Discover the Best Candle Making Classes in Los Angeles
It has never been easier to go into a store and pick up a factory-made candle off the shelf. The industrial revolution in the mid-19th century has made candles ubiquitous in a way that they were not in the days when candle making was a household chore, but one cannot help but feel as though something has been lost in the transition from individual candles made by hand to mass-produced candles made by machine.
With interest in a return to artisanal methods over mass-produced goods growing across many industries, by-hand candle making has seen a resurgence as both a personal hobby and a specialized craft. Candle makers are drawing upon literally thousands of years of techniques for making candles by hand, employing techniques that have not changed much from those of ancient civilizations like Rome and China as early as 500 BCE. All it takes to make a candle is a wick, wax, and a container to hold the wax. Candles can be further personalized by adding dyes or fragrances, and while these can add aesthetic or aromatherapeutic components to a candle, they aren’t essential. Whether the wick is rolled in a sheet of wax, dipped into a pot of melted wax, or suspended in a pool of wax poured into a mold, it is quite simple to make a candle by hand.
Why You Should Learn Candle Making in Los Angeles
The core appeal of candle making is the personal satisfaction of crafting something by hand. While this is true of any hobby, candle making is a particularly fulfilling activity because of the relaxing properties built into the process and the product. Fragrances are frequently added to candles to infuse them with aromatherapeutic properties, and these candles are frequently used while participating in other calming activities like meditation. Moreover, much artisanal candle making is driven by an investment in natural ingredients and processes, meaning those whose investment in artisanal practices is driven by environmental concerns will find much to appreciate in current candle making trends.
That said, candle making doesn’t have to remain a strictly solitary activity. Many make candles not just for their own meditative practices, but share them as personalized gifts for loved ones, helping to share a sense of calm. Others still will find enjoyment in becoming part of a larger community of candle makers with similar investments in artisanal practices. While anyone these days can find an online community, Los Angeles residents are especially fortunate to have a community of craft and art fairs for such artisanal wares, and many of the best places to learn candle making come from local community engagement projects.
In-Person Candle Making Classes in Los Angeles
While there are many ways to get started in candle making, an in-person class is considered the gold standard for fast and effective learning. There simply is no replacement for a live instructor who can guide you through the process step-by-step, demonstrating techniques and answering any questions or concerns that may arise in real-time. An in-person class is also a great way to foster relationships with the candle making community, as you interact with a room full of students who all share an interest in candle making.
If access to an expert chandler and community connections are what you seek, look no further than Los Angeles City College in East Hollywood. Los Angeles City College is devoted to community enrichment, and conducts various community-supported classes and workshops on non-academic topics that are meant to serve the community at large. This type of outreach helps just about anybody in the community learn a new skill, try out a new experience, and connect with community members in an educational setting. Los Angeles City College provides hands-on experience in candle making in their Candle Making class, a 3-hour workshop where participants have the opportunity to make several candles and develop the skills to continue making them at home.
Virtual Candle Making Classes
While an in-person class is typically the fastest and easiest way to learn candle making techniques, this type of class isn’t an option for everyone. In-person classes are limited to whatever location the class is being held, and on whatever schedule is convenient for the instructor, meaning that for some, finding an in-person class that fits their own needs is virtually impossible. Fortunately, an online candle making class can be a great alternative that offers many of the same benefits that come with an in-person class. An online class offers the same easy access to an expert chandler who can demonstrate the steps of candle making in real-time and can answer any questions as they arise, all without the need to commute to an inconvenient location.
Although an online class does offer increased flexibility when it comes to location and schedule, they do add a limitation in terms of acquiring supplies and a workspace. While an in-person class has a workspace set up for candle making and can provide all the necessary materials to anybody who walks through the door, a virtual class cannot feasibly provide the same easy access to supplies. While there are some exceptions, when enrolling in an online class, expect to track down and buy your own materials ahead of time. An instructor will provide a detailed list of supplies that should be easy to purchase online or at a local arts and crafts store, but the onus is ultimately on the individual.
The Virtual Candle Making Workshop Love & Make is one such online class that can teach the basic techniques of candle making. Though Love & Make, located in Houston, Texas operates on Central Time and will be a couple of hours ahead of Los Angeles, this class is accessible to anyone with an internet connection. In this 1-hour workshop, you will get hands-on experience making your very own hand-poured soy wax candle, and you will develop the skills and techniques that will allow you to continue making candles at home on your own time. This class, like most online classes, does not supply materials as part of the cost, but Love & Make does try to simplify the process by offering a DIY Candle Making Kit for purchase on their online store. This kit includes all the necessary materials, including a container, wax, 2 wicks, fragrance oil, and a stick for stirring wax, though individuals who are able to secure similar supplies through other means are welcome to do so as well.
Private Group Candle Making Classes in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for an out-of-the-ordinary way to engage your friends or coworkers in a fun group-bonding activity, CourseHorse offers live online candle making classes for private groups that could be just the thing you’re looking for. Because the basic techniques are so easy to pick up, a candle making class can be a great way to participate in a hands-on activity without getting too stressed by difficult procedures, making it the perfect choice for any low-stakes social event.
CourseHorse’s Virtual Candle Making class is the perfect way to bond over a group activity in a fun, low-stakes environment. Get comfy in your own personal space, grab your favorite snacks and drinks, and have a blast while an expert instructor walks you through the basic steps for creating your very own soy and beeswax candles.
While most other virtual classes will task you with supplying your own materials, CourseHorse makes things easy by sending a candle making kit to the home address of each participant. Each kit includes enough wax, wicks, candle tins, and fragrance oils to create two personalized candles, as well as some handy miscellaneous supplies like a pitcher for melting and pouring wax and a wax-stirring stick.
Booking a private course through CorseHorse is simple. Once you’ve secured a date, you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours, and your event provider will personally follow up to introduce themselves and provide additional information about the class. If you need to add or remove people from your group, CourseHorse makes that easy. You can change your headcount after booking a date, and CourseHorse won’t finalize payment until you’ve finalized your headcount. CourseHorse recommends using Zoom, which they use to host this virtual class, but they can accommodate other platforms like Microsoft Teams or Google Meets for your convenience.
