Where to Start with Betty Oppenheimer
Betty Oppenheimer is a craft author and textile specialist who brought her professional background in fabric science to the world of candle making. Her books combine practical chemistry with hands-on instruction, covering everything from basic tapers to sculpted and layered designs. “The Candlemaker’s Companion” became one of the definitive references in the field, and its revised edition remains in print nearly three decades after its original publication.
Start here
The Candlemaker's Companion
Betty Oppenheimer · 208 pages · 2004 · Easy
Themes: candle making, rolling and pouring, dipping techniques, molds and sculpting, scents and colors
A thorough, well-organized guide that walks you through every major candle making technique: rolling, pouring, molding, dipping, and decorating. Betty Oppenheimer covers materials, tools, and troubleshooting with the clarity of someone who has taught the craft for years.
Why Start Here
This is the book candle makers come back to. Originally published in 1997 and revised in 2004, “The Candlemaker’s Companion” earned its reputation by being genuinely comprehensive without being intimidating. Oppenheimer starts with the basics and builds outward, so a complete beginner can follow along while more experienced crafters still find useful reference material.
What sets this book apart from slimmer introductions is its range. You will learn not just how to make a simple candle, but how to create gel candles, floating candles, and luminaria. Oppenheimer explains the chemistry behind wax behavior in plain language, which helps you troubleshoot problems and experiment on your own once you understand the principles.
Her background in textile science at the Fashion Institute of Technology shows in the precision of her instructions. Every step is grounded in understanding why something works, not just following a recipe blindly.
What to Expect
At 208 pages, this is a proper reference rather than a quick-start pamphlet. You will not finish it in one sitting, but you can start making candles after the first few chapters and return to later sections as your skills grow.
The revised edition includes updated supplier information and expanded coverage of newer techniques. Photographs and illustrations support the text throughout, though this is primarily a written guide rather than a picture book.
If you want something shorter to get started quickly, consider Oppenheimer’s “Making Hand-Dipped Candles,” a 32-page bulletin focused on one specific technique. But for a complete foundation in candle making, this companion volume is the one to own.
Alternatives
Betty Oppenheimer · 32 pages · 1999 · Easy
A focused, 32-page bulletin that covers one technique well: making hand-dipped taper candles from start to finish. Part of Storey’s Country Wisdom Bulletin series, it delivers practical instruction without any filler.
Why Read This
If you already know you want to make traditional hand-dipped tapers and nothing else, this bulletin gets you there faster than any full-length book. Oppenheimer outlines every step of the dipping process, includes a troubleshooting guide for common problems, and offers tips on adding finishes once you have the basic technique down.
At 32 pages, it respects your time. You can read it over a cup of coffee and be dipping candles the same afternoon.
What to Expect
This is a narrow, practical guide rather than a comprehensive reference. It covers hand-dipped candles specifically and does not address pouring, molding, or other techniques. If you want the full picture of candle making, start with “The Candlemaker’s Companion” instead. But if tapers are your goal, this is the most efficient path.