Scented Candles – Some Of The Waxes Used By Manufacturers
Scented candles – as well as most home fragrance products - are used by most people these days. One of the best things about them is that they are available in a great selection of colours, designs not to mention scents. But what most consumers probably do not know is that the candles they buy in the local shop, specialist retailer or online store can be made from quite a variety of different types of wax.
A lot of scented candles are created using a choice of preblended waxes, which include paraffin wax and stearic acid, while others are made using soya wax. It is vital when it comes to choosing wax for candle making is that the wax itself does not emit any visible smoke while it is lit and that the wax is also odourless , or as close as it can be, so as not to interfere in any way with the scent of the candle. What follows are some of the most popular types of wax used today for making scented candles
Paraffin Wax: this wax is derived from petroleum . Paraffin waxes with a higher melting point tend to be used for making pillar candles, ideal for a candle stick, while those with a lower melting point are more suitable to jar or container candles. Paraffin wax is is not as poipular as it once was among luxury candle manufacturers because it is considered relatively dirty to burn , does not come from a renewable resource and also because it burns quite quickly and does not hold fragrance very well.
Beeswax: Candle makers have been using beeswax for a long time and is probably the first of the refined waxes to be used for this purpose , when it replaced crude candles fashioned from tallow or animal fats. Unfortunately, compared to paraffin wax and even soy wax, beeswax is quite expensive and this has restricted its use in making scented candles to luxury brands such as companies like true grace candlesor yankee candles. In fact, in the majority of instances beeswax is not used on its own but in fact is combined with other waxes to give an individual mixture, which helps reduce the speed at which the candle burns , thereby making them better value for money. It is extracted from honeycombs and burns somewhat rapidly but also very cleanly and holds its scent most efficiently which after all is the whole point when you are talking about scented candles.
So all of the above makes it pretty clear the type of wax your scented candles are created from can have a important influence on the performance of the candle. Check the label next time you are buying scented candles and be certain you know what you are buying. If you can go for soy wax or beeswax but also remember that triple milled paraffin wax can also produce very clean candles with good fragrance throw.
