Candles. Need sources?

[Moab]

Looking for cheap, large candles.

I regularly burn those 5 inch around, glass jarred, scented candles you find at Walmart or Walgreens or wherever. Thoughout the day and especially evening. 

So I'm looking for cheaper ones of those. But am open to large, cheap candles and putting scented oils in them myself. I have a ton of that stuff. As my wife used to run several different diffusers that used scented oils.

So I'd be into even finding large, cheap plain white, unscented candles. Placing them in a can or whatever. And adding my own scents. If that's cheaper. Alot of the scented ones smell like ass. At least that way you get to pick your own scent. 

But this would be for emergencies too. As I regularly buy several of these when I find them on sale. Was just thinking about a deeper stockpile for when the power goes out. 

I really don't want to spend more than $5 on these. So many candles in the $10-$40+ range! Seems ridiculous to me. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Maybe check Dollar Tree ?

[Anianna]

If you're using jars, make your own.  Get flaked candle wax in bulk (like this), and use jars you have already from your purchased candles, mason jars, or jars or cans from foodstuffs you've finished. 

You can melt the wax and pour it in (use a baine-marie/double boiler), or you could even just dump the flakes in the jar and set the wick in.  If you wanna get cutesy with them, you can get colored flakes and use them sort of like we used to do sand art bottles at fairs with colored sand.  Kits with colored wax to put in jars used to be big in crafting circles back in the late aughts.  I'm sure there's some around still, but those will be more expensive than just buying wax flakes in bulk. 

You may be able to find bulk flaked wax cheaper at some craft dealers if you hunt around, but $35 for ten lbs plus the kit to make the wax into candles isn't too bad a price and certainly cheaper than buying fancy candles.

ETA:  You can store wax in well-sealed food storage containers like Tupperwar or jars with sealing flip lids.  Add a desiccant pouch to keep it from getting sticky and keep it somewhere it won't get hot and melty.

Ever so slightly cheaper per pound at Michael's sale price of $156.79 on a 50lb kit: https://www.michaels.com/product/craftbud-natural-soy-candle-wax-accessories-kit-160965562731692056

These even come with fancy wick holders.  When I was doing these, I would just rubberband a couple of pencils around the wick to keep it in place.

[Moab]

If you're using jars, make your own.  Get flaked candle wax in bulk (like this), and use jars you have already from your purchased candles, mason jars, or jars or cans from foodstuffs you've finished. 

You can melt the wax and pour it in (use a baine-marie/double boiler), or you could even just dump the flakes in the jar and set the wick in.  If you wanna get cutesy with them, you can get colored flakes and use them sort of like we used to do sand art bottles at fairs with colored sand.  Kits with colored wax to put in jars used to be big in crafting circles back in the late aughts.  I'm sure there's some around still, but those will be more expensive than just buying wax flakes in bulk. 

You may be able to find bulk flaked wax cheaper at some craft dealers if you hunt around, but $35 for ten lbs plus the kit to make the wax into candles isn't too bad a price and certainly cheaper than buying fancy candles.

ETA:  You can store wax in well-sealed food storage containers like Tupperwar or jars with sealing flip lids.  Add a desiccant pouch to keep it from getting sticky and keep it somewhere it won't get hot and melty.

Ever so slightly cheaper per pound at Michael's sale price of $156.79 on a 50lb kit: https://www.michaels.com/product/craftbud-natural-soy-candle-wax-accessories-kit-160965562731692056

These even come with fancy wick holders.  When I was doing these, I would just rubberband a couple of pencils around the wick to keep it in place.

How much less expensive is this than the cheapest made unscented candles? Like something in the 4 to 5 inch range? Maybe 6 inch high or more? 

That's the source I'm looking for. And the one you just laid out above. Huge thank you. That was exactly what I was looking for.

Just curious how much that effort costs compared to cheap plain candles of a similar size? That are already made. I guess I thought there would be an industrial source? Or some wholesale candle website? 

I'm also a little leary of chemicals in scented candles. There has been some pretty alarming reports on people breathing in terrible things from these grocery stores candles. I do notice it in my own home. And some of the scents are obnoxious. 

[Anianna]

If you're using jars, make your own.  Get flaked candle wax in bulk (like this), and use jars you have already from your purchased candles, mason jars, or jars or cans from foodstuffs you've finished. 

You can melt the wax and pour it in (use a baine-marie/double boiler), or you could even just dump the flakes in the jar and set the wick in.  If you wanna get cutesy with them, you can get colored flakes and use them sort of like we used to do sand art bottles at fairs with colored sand.  Kits with colored wax to put in jars used to be big in crafting circles back in the late aughts.  I'm sure there's some around still, but those will be more expensive than just buying wax flakes in bulk. 

You may be able to find bulk flaked wax cheaper at some craft dealers if you hunt around, but $35 for ten lbs plus the kit to make the wax into candles isn't too bad a price and certainly cheaper than buying fancy candles.

ETA:  You can store wax in well-sealed food storage containers like Tupperwar or jars with sealing flip lids.  Add a desiccant pouch to keep it from getting sticky and keep it somewhere it won't get hot and melty.

Ever so slightly cheaper per pound at Michael's sale price of $156.79 on a 50lb kit: https://www.michaels.com/product/craftbud-natural-soy-candle-wax-accessories-kit-160965562731692056

These even come with fancy wick holders.  When I was doing these, I would just rubberband a couple of pencils around the wick to keep it in place.

How much less expensive is this than the cheapest made unscented candles? Like something in the 4 to 5 inch range? Maybe 6 inch high or more?

That's the source I'm looking for. And the one you just laid out above. Huge thank you. That was exactly what I was looking for.

Just curious how much that effort costs compared to cheap plain candles of a similar size? That are already made. I guess I thought there would be an industrial source? Or some wholesale candle website?

I'm also a little leary of chemicals in scented candles. There has been some pretty alarming reports on people breathing in terrible things from these grocery stores candles. I do notice it in my own home. And some of the scents are obnoxious.

I'm not sure how that compares cost-wise as I worked from kits rather than from bulk.  Some religious organizations buy a lot of plain, unscented candles.  I would look for bulk dealers geared toward religious purposes. 

[slipkid42]

Wholesale Candles

They seem to have good reviews, I have never ordered from them myself

[NT2C]

You're on the wrong coast, otherwise I'd say hook up with @Lambykins and never need candles ever again.

[Anianna]

You're on the wrong coast, otherwise I'd say hook up with @Lambykins and never need candles ever again.

Or scissors. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

You're on the wrong coast, otherwise I'd say hook up with @Lambykins and never need candles ever again.

Or scissors. 

And somehow they keep multiplying despite her having given away a ton of each.

[Wasteland Charlie]

Candles show up a lot in garage sales. I started by them for $0.10 - $0.25 each. My thought was to stockpile them in large numbers. My wife's thought was to use them for romantic dinners. So we have no candles.

[Moab]

Seems like the wholesale ones are just around $5. Same as the ones in glass jars. Need to search more.

[tirls]

Ikea has nice candles for under 1€. Not sure if they're the right size, I don't do inches.

[Moab]

Ikea has nice candles for under 1€. Not sure if they're the right size, I don't do inches.

Good idea!

[Lambykins]

You're on the wrong coast, otherwise I'd say hook up with @Lambykins and never need candles ever again.

Or scissors. 

And somehow they keep multiplying despite her having given away a ton of each.

Actually, I am now at a reasonable amount of candles.
After getting all my boxes into my new apartment, I found ex-roommate/landlady had been throwing out some of my stuff when I was at work or otherwise absent from the trailer.
So....most of my candles and scissors are gone.
I am down to a dozen pair of scissors and probably 50 candles.
To me, this is reasonable.
However, she tossed the box I had the ostrich egg in and that annoys me.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

You're on the wrong coast, otherwise I'd say hook up with @Lambykins and never need candles ever again.

Or scissors. 

And somehow they keep multiplying despite her having given away a ton of each.

Actually, I am now at a reasonable amount of candles.
After getting all my boxes into my new apartment, I found ex-roommate/landlady had been throwing out some of my stuff when I was at work or otherwise absent from the trailer.
So....most of my candles and scissors are gone.
I am down to a dozen pair of scissors and probably 50 candles.
To me, this is reasonable.
However, she tossed the box I had the ostrich egg in and that annoys me.

Well, that sucks. I'm betting some of those boxes she tossed had those knives in them as well.

[Moab]

Is one width better for a survival candle? Like does 3 inch burn better with one wick than 4 inch?

Here's $2.79 each for six 3x6 candles.

Stonebriar 6 Pack Tall 3 x 6 Inch 65 Hour Long Burning Unscented Ivory Wax Pillar Candles https://a.co/d/0ozB45u

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[Zed hunter]

I just make my own. Either by dipping or molding.