Online Class: Candle Making 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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15Lessons
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35Exams &
Assignments -
3,742Students
have taken this course -
14Hours
average time -
1.4CEUs
Course Description
This course will open up for you the amazing array of possibilities that exist in your pursuit to create beautiful, functional, and sweet smelling candles. From basic molded and container designs, through the wonders of ice, chunk, votive, and the all-mysterious floating candles, you'll learn the easiest and safest ways to work with wax, wicks, and molds.
But this course doesn't stop with just making candles that are sure to impress your friends and family. Once you've learned how to design and craft your product using countless combinations of scent, color, and containers, you'll be given the tools and knowledge to take your journey on the final leg; candle making for profit through your own business.
The basics of building a niche candle market and targeting your marketing efforts to those that are naturally inclined to buy your candles will also be covered. You'll learn how to build a business plan and get the word out about your products. The nitty gritty of starting a business will be covered and you'll end with a thorough list of potential wholesale suppliers, candle making communities, and other resources for learning and sharing your new found passion!
Course Motivation
The history of candle making is intertwined with the history of humankind itself. For thousands of years we have been engaged in the process of containing fire for light, warmth, cooking, and religious ceremonies. Candles are an important part of this heritage and to a certain extent still are today. Understanding the basics of this history helps us to appreciate more fully the true meaning of the power of a candle.
This lesson will take you on the fascinating journey of the history of candle making. You will learn about:
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The First Candles.
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Candles in the Middle Ages.
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Candle Making in America.
The First Candles
No one knows exactly when or where the first candle was made and used. However, evidence of the earliest candles, called rush dips or rushlights, have been found in ancient archeological digs throughout the world. Interestingly, the very first candles were not unlike some of today's ones that are more fashionable. Naturally formed hollows in stones were filled with animal fat, called tallow, and rush or other plant material was placed inside to soak up the fat. This then, was lit to form sustainable light, a candle.
Over time, vegetable oils were used instead of tallow. Olive oil especially was popular in warmer European climates. A sign of the high value these early societies placed on candles is that certain early rush dips were made out of valuable stones such as quartz and lapis lazuli.
Rushes, a pithy fibrous plant, were used effectively to form torch like candles. Their outer layers were peeled off and the inner, absorbent fiber was soaked in animal fat. This made them easy to light and to carry, allowing a portable form of illumination for hunting, foraging, or visiting nearby villages, whether for warring or peaceful purposes. Rushlights evolved over time into more advanced versions of this same basic layout.
Perhaps it is due to their warmth and convenience, or maybe to the miracle of light that they emit, but candles have been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. Hanukkah, one of the most important Jewish holidays and also known as the Festival of Lights, entails lighting candles each day in a special nine-candle holder. Both the New and Old Testaments in the Bible have references to candles.
Candles in the Middle Ages
With the Middle Ages came important changes in the making of candles. Previously, due to the fact animal fat from sheep, cow, or pigs was used, candles gave off a pungent, unpleasant smell. Pork fat was the worst and relegated to the poorest people while sheep fat, although still foul smelling and giving off a black smoke, was considered the highest quality and therefore the most valuable.
Over time, a canon in the Roman Catholic Church laid into law that the church's candles had to be at least 51 percent beeswax for some ceremonies and up to 100 percent beeswax for others. Any wax not made from bees had to be from a vegetable source. This increased the price and value of beeswax and turned the Catholic Church into the largest buyer of beeswax candles in the world.
During this time candle making became a guild craft in both England and France. Candle makers, known as chandlers, would travel from town to town making candles for households from either tallow or beeswax. Beginning in the 15th century, candle lanterns lit the streets of cities and villages in Europe and England at night. Town criers, who previously called out the hour of night and if it was safe or not to venture out, now also had the duty of lighting and taking care of the street candle lanterns.
Candle Making in America
In the early 19th century, two discoveries were made which changed the face of candle making forever. First, a French chemist named Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered a substance derived from animal fat called stearin. This ingredient produced hard and quality candles never before seen. The second occurrence was the development of paraffin wax from petroleum. When added with stearin, this combination created the strong, long lasting candles that we still use today.
Much of candle making in America today takes place on an enormous commercial basis. The hub of this industry is in Syracuse, New York. Companies here produce thousands of different kinds of candles and use ingredients from all over the world. Many smaller, boutique, candle making enterprises exist throughout America too.
Candles and candle making have been part of our lives for many thousands of years. Still today, making and using candles creates associations of comfort, warmth, and the coziness of a home.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. The History of Candle Making
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Candle Making; Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2. Equipment
Lesson 2 Video
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
Complete Assignment: Yankee Candle Factory
Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3. Safety and Your Wax Workplace
Lesson 3 Video
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4. Wax, Wicks, and Additives
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5. Step by Step Candle Making
Lesson 5 Video
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6. Handmade Rolled and Taper Candles
Lesson 6 Video
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7. Color and Fragrance
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8. Overdipping, Cutouts, and Cracked Candles
Lesson 8 Video
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9. Container Candles and Gel Wax Variations
Lesson 9 Video
Lesson discussions: Containers
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10. Floating, Mottled, Ice, and Chunk Candles
Lesson 10 Video
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11. Multiwick, Glow-through, and Votive Candles
Lesson 11 Video
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam
Lesson 12. Troubleshooting and Caretaking
Lesson 12 Video
Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment
Complete Assignment: Making a New Candle
Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam
Lesson 13. Candle Making for Profit
Lesson 13 Video
Lesson discussions: Candle Making Business
Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam
Lesson 14. Planning, Pricing, and Forming Your Business
Lesson 14 Video
Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment
Complete Assignment: New Things
Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam
Lesson 15. Marketing Ideas and Candle Making Resources
Lesson 15 Video
Lesson discussions: Your Opinion Matters: Course Rating; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Complete: Lesson 15 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Summarize the history of candle making.
- Identify equipment needed for candle making.
- Summarize safety and your wax workplace.
- Summarize wax, wicks, and additives.
- Demonstrate step by step candle making.
- Demonstrate handmade rolled and taper candles.
- Recognize color and fragrance in the candle making process.
- Identify over dipping, cutouts, and cracked candles and what to do.
- Demonstrate creating container candles and gel wax variations.
- Demonstrate creating floating, mottled, ice, and chunk candles.
- Demonstrate creating multiwick, glow-through, and votive candles.
- Summarize candle making for profit.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
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Includes CEUs | X |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "I loved taking this course. I learned a great deal. The assignments made me try things I may not have otherwise. The notes and videos were informative and helpful. The additional resources were also helpful. I really like the format of the class site. The report card page was great to track my progress. It took me a bit to warm up to the discussion page of the platform but once I did a few posts I enjoyed sharing. I also apricated the instructor's feedback and encouragement. It can be hard to take an online class and feeling connected so I really liked that feature." -- Cara D.
- "I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MAKING CANDLES, AND HOW TO SELL THEM. I'M NOT READLY INTERESTED IN SELLING BUT MAKING THEM FOR GIFTS AND FOR MYSELF." -- Theresa R.
- "Thank you very great course." -- Brenda H.
- "I love that the instructor was very quick with the grading...everything is easily explained." -- Francia P.
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