Park Avenue Candles

Jim Sr. continues the story…

Jim Sr — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:59:34 +0000

Louis is getting ready to cut the candles on our new saw. This of course was "new" 17 years ago! The candles in the photo range from 4"X6" to 8"X24". Did you know an 8"X24" candle weighs 36.6 lbs? Louis continues to be a part of Park Avenue Candles today. Thank you, Louis!

Once we had decided to manufacture giant pillar candles, the research began to find out what exactly were we getting into. In the 80′s, computers and the web were not what they are today. So, it was off to the library and then phone calls to candle making supply companies for brochures.

At the same time, I made a mold in the garage from a piece of PVC pipe. The store had some broken and partially burned candles which were gathered, melted in the kitchen, and poured into the makeshift mold. The candle was beautiful. It all seemed so easy. If the ancient Egyptians could do it, how hard could it be?

So, we got some raw wax, wick, dye, additives, pots, ladels, thermometers, scales, measuring spoons… and the list kept growing. We hadn’t even figured out the best way to melt the wax and commercial wax melters were expensive, but a crock pot was obviously going to limit production of large candles. Most crock pots wouldn’t hold enough wax for even one fairly big candle.

We gathered enough equipment to start and rented a small working space. Now, fully committed, the real fun began. Melting candles (with the right wax and additives) and repouring is one thing. Developing a suitable wax and additive mixture for candle manufacture is quite another.

When problems arose, help was hard to find and in many cases not very comforting. For instance, asked, “what to do about bubbles on the surface of a candle?” A candlemaker with 30+ years of experience replied, “put it on the shelf and sell it!”

We did overcome the bubble issue and others for future blogs. This was our introduction to the complexities of candle making, which turns out to be a balance of art and science.

Jim, Sr. tells why it all got started.

Jim Sr — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:06:23 +0000

Back in the 80′s, my wife, Phyllis, ran our original candle store on Park Avenue; an exclusive shopping area in Winter Park, FL. She had many customers who loved candles and wanted the unusual. Phyllis searched the world and found the unique to satisfy her creative decorators.

However, when it came to oversized candles to fit large holders, the pickings were sparse. At that time, most large pillars (6″ diameter by 12″ tall, for instance) were made in one man operations. There seemed to be at least one candlemaker in every metropolitan center. Fine enough, but the equipment, techniques, and raw materials were not always what they could be.

As a consequence, if you ordered three big red unscented 6×12 pillars, they might all be red, but three different shades or tones of red. From Phyllis’ point of view, there was not much happiness. Try as she might, it appeared her suppliers just could not do any better. So, we tackled the issue ourselves.

We embarked on a mission to produce high quality large pillar candles of consistent color with unmatched burning characteristics. Unscented oversized pillars were the target because we believed jar candles and votives were a better choice for scent. We also felt our dramatic candles would be used primarily for decorating; adding quality scent would simply push prices up.

Today, the heart of our business is large unscented pillars ranging from 2″ to 12″ in diameter and taller than typically available elsewhere.

— Jim, Sr. aka “The Old Man”

Watch us tonight on TBS!

kirsten — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:38:36 +0000

David Tutera has chosen to use our candles once again in a wedding makeover. You can see the makeover during the movie, Failure to Launch, tonight and tomorrow morning on TBS.

TBS, Movie And A Makeover

Park Avenue Candles — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:10:06 +0000

http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,182616,00.html

Wedding Makeover

Friday nights just got better!

Live it up in NYC with Movie and a Makeover and celebrity party planner, David Tutera, while we treat one lucky couple to an unforgettable wedding, you’ll get amazing tips on entertaining from a pro!

Expert – David Tutera
Tip - Asparagus Salume Tower Hors D’Oeuvre Recipe from Wedding
Tip - Beach Weddings
Tip - Tuscan Summer Salad Recipe from Wedding
Tip - Contemporary New England Sampler Recipe from Wedding

Many thanks to all our vendors:

www.abigailkirsch.com

www.piersixty.com

www.onthemove.com

www.weddingsbybettina.com

www.originalrunners.com

www.classicpartyrentals.com

www.wildflowerlinens.com

www.parkavenuecandles.com

www.shorechic.com

www.drapekings.com

www.podspa.com

Welcome to Park Avenue Candles Blog!

kirsten — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:42:02 +0000

We have started a blog to share what is new on the Avenue. As many of you know, Park Avenue Candles is a family owned and operated business. Over the years, each family member has fallen into a specific area of expertise regarding candles. Jim Sr. is the man when it comes to making candles. Phyllis has designed our most popular lines and advises on design trends. Jim Jr. KNOWS the candle market. And, as for myself, I put my hands in everywhere and will probably be chatting with you the most. As a family and as a team, we have decided that each of us will share from time to time on different candle related issues.

So, allow me to introduce you to Park Avenue Candles. In 1986, the family bought a candle store on Park Avenue in Winter Park, FL. Phyllis, aka Mom, ran the store. Her style has a dramatic flair and she loves oversized accessories. Oversized pillars were unavailable, anywhere. Dad began making larger candles in the garage for special orders. A lot has happened since that time. One thing remains the same. Park Avenue Candles specializes in oversized, unscented pillar candles in a wide variety of colors and styles.

Today, the factory is located in Sanford, FL, right off of the I-4 interstate. Our factory is 20,000 sq ft of candle making madness! We have an outlet that sells our less than perfect candles at up to 90% off. We enjoy having guests and, if you have time, would love to show you a little of the factory. Come see us when you are in town.

May your candles burn brightly,

Kirsten

Park Avenue Candles Family

Candle Wax Facts

Park Avenue Candles — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:59:38 +0000

Paraffin Wax- The Real Story
We use the finest blends of paraffin wax available on the market to produce clean and long burning pillars. For years paraffin has been the wax of choice for manufacturers looking to create quality pillars. A few years back companies that used soy wax to produce jar candles made a strong propaganda push to make paraffin wax look harmful so they could capture a larger portion of the market share. Here are a few points taken directly from the National Candle Association that should better explain why paraffin candles are perfectly safe to burn in the home.

Paraffin is by far the most frequently used candle wax on a worldwide basis today. Beeswax is also used around the globe, although in significantly smaller quantities. Stearin candle wax is largely limited to European use. Soy wax, palm wax, gels, synthetic waxes, and synthesized waxes are also now used in candles, as are a variety of wax blends and customized wax formulations.

Candle Wax Facts

Prior to the 19th century, a “wax” candle typically referred to a beeswax candle.

All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether the wax is of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin. The chemical composition of all waxes used for candle-making is similar, and all candle waxes burn in the same manner.

An estimated 1 billion pounds of wax are used in the candles sold each year in the United States.

Candles account for the second largest use of waxes in North America, after packaging and package coatings.

Paraffin is the most commonly used candle wax today. Beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes are also used in candle-making for the U.S. market, as are blends of waxes.

Waxes burn with a yellow flame due to the presence of carbon.

No specific type of wax or wax blend is considered “best” for candlemaking. All candle waxes – when provided in high-quality format – have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner.

No candle wax has ever been shown to be toxic or harmful to human health.

There is no such thing as a soot-free wax. All organic compounds when burned will emit some carbon (soot) due to incomplete combustion. Sooting is primarily a factor of wick length and flame disturbance.

Reputable candle manufacturers use only high-quality waxes in their formulations.

National Candle Association

Frequently Asked Questions

Are certain candle waxes better than others?

No. All types of quality candle waxes have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner. U.S. candle manufacturers select waxes or blends of waxes based on their suitability for specific types of candles or formulation profiles, as well as their own candle-making preferences.

What causes a candle to smoke, and what can I do to correct it?

A well-made candle will create virtually no smoke when burning properly. However, if the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed.To avoid this, always trim the wick to ¼ inch before every use and be sure to place candles away from drafts, vents or air currents. If a candle continually flickers or smokes, it is not burning properly and should be extinguished. Allow the candle to cool, trim the wick, make sure the area is draft free, then re-light.

Is candle soot harmful?

No. The minuscule amount of soot produced by a candle is the natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is composed primarily of elemental carbon particles, and is similar to the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils. These everyday household sources of soot are not considered a health concern, and are chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, gasoline, etc.

Do scented candles produce more soot than unscented candles?

Not really. The oils found in certain fragrances may slightly increase the small amount of soot produced by a candle, but wick length and flame disturbance are the primary factors that impact sooting in a properly-formulated candle.

Are scented candles safe?

Yes. When a candle burns, the wax is drawn into the wick, where it is “consumed” by the candle flame to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide. The only difference with a scented candle is that a small amount of fragrance is released as well.Reputable candle manufacturers use only fragrances that are approved for burning in candles. They also carefully monitor the addition of fragrance to ensure that the candle will burn cleanly and properly.

Is paraffin wax toxic?

No. Paraffin wax – like all candle waxes – is non-toxic. In fact, paraffin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food, cosmetics, and medical applications. Food-grade paraffin is commonly used for manufacturing candles.

National Candle Association