Candles these days come in a myriad of shapes, styles, and sizes. Their designs could be of any geometric shape, from cubes through triangles and trapezoids to spheres. They could also have the contours of shells, flowers, clouds, animals, and even humans.

These profiles are possible because of the use of molds where the molten wax is poured right after coming from the double boiler. There are, therefore, as many shapes of candles as there are shapes of molds.

The molds are made of plastic, metal, or rubber. Like everything else, each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Beginners are often advised to start with plastic. This is because they are the cheapest so that if you find that candle-making is more stressful than relaxing, you can easily give the molds away. The second best thing about them is that warm water and soap are more than sufficient to keep them clean. However, their quality is poor and they tend to be brittle resulting in a shorter lifespan. Among metal molds aluminum is the most popular. This heat-resistant and durable mold is capable of producing smooth and seamless candles. They are often used for making votive and pillar candles. Although aluminum molds are more expensive than plastics, they are cheaper than rubber molds. Cleaning is also easier compared to their rubber cousins. All you need to do is to turn them upside down over a baking sheet and heat them up to 150°F in your oven. A downside to aluminums is that the selection of choices of shapes is limited by their lack of flexibility. A releasing agent is also required to get the finished candle out of the mold.

Rubber molds could be of polyurethane, silicon, or latex. Polyurethane molds are flexible thus offering a wider choice of shapes. However, they do not stretch well thus also requiring a releasing agent. Also, their strong odor can transfer to the wax making them unsuitable for scented candles. Silicone rubber is the most expensive of the lot but they are flexible and stretchable. Easily, they are the best of the rubber molds. You can also make you own molds using liquid latex and painting on a structure. A good coat of latex is needed but if you make your own molds, you have unlimited options open before you.Candles these days come in a myriad of shapes, styles, and sizes. Their designs could be of any geometric shape, from cubes through triangles and trapezoids to spheres. They could also have the contours of shells, flowers, clouds, animals, and even humans.

These profiles are possible because of the use of molds where the molten wax is poured right after coming from the double boiler. There are, therefore, as many shapes of candles as there are shapes of molds.

The molds are made of plastic, metal, or rubber. Like everything else, each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Beginners are often advised to start with plastic. This is because they are the cheapest so that if you find that candle-making is more stressful than relaxing, you can easily give the molds away. The second best thing about them is that warm water and soap are more than sufficient to keep them clean. However, their quality is poor and they tend to be brittle resulting in a shorter lifespan. Among metal molds aluminum is the most popular. This heat-resistant and durable mold is capable of producing smooth and seamless candles. They are often used for making votive and pillar candles. Although aluminum molds are more expensive than plastics, they are cheaper than rubber molds. Cleaning is also easier compared to their rubber cousins. All you need to do is to turn them upside down over a baking sheet and heat them up to 150°F in your oven. A downside to aluminums is that the selection of choices of shapes is limited by their lack of flexibility. A releasing agent is also required to get the finished candle out of the mold.

Rubber molds could be of polyurethane, silicon, or latex. Polyurethane molds are flexible thus offering a wider choice of shapes. However, they do not stretch well thus also requiring a releasing agent. Also, their strong odor can transfer to the wax making them unsuitable for scented candles. Silicone rubber is the most expensive of the lot but they are flexible and stretchable. Easily, they are the best of the rubber molds. You can also make you own molds using liquid latex and painting on a structure. A good coat of latex is needed but if you make your own molds, you have unlimited options open before you.