Simple Pleasures of Candles - Hardcover

Conari Press

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1573249602 ISBN 13: 9781573249607

Publisher: Conari Press,U.S., 2004

Synopsis

Simple Pleasures of Candles provides ways to use candles to relax, decorate, and give as gifts. What better way to end the day than relaxing by a Candle Fire, even if it's summer time!

About this title

About the Author

Susannah Seton is the author of Simple Pleasures of the Home, Simple Pleasures of the Garden, Simple Pleasures for the Holidays, and coauthor of Simple Pleasures: Soothing Suggestions and Small Comforts for Living Well YearRound. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband and daughter.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

SIMPLE PLEASURES Candles

By Susannah Seton

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

Copyright © 2004 Conari Press
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-57324-960-7

CHAPTER 1

Candle Magic

We are not sent into this world to do anythinginto which we cannot put our hearts.

-John Ruskin

An easy way to make the house cozy is to use a lot ofcandles—in the bedroom, living room, dining room, evenin the bathroom. They give a nice glow to a dark evening and, ifscented, also add a soothing fragrance. Try anointing your candleswith a few drops of your favorite essential oil—rose, bayberry,and vanilla are nice—or use your favorite combination for a customized scentedcandle.

You can also decorate candles with herbs and ribbons. Uselarge, slow-burning candles and attach small sprigs or herbs by using a richlycolored ribbon. Be sure to always place candles on fireproof saucers, and neverleave them unattended.

Simple Pleasures of Candles offers many more easy and affordable ways todecorate your house and garden area with candles. Also terrific housewarminggifts, these can be made in groups or while you're finding some quiet time foryourself. After you're done creating a Zen Centerpiece (page 54) or a Stained-GlassVotive (page 40), soak in one of the bathtub recipes offered here. Butdon't forget the main ingredient of any bathing experience—an array of candlesto illuminate the room.

BY CANDLELIGHT

I love to bathe solely by candlelight. The warm glow givesa relaxing atmosphere to dream and let stress melt away.I used to live in an apartment with a nice-sized bathroom shelf thataccommodated a dozen votives, but recently I moved and thereseemed to be no suitable place for my candles. I thought I wouldhave to give up this pleasure, but then I put up corner bracketshelves and mounted candle lanterns on them. Now, even whenthe candles are not lit, my bathroom has a wonderful exotic flairthat everyone comments on!

FLOATING CANDLES

Candles do add a magical element to any room. I especiallylove the floating ones as a centerpiece for the dining roomtable. It solves the problem of having an arrangement that interfereswith conversation. Simply float a few candles and someflowers in a bowl and you have an elegant focal point.

12 ounces paraffin
60 drops of your favorite essential oil
12 metal pastry tins or candle molds
12 1-inch floating candle wicks (available at craft stores)

In a double boiler, melt the paraffin and then add the essential oilwith a wooden spoon. Pour wax into molds slowly to avoid air bubbles.Let set partly and then insert wicks in the center of each. Letcandles set fully and then unmold. Makes 1 dozen.

RESTORATIVE BATH

This bath a great pick-me-up.cotton bath bag or piece of cheesecloth
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 ounce fresh rosemary
20 drops rosemary oil
20 drops lavender oil
1 cup rose water

Place the fresh ginger and rosemary in a cotton bath bag, or bundlein a 1-foot square piece of unused cheesecloth. Tie it closed. Place thebag under the bathtub spigot and run under hot water. Add oils androse water to the bathtub, swirling with your hand to combine. Thebath bag makes an excellent scrubber and exfoliator, and the gingerand rosemary will leave skin pleasantly tingling and feeling revived.

Light your favorite scented candles. Linger for awhile and let yourself relax and revive all at once.

PAPER CUP LIGHTS

These are great strung on your front porch or out on a deck fora party. The trick is to poke enough of the design in the cup to letthe light through, but not to cut it completely.

cut-out patterns
solid colored paper cups
pencil
craft knife
large craft pin (looks like the letter T) or large safety pin
string of small indoor/outdoor Christmas lights

Find in a craft-pattern book or draw your own, a small design thatwill fit on a paper cup. (A small flower or a star works fine). Cut outthe design to make a pattern. Hold the pattern against a cup youhave turned upside down, and trace the design lightly onto the side.

With the craft knife, cutalong sections of thepencil marks and pushthe cup in a bit along thecut. Do not cut out thedesign! The little cutsalong the pattern will let the lightthrough. With the pin, poke holesalong the top and bottom of the designfor effect. Punch a hole in the bottomof each cup the size of the Christmaslights and push the bulb through. Stringup when finished.

SAND CANDLES

These are some of the easiest candles to make yourself. They aregreat for outdoor barbecues—they actually repel insects—andthey look beautiful too—as they burn more and more, the lightshines through the sand. As with all candlemaking, be aware thatwax heated too high can burst into flames. If this happens, turnoff the heat and smother with a lid or damp cloth—do not pourwater on; that will make it burn more!

damp sand (not too wet, about 1 cup water per bucket of sand)
large mixing bowl
smaller bowl, the desired size of candle
wick
paraffin
wax dye if desired
few drops citronella oil
candy thermometer
wicking needle

Pour sand into the large bowl until it's half-full. Tamp down with yourfist. Push the smaller bowl into the sand and add sand around to fillin edges. Remove the smaller bowl, being careful not to disturb theremaining hole.

Measure the depth of the hole and cut the wick to fit, plus 1 inchextra. Heat the wax gently in a saucepan, adding the dye if desired andthe citronella; mix well when the wax is melted. When the wax reaches261°F, remove from heat and gently pour a bit into the center of themold, trickling it over the back of a metal spoon so that the sanddoesn't lose its shape. Wait about 5 minutes, as it seeps into the sand.Then add more, making sure the wax is still 261°F.

After about 2 hours, a depression will form in the middle of themold. Again, heat the wax to 261°F and fill the depression. Push thewicking needle through the center of the well and lower the wickinto the hole. Wind the top of the wick around the needle, and placethe needle across the sand (so the wick stands upright).

In about 3 hours, the wax will have hardened completely. Removethe candle from the mold. Trim the wick and smooth the base of thecandle with an iron on medium heat. Makes 1.

SETTING THE SCENE

If you want great sex, think about creating a bedroom that'sconducive to intimacy, says Will Ross in The WonderfulLittle Sex Book. "It doesn't need to be elaborately furnished, butit should be uncluttered, have pleasing colors, and not be merelyutilitarian; it should inspire a sense of beauty. The bed you usefor sex ought to have a special, exotic, otherworldly feeling, almostevocative of an altar. There should be an air of reverence. Somepeople enjoy making love under a canopy, and you may want toconstruct one. Soft lighting is immensely helpful [light severalaromatic candles all over the room!], and so is quietly pulsatingmusic. When the whole room feels like a retreat from the hustleand bustle of everyday life, won't you relish the thought of spendingtime there with your beloved?

SENSUAL BATH

This bath feels luxurious beyond belief.

2 drops cedar essential oil
2 drops clary sage essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops orange essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Combine all oils and pour the mixture into the stream of a warm bath.Before stepping into the tub, light tea lights on every surface in thebathroom.

SCENTED CANDLESSurprise your sweetheartwith a candlelit dinnerfor two with your own homemadescented candles gracingboth the table and the bedroom.Their lovely fragrancewill be released as they burn.Scented candles are incrediblyeasy to make—you just needto plan in advance. (If youhaven't planned ahead, you canstill get some of the effect bysprinkling a drop or two ofyour favorite essential oil in themelted wax of a plain candle asit burns.)

2 ounces of your favorite fragrance essential oil (or try
a combination; vanilla and rose are my favorites for romance)
¼ cup orris root powder (available at herbal stores)
1 large airtight plastic container big enough to fit 6 candles
6 unscented candles, any size

Combine the oil(s) and the orris root and sprinkle in the bottom ofthe container. Place candles inside, cover, and store in a cool spot for4 to 6 weeks.

CANDLE SYMBOLISM

Candles are wonderful, especially as the dark creeps in earlierand earlier. If you would like to be intentional about the candlesyou use, consider the symbolism of various colors:

WHITE: spiritual truth and household purification

GREEN: healing, prosperity, and luck

RED: physical health and vigor

YELLOW: charm and confidence

CALMING BATH

The sensualdelight of takinga bath in aromatic oils goes back to the Romans, whoraised bathing to a high art. The public baths consistedof three parts: first you went to the unctuarium, whereyou were anointed in oils. Then you proceeded to thefrigidarium, where you took a cold bath, then to thetepidarium for a tepid one. You finished with a hot bathin the caldarium. While we don't bathe as the Romansdid, we can indulge in the essence of the practice.

4 drops bergamot essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops clary sage essential oil
Run a warm bath. Drop the essential oils into the stream
of water. Slide in, and relax for 10 to 15 minutes.

CANDLE POTS

One of the easiestand most attractivearrangements you can makefor a table or sideboard is aseries of cream or whitepillar candles in terra-cottapots. Just group themattractively, and you have asimple yet sophisticatedfeeling. Make sure younever leave candlesunattended; the moss cancatch on fire if the candleburns too far down.

Dry floral foam
1 terra-cotta pot
1 pillar candle
glue gun
green, sphagnum, or reindeer moss
foral or straight pins

Trim the foam to approximately the same shape as the pot, makingsure it is a little larger than the pot's diameter. Push the foam firmlyinto the pot until it touches the bottom. Trim if needed to get a goodfit. Pack the spaces around the foam with moss. Trim top of foamlevel with pot. Glue candle to foam. Surround base of candle withmoss, fixing it in place with pins. Makes 1.

HOMEMADE BUBBLE BATH

Bubble bath is a great gift that even small kids can make. Thetrick is to have a pretty container to put it in and to never divulgeyour ingredients.

2 cups Ivory (or other unscented) dishwashing liquid
1/8 ounce of your favorite essential oil (vanilla is my favorite)

Drop the oil into the dishwashing liquid and let sit, covered for 1week. Pour it into beautiful a bottle and add a gift tag and ribbonand instructions to use ¼ cup per bath. Enough for 8 baths.

CANDLE - MAKING SUPPLIES

Most hobby and craft stores carryeverything you need to makecandles of all sorts. But if you have troublefinding what you need, contact CierraCandles (800-281-4337). Other goodsources are Candlechem Co. in Massachusetts(508-586-1880), Pourette Manufacturingin Seattle (800-888-9425), andLongwyck Candle Works in New Jersey(800-724-8345).

Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a coolbreeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

—Wu-men

HOMEMADE CANDLES

If you want to make your own candles, catalogues such asHearthsong (800-432-6314) have kits. Or you can try the oldstandard we used to make in grade school. It's easy, but be careful—paraffinmust be heated over low heat or it can explode.Never put it directly on the stove—only over a water bath.

block of paraffin (to equal 1 quart)
crayon bits for coloring
1 half-gallon coffee can
1 wick
1 pencil or chopstick
1 quart waxed cardboard milk or juice container, washed and with top cut off

Put the paraffin and crayon bits in the coffee can and place the canin a pan of water on the stove to create a double boiler. Melt theparaffin over low heat. Be sure to keep it over a very low flame,because paraffin explodes easily when overheated. While wax is melting,tie wick onto pencil or chopstick and place in the cardboard sothat the pencil keeps the wick upright. When wax is melted, pourcarefully into the milk or juice container and allow to harden completelyovernight. Cut away container. Makes one pillar candle.

PINE BATH OIL

This oil is a great skin softener. Just pour a bit into your bathunder the running water.1 cluster pine needles
1 cup baby oil, approximately

Put the pine needles in a glass container with a lid. Cover completelywith baby oil and cover tightly. Store in dry, cool place for 4 weeks.Strain the oil, and decant into attractive glass bottle. If you'd like, youcan add fresh pine needles for decoration. Makes 1 cup.

Before slipping into this tub, light a few pine-scented and vanilla-scentedcandles to enhance your tub time.

The human body is the bestpicture of the human soul.

-Ludwig Wittgenstein

FLOWERPOT CANDLES

Nothing can be easier than turning your old flowerpots into beautifulcandle holders—wonderful for you and as holiday gifts. Thisis a Christmas holiday scent, but feel free to substitute your ownfavorite essential oils. This recipe is for one candle, but can bemultiplied for more.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from SIMPLE PLEASURES Candles by Susannah Seton. Copyright © 2004 Conari Press. Excerpted by permission of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Conari Press,U.S.
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1573249602
• ISBN 13: 9781573249607
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 62