Candle Wax .. makes variety possible - Different uses, different waxes

"Wax" is a term used to classify materials with the following common characteristics:

Solid at room temperature

Water repellent

Smooth texture

Primarily hydrocarbon (hydrogen and carbon) in structure

Low toxicity

Low odor

Combustible

Low reactivity

Waxes come from five major sources:

Animals (Beeswax, animal fats)

Stearin (stearic Acid) derived from plant & animal fats (highly refined) This is very hard with a high melting point so that thin &/or long candles won't droop, drip or smoke with often the cleanest and brightest flame.

Plants ? i.e., soy, palm and carnauba wax (tend to discolour, often soft and to be too flammable)

Minerals ? i.e., montan wax

Petroleum ? i.e., paraffin wax (99% of candles are paraffin a derivative of refining crude oil into petrol)

Chemical synthesis ? i.e., polyethylene and Fischer Tropsch

Wicks

Candles come in all shapes and sizes for almost any occasion imaginable. You can easily appreciate the different designs and textures of every candle. However, you may not know that different candles require different wicks. In order to achieve a slow, clean burn, you must match the right wick with the right kind of wax.

Getting the "right fit"

Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" formulate when matching wax with wicks.

In fact, there are more than 100 unique wicks on the market today. For the most part, a high-quality wick is made from a braided fabric, while a lower quality wick is twisted.

Fragrances

Making Sense of Scented Candles

Candles today are available in a seemingly endless variety of fragrances that remind us of happy events and fond emotions in our lives: family vacations at the beach, grandma?s homemade cookies, blooming flowers in the spring, and warm apple cider in autumn. Scented candles help consumers feel relaxed, refreshed and calm.

In fact, consumers consider fragrance an increasingly important feature when buying candles.

Aromatherapy De-Mystified

The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses and fragrances experts say some scents can have deep influence on men and women. However, there's a misconception among consumers that most fragranced candles are 'aromatherapy' candles. Most fragranced candles available to consumers do not contain essential oils, and those that do, may not have enough to produce aromatherapy effects.

Most fragranced candles produce an effect called 'aroma-chology'. Aroma-chology deals only with the psychological effects achieved through the use of ambient odors ? synthetic or natural, which stimulate olfactory pathways to the brain. Aromatherapy, on the other hand, deals with the physiological or therapeutic effects of natural essential oils only, introduced by means of transdermal absorption resulting from massage, ingestion or olfaction.

The fragrances used in candles generally are a combination of natural and synthetic materials, which are safe, high-quality ingredients that are found in many popular consumer items, such as soaps, mouthwash or personal-care products. Just as some people are allergic to certain foods, flowers or plants, it is possible that a handful of consumers may react to certain candle scents.

Dyes and Pigments

Candle makers use pigments and dyes to colour their candles. Pigments are used to coat the outside of a candle with colour, while dyes are used to colour a candle throughout. Pigments will create a solid wall of colour, similar to paint. Dyes will create a more translucent colour, similar to a "stain".