I have a slight dilemma here. I intend to create my own candles, yet the closest place I have to buy supplies is Walmart, a large not entirely ethical company.
While it is close and less on emissions being so, I wonder if there is not a more sustainable shop anyone knows of? Michael's the craft store is around as well yet the supplies are not likely to be in the store.
Are there ethical online alternatives anyone may know of, or is it simply better to bite the bullet on this and go locally and closer?
I always got my candle-making supplies from Michaels. They don't always have a lot of variety, but the store here does carry them. You might check with the one near you to see if you can find your supplies there.
If you have nothing against using old candles to make new ones, provided you have local, independent thrift stores, you could buy old candles from there and melt those down to make your own. That would potentially support a smaller business in a small way.
I tend not to use old candles for spell work. The candles I intend to make are for spell usage. Thrift store candles are also not something I am keen on. They can be blessed yes, but there is no guarantee a blessing will succeed. Often we forget that a blessing isn't simply a matter of sprinkling water or wafting smoke.
I do have thrift stores in the area and do believe in sustainability. I would still like to get the supplies locally. But the energy of candles already used is too much for me to tackle at this time.
I usually when I use candle in my Spellwork I make my own candles I usually buy it in a bundle(kit) online mostly due to time the I make them at home and set the intention and use it for my Spellwork if not and I have time I usually support small businesses and buy the stuff I need to make the candle (Wax,
Wick, Container, Fragrance, Color and all that and make it at hope Personally I always find it better to make your own candle
best of luck
Blessed Be
I find many Michael's supplies to be really more expensive than they are worth. I always thought diy and crafting was all about saving money by buying supplies (which are supposed to be less expensive than a finished product off the shelf) then committing the labor yourself. After all it used to be that the extra cost of buying a finished product was because someone was paid to make it for you. But when you have to spend $80.00 for wax and then a glass jar, wick twine, paints, herbs, etc it can cost over a hundred dollars to make a fifty-dollar candle.
I cheat by getting bulk packs of tea-lights from the dollar store or hardware store for 20 or so dollars. The wax is just basic white paraffin, but it is easy to color by throwing in one or two crayons (worth literal pennies) and I get some nicely color saturated results. It might not be the highest quality of supplies but you can do a lot of customizing with the saved money.
If you are concerned with getting specific materials like beeswax, Amazon and other online services tend to still be cheaper than Michael's, even when taking into account delivery/mailing fees. Or, if you can do some determined Google searching, you can sometimes find a direct-from-source supplier or even purchase directly from a producer if they have a small-batch/individual purchasing option.
Hard to find local supplies. That being said I have had luck finding local beeswax sold at the farmer's market where I live. You could always go to thrift stores to find jars or simply reuse any jars you have that would make good candle holders. For other types of wax, molds, wicks, you could go to places like Michaels for those items. Sometimes Etsy sells things too, you could try looking on there for some local suppliers.
I like making rolled candles, they're much less hassle than dipped, and all you need for plain candles are a sheet of wax and some wick. Though you can brush the wax sheet with essential oils and press dried herbs into them before rolling them into a candle to craft your own magical candles.
You can buy plain or coloured beeswax sheets from a variety of beekeeping suppliers, such as Thorne, but you may find a beekeeping society in your area who get their sheets locally. They're basically the same thing that beekeepers put into their frames at the beginning of the year.
I went to Dollar Tree yesterday because I heard they're getting skull candles for Hallowe'en this year. I didn't find any near me, but I did spot some candle-making kits in various colors there. Yes, they're small, but demand for them could mean they remain a regularly stocked item for longer.
Speaking of dollar stores, their candles are often cheap, but their pillars could be melted as an inexpensive source for paraffin wax to make candles.
Prsna, I intend to color the wax with some packets of mica powder, like what one would use in nail art and make up products. I believe it can color soap, so I thought perhaps wax as well? I am not certain but thought I'd try it.
The only thing that worries me with the candle making kits from the dollar tree is if they are scented. I have essential oil I would prefer use for scent.
Other than that paraffin candles from the dollar tree are a great idea. My local store has emergency and taper candles that could work nicely.
