Archive for May, 2011

Reed Diffuser Products

May 24th, 2011 | Posted in Fragrance Oil Uses, Reed Diffuser Products | No Comments »

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.

Feel free to contact The Candlemakers Store for additional information on reed diffuser products.

Soap Making

May 6th, 2011 | Posted in Soap Making | No Comments »

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.