Need some inspiration added to your candle making? Are you stuck with the same old votives and pillars and jelly jars and looking for a way to rekindle (pun intended) your love for candles? Here are the books I go back to when I'm looking for candle inspiration. They're both "how-to" books, as well as "idea" books that show the amazing multitude of ways that candles can be used to decorate, enlighten (again, pun intended) and otherwise brighten our homes and our lives. You'll not only earn new ways to make votives, but you'll also learn new ways to use votives and incorporate them into your home.
1. The Complete Book of Candles and Candle Making by Gloria Nicol
Lorenz Books
2. Candles: Elements of the Table by Slavin & Jones
Collins Publishers
I found this book at a used book store recently, and it's one of my new favorite books on candles. There is not one recipe or project or instruction in it, but rather an informational and inspiring wealth of innovative ideas. The really interesting thing about this book is that it's not really a "decorating" book either - the ideas and examples it shows are based on richly written and illustrated history, tradition, romance, magic, and an overal sense of warmth and opulence. From candles used in ceremonies and holidays, to birthday parties and picnics, this book deeply and warmly explores just what makes candles so elemental and satisfying to us all.
3. Thw World of Aromatherapy
Jeanne Rose and Susan Earle
While not a book about candle making, what's the one thing (other than the flame) that ties all of our candles together? The scent. This is a book about the scents created in our world by natural essential oils - their history and their use. It is full of wonderful historical accounts, stories, legends and explanations of just how scent works, and how these essential oils work.
4. The Candlelit Home: Decorating with Candles Year Round by John Terrell Fry
Harry N. Abrams Publisher
5. The Encyclopedia of Candlemaking Techniques by Sandi Lea
Running Press
Literally set up as an encyclopedia (organized A to Z) - this book has a lot of great "how-to" projects to make many different styles of candles - from cut-and-carve to water candles to votives and containers and more.
6. Candles by Jon Newman
Thunder Bay Press
7. Essentially Candles by Robert and Katherine McDaniel
KP Books
Robert McDaniel is primarily a soap maker and is the author of Essentially Soap. But his wife Katherine is a candle maker. So the two of them got together and put together Essentially Candles. It's a great beginners overview of candle making, with lots of great tidbits of information, history, trivia and more.
8. Illuminate by Amanda Hammond
Laurel Glen Publishing
9. The Everything Candlemaking Book by M.J. Abadie
Adams Media
A fun and very comprehensive book on candles and candle making. From the history of candles to different kinds of waxes to different kinds of candles to make, this book touches on just about everything a bit.
