Sand Candles

Sand candles -- doesn't it make you think about sand castles, right in your home? Well, it's not quite the same, but you have to admit, they're fun!

This form of candle art rose in popularity in the 60's and 70's as an inexpensive way to make unique molded shapes. And with good reason -- sand can be molded into myriad shapes and sizes, all without buying lots of different equipment.

Today, they are divided into two camps; those who make them just for fun and those to whom the cande is an art form.

Let's cover what you should know before buying and/or using them. And if you're feeling creative, check out how to make sand candles.

Looking for Sand Candles

If you see one of these delightful candles in a shop, what do you need to check out before you run to the cash register?

First, gently brush your hand against the side of it . Do you see or feel sand coming off? While that's not necessarily a bad thing, keep in mind that if it's "shedding" now, it will continue to shed in your home. Not very fun if it's in a place where it could be handled a lot.

(It's kind of hard to keep from touching these candles -- they feel so neat!)

Is it wrapped in cellophane or plastic? You might want to pass. You can't judge how it does or doesn't shed, even if there is an unwrapped sample available.

Burning Your Candle

Burning your sand candle is very much like any other other. However, there are some things to watch out for.

As always, trim the wick before lighting your candle (see the candle burning page for more information on wick trimming). This is especially important because it's not always easy to accurately gauge the size of the wick, compared to the size of the candle.

Keep a watch on your candle as it burns, to see how large a melt pool it makes. A well-made candle will have a pool that just about covers the entire top of the candle, without spilling over the edge. Just to be safe, put some aluminum foil underneath the candle the first few burns, to catch any drips.

Keep watch on the flame itself. It it's getting large, put it out and trim the wick shorter. If the candle seems to smoke or soot, put the candle out and enjoy it as a work of art.

And please remember -- don't burn these wonderful candles (or any candle for that matter) for more than three hours at a time.

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Is Overdipping an Option?

One way to keep a this kind of candle from shedding so much is to overdip it in a translucent wax.

The overdip will help to keep the sand in place instead of shedding.

While this may not really be an option if you aren't set up for candle-making (and don't have a crafty friend who can do it for you), if you would like to try your hand check out this page.