Halloween is the next major holiday here in the U.S. And if you've already made some pumpkin soap, the next thing to do is to make some Halloween candles. You can make some easy Halloween appliqué candles, or, for the more adventurous, a fun project that uses a Balloon Candle Shell as the base to make a Ghost Candle.

One of the first questions anyone who finds out that I make soap and candles asks me is, "How did you get started?" Everyone has a story. Some needed a better skin care/skin healing solution, others were following in the footsteps of their pioneer grandmothers. I know a few who were just needing something to do with all of the fresh goat's milk they had on hand. Whatever your story...tell it to us. The one thing that all candle and soap makers seem to have in common is an appreciation of scent, care about how things are made, and a true delight in creativity and crafting. What's your story? How did you get hooked? Read other candle and soap maker's stories...and share your own!
Photo: Trinette Reed / Getty Images

Though there are hundreds and hundreds of superb fragrance oils out there - (I just tried a couple of yummy new ones from Bramble Berry and Backwoods Fragrance and Supply) - I hope you will all try making soap and/or candles with some pure essential oils at some time. Yes - they can be a bit more expensive, and a bit intimidating at first - but creating your own custom blends with essential oils can really be almost as rewarding as making your own candles and soap in the first place! To get you started on your scent-ual journey, here are my favorite books on Essential Oils, their uses, their properties, and more. For those of you experienced essential oil blenders, share your favorite essential oil blend with us in the "What's Your Favorite Essential Oil Blend? Reader's Choice Section" at the bottom of the list.
Also check out How to Blend Fragrance and Essential Oils for some tips on how to do it.

Do you have a question?
Do you have a tip, recipe or soap & candle making triumph to share?
Did one of your soap or candle projects go terribly, horribly, embarrassingly badly - and you just don't know why?
The Candle and Soap Making Forum is a great place to ask questions, find answers, explore new topics and get to know other soap and candle makers from all over the world. As you probably already know, soap and candle makers are pretty amazing folks who love their craft and love to talk about it and share ideas.

Some of my favorite conversations in the past little while have included:

• Using Lavender Leaves in Soap
• Troubled Batch of Soap with a White Crumbly Exterior
• Purchasing a Scale for Candle & Soap Making
• Choosing the Right Wax for a Candle
• Soap for Dry Skin
• Layering Candle Colors
• Problems with Bath Bombs Fizzing in the Molds
• Best Wicks for Votive Candles

There's also a Forum Archive where there are hundreds and hundreds of questions and answers on just about every candle and soap making topic you can imagine. Come join us in the Forum! Stay a while.
Photo credit: Jorg Greuel / Getty Images