By Perfect Wedding Guide ‘National Wedding Expert’, Susan Southerland
As many of our wedding blog readers already know, from time to time we feature DIY wedding projects wedding that teach you how to add a hand crafted touch to your wedding day. Well, this wedding favor idea project started out as what I thought would be an easy DIY scented candle-making venture, but quickly turned into more of a cautionary tale! After learning how much time, skill, and equipment is required to make scented candles at home, I have concluded that there are still some craft projects that should be left to the experts.
Almost everything about these candle favors can be
customized; from the scent to the container to the
color and type of embellishments, the possibilities
are only limited by your imagination!
For advice on choosing cute candles that will make a great wedding favor, as well as add your favorite fragrance and ambient light to your reception as table decor, I turned to Elaina Beach, co-owner of luxury candle company The New Smyrna Candle Co. ( www.newsmyrnacandle.com ). She was kind enough to show me just how much work goes into custom candle making, as well as share some tips for adding scented candles to your special day.
Clockwise, from top left: Scents are carefully selected,
measured and blended while a parrafin wax base melts.
Susan: What are the benefits of using scented candles during your wedding and/or as favors?
Elaina: Your sense of smell is the strongest when it comes to memory. It creates an amazing feeling of nostalgia. So, for a guest to take home a little candle specially designed for your wedding, they will smell it and remember the wonderful time they had and all the other events that took place. An important part to remember, however, is that subtlety is key. Stick to light, clean and refreshing fragrances like cucumber, organic mint, basil or a toasted marshmallow (for the sweet-smell-lovers). Even though your favorite smell is gardenia, it may offend others. And a too-strong presentation of scented candles can overwhelm a room.
Clockwise, from top left: The hot wax and fragrance blend is poured into
glass votive holders (and a few travel tins), clothespins are used to center
and hold the wicks in place while the candle wax cools and hardens.
Susan: What would you say is the most challenging part of making scented candles?
Elaina: It’s a long process and it requires a lot of skill. It can turn into an all day (or multi-day) project and leave you with a huge mess. Also, making a large batch of candles will create an incredibly strong smell that can take over an entire household. If you’re sensitive to scent, or live with some one who is, it might not be a good idea to make candles in your home.
During my tutorial, Elaina was working on a batch of candles for an upcoming fall wedding, hence the burnt orange and royal purple accents. The fragrance, which was custom blended to the bride’s specifications, combined citrus and herbs for a light and lively fragrance that guests are sure to enjoy!
Clockwise, from top left: Lengths of ribbon are cut to size and hot glued around the votive candle while other embellishments, in this case flowers and crystals, are added to complete the look.
I hope you’re inspired to select custom scented candles and create ideas to use throughout your reception and as favors for your wedding! Special thanks to co-owners Elaina Beach, Candice Beu, and Jilaine Beu of The New Smyrna Candle Co. for giving us a peek at the professional candle-making process (and possibly saving some brides out there a lot of time, money, and frustration). Whether you decide to purchase or make scented candles for your wedding, please send us photos of your results!
If you have questions on this or any other wedding related topic, please post for me here on the wedding blog or send me an email to susan(dot)southerland(at)pwg.com. Also become a fan on Facebook (search: Susan Southerland Secret) or follow me on Twitter (@Susansoutherlan).
Your partner in perfect planning,
Susan
