| Alamance County Candles. Alamance County Candles, the first division of Exclusive Castings, LLC, was established near Burlington, North Carolina in early 2009. We have access to many authentic antique metal chocolate molds, and because the number of antique chocolate molds is limited, we are reproducing the actual figure in wax so more people can enjoy the artistry. We want to recreate the historical time-honored chocolate experience in a more permanent medium than candy. | |
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Burning Our Premium Candles. We make our candles so they can be burned to release the chocolate scent. However, our Premium Candles are cast from chocolate molds and not candle molds; the chocolate molds were never intended to cast figures that would burn. As a result, many of our Premium Candles burn erratically because of their wonderful shape, and some burn unsafely. As a result, we do not recommend our Premium Candles for burning. In the future, we will bring out a line of traditional pillar, votive, and tart candles that can be used to release the light chocolate scent without sacrificing the Premium Candle. | |
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Production Time for Premium Candles. Producing a large Premium Candle (over 8 inches) takes about two days; a small one (less than 8 inches) takes about a day. While we have access to many different chocolate molds, in general, we have only one chocolate mold of any specific subject. Because we hand pour our Premium Candles these two facts mean we cannot mass produce our Premium Candles. We can cast many moulds in a day, but only one of each Premium Candle can be made during that day. This will guarantee the exclusive nature of our Premium Candle castings. |
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Antique Metal Chocolate Molds. The earliest chocolate candy molds (sometimes spelled "moulds") appeared in France in the 1830's, made of copper. Metalurgy of the early 1800's didn't allow steel to be bent without tearing, so moldmakers used copper because it was soft enough to make the mold. Chocolate doesn't release from the bare copper, so the molds were tin-plated ("tinned") after being made because the chocolate would release from the tin. In the early 1900's, metalurgy advanced so that steel could noe be used for the molds; however, chocolate doesn't release from steel either, so the steel molds were also tinned to release the chocolate (and protect the steel molds from rust). Around World War II, the process for nickle-plating the steel before the molds were made was developed. In addition to reducing costs, the separate tinning process was eliminated, saving additional costs. In the 1970's, the chocolate industry switched from steel to plastic for sanitary, durability, and cost reasons. Today, the chocolate industry still uses plastic molds, except for a few specialty chocolate shops who still use the antique metal molds. There are also some reproduction metal molds availble, generally of stainless steel. Our Pouring Process Preserves The Molds. Alamance County Candles' hand pouring process does no damage to the antique metal chocolate molds, such as drilling holes for the wicks to pass through. To visit a website full of wonderful authentic antique metal chocolate molds, see Dad's Follies at this link. |
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Packaging for Our Premium Candles. Chocolate candies
today are typicaly wrapped in colored foil, because the figure has no detail.
Alamance County Candles
is looking to re-create the marvel and splendor of the chocolate candy figures
found in Main Street chocolate shops 100 years ago. That's why we used lightly
scented and chocolate colored wax for our initial offering of Premium Candles. In
times past, when chocolate figures had the detail to be displayed, the candies
were packaged in clear cellophane bags, so the customer could admire the art
before enjoying the candy. Similarly, Alamance County Candles packages our
Premium Candles in a cellophane bag with a closure, as shown in the photos on
the left. In this way, our recreation of chocolate figures in wax is complete!
The candles can be displayed in the cellophane bags or can be removed prior to
display, as you wish. Currently, we have gift boxes available for some of our Premium Candles. If you wish to have one included, ask us! In the future, we hope to also add gift bags for those customers who would like one. Thanks! |
| This website shows you hand poured scented Premium Candles from Alamance County Candles. We hand pour our chocolate scented and chocolate colored wax into authentic antique metal chocolate molds to recreate the "turn of the last century" Main Street Chocolate Shop experience--wax lasts longer than chocolate! Like what you see? Contact us here or call us at 336 227-7910 between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM Eastern. |
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