper options and give you almost the same results as beeswax.
Soy candles are natural. Soy waxes come from renewable sources unlike paraffin. Many manufacturers and candle makers are against using paraffin since it is a non-renewable material as paraffin is petroleum based.
Spills from soy candles are easier to clean. Spills from paraffin waxes are noticeably more difficult to remove from the furniture, clothes and other surfaces. Soy candle spills on the other hand can easily be removed with hot, soapy water.
Soy candles burn clean. They do not produce dark soot like paraffin candles can. Soy candles produce very little smoke when burned, especially when they are made from a 100 % pure soy wax. Those soy candles that leave soot are made from a blend of both soy and paraffin waxes.
Like paraffin and beeswax, soy candles produce a terrific smell.
Lastly, since soy candles are made from soy beans, you are also helping farmers with each purchase. You actually help the local community of farmers who grow the soy beans that are used for candles. Aside from that, candle manufacturers are also in the community all over the country. This means that with every soy candle that you buy, you are helping the economy.
Soy candles are worth considering when buying candles for the home or when candle making.
Candle making might be messy, but it is not dangerous if you follow some simple safety guidelines. The three potential areas of danger occur while heating the wax, using oils or fragrances, and spills. If an accident happens while melting wax, you could not only get burned, but a fire could break out.
If you follow the common-sense rules in this article, you can keep your kitchen free of damage and, more importantly, yourself. The first priority is to prepare your workspace properly. Cover the area with an old tablecloth, a tarp, or newspaper. Keep the working area organized and clean. Have everything you need readily on hand.
Be prepared for the odd spill by keeping paper towels or a pile of newspapers nearby. Keep a small fire extinguisher at hand as well. Before starting, place all the molds, tools, accessories, additives, and ingredients neatly on the working area. Make sure that dogs, cats, and children are sent out of the kitchen. You don’t want any inquisitive onlookers to distract you or, even worse, cause an accident. Work methodically and slowly, especially when learning a new technique. Many mistakes happen because of rushing.
Handle the ingredients with care. When measuring and pouring fragrance oils, do it very carefully. These oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritations, eat through plastic, and make stains. If you do spill some drips, wipe them away with a cloth and wash your hands immediately if they came into contact with the oil.
A good idea is to measure the oils out before you start making candles. They will then be ready for pouring. Don’t place the oil containers near your elbows or any other place where they are at risk of being knocked over. Be sure to understand all safety rules that apply to working with oils. Search the internet for ‘fragrance oil safety’ and take heed of the information.
Be cautious when using colors and dyes. Although liquid dyes are non-toxic, they stain powerfully and quickly. Just a couple of drops of candle dye will color a whole pound (half a kg) of wax. So you can imagine what it would do to your clothes. Always treat wax with great respect. It may just be a harmless looking lump, but when it’s heating at 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) it can burn you badly.
Furthermore, wax does not boil so there’s no way of knowing just how hot it is. It gets hotter and hotter until it starts smoking. Keep an eye on the temperature by having an accurate thermometer on hand. Most importantly, never leave the room when wax is melting. If the phone rings in another room, leave it.
After you have completed your candle making project, there are some safety precautions to follow while burning them. They should be burnt on a surface that is fire and heat resistant, and out of the reach of children and pets. Position them well away from curtains, decorative items, plants, and lampshades. Make sure the candle holder is stable and secure. Always keep the wicks well-trimmed so that the candle can burn safely and cleanly without smoking. And never put a candle in a drafty location.
Recently, a strictly-for-fun candle maker got in touch with us via our blog and let us know that she makes candles for friends all the time and that she’s constantly being told to start her own candle making business. This entrepreneurial candle maker wanted to know how to get started.
Our advice to her went as follows:
Thanks so much for touching base on our blog. Many people have traveled down the same road – making candles at home for themselves, then for family and friends, and lo and behold after receiving positive feedback, they end up selling them to make money in the process. Going into business can manifest itself in many ways. You can make a few candles and sell them at a flea market or to friends and neighbors. You can do fundraisers with local schools/sport teams/dance schools. etc.., which are very popular and lucrative means of growing a business, or you can become a manufacturer and sell candles on-line, through retail shops, as a wholesale supplier, or through rep firms. Many people start small and almost stumble into a “business” by following one or more of these paths.
If you wish to expand your hobby into a business, you really need to think the process through and decide how big and how many headaches you want to tackle. Do you want to do this yourself or hire employees? Are you going to work from your home or set up shop in a rented or purchased facility? Will you make small batches, similar to what you probably do now, or invest in large production melters, filling and labeling equipment? Many things to think about! The cool part is that whatever your future plans may entail, the process of producing a quality candle is basically the same. The challenge comes in being able to control quality and production, with yourself or others, as you increase the volume of candles so that you can assure your customers that they will get the same smell and color in your candle each and every time. If you can master this, it will be your greatest selling point and eliminate your largest headache and time waster that may otherwise keep you from running a successful business.
The Candlemaker’s Store services all levels of candle makers from the occasional hobbiest to mid-sized and large candle manufacturers with our extensive offering of candle making supplies and volume price points to allow you to select the appropriate quantity price point to maximize your buying opportunity to reduce and control costs in these difficult economic times.
We wish you the best of luck in your decision making process and whatever path you may choose in the future and please let us know if we can help in any way possible.
Thanks so much,
The Candlemaker’s Store
Our best advice to amateur candle makers considering turning pro is to first come up with a plan of attack. Like any business endeavor, starting your own candle making business takes considerable thought and preparation.
Many crafters assume that fragrance oils are only to be used for candle making and soap making. These crafters are doing themselves a great disservice by not exploring the various applications for which fragrance oils can be used. Along with candles and soaps, fragrance oils can also be used to create bath salts, body splash, liquid soaps, lotions, massage oils, potpourri, smelly jellies, sugar scrubs and more.
After selecting which new product you’d like to create, the trick is to find a supplier with premixed, safe-for-skin bases. Premixed bases reduce the amount of steps needed to create these products and they do all of the hard work for you. Mixing your selected premixed base with an appropriate amount of your favorite fragrance oil is all it takes.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Contact us for details on which products are popular right now and for instructions on proper mixing.
With the right mixture of ingredients, candle fragrance oils and colors and dyes typically used for candle making can be used for creating bath bombs. Bath bombs will transform your bathing experience into a relaxing and pleasantly fragrant experience.
Assemble the ingredients and follow the instructions below to create your own bath bombs.
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- 1/2 cup Citric Acid
- 1/2 cup Corn Starch
- 1/3 cup Epsom Salts
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil, sweet almond oil, or other light oil
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon fragrance oil
- 10 to 12 drops FD&C Colors
Mix all the dry ingredients together until you get a smooth blend. Adding Epsom salts adds a bit of shine to the bomb and will make the fizzing action more vigorous. It also seems to shorten the drying time required. Set aside dry mixture while you prepare the wet ingredients.
Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and mix well with your hands. This mixture is dry and has to be packed in the molds quite firmly to keep shape. If you add any other ingredients (such as herbs, Epsom salts or dried flowers) you may need to add a bit more oil or water, but be careful not to add too much as this makes the bombs soggy and harder to dry.
Press mixture into balls or molds and let set for 2 hours. Pop out of molds and let dry for 24 – 48 hours. Pack in cello bags to present to friends or sell. Be creative and have fun!
Fizzing Bath Balls:
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 Tablespoon citric acid
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 2 Tablespoon powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoon almond oil
- 1 Tablespoon vitamin E oil
- 1/4 Tablespoon fragrance oil
Combine dry ingredients in bowl and stir till blended. Drizzle in oil and stir till moist. Add Vitamin E and stir well. Take teaspoon sized mixture and form balls. Place on waxed paper and leave 2-3 hours. Let air dry 10 days and then store in air tight container.
