Jessie Taylor
Candles are made of matter. They are usually made of wax, a wick, and oil. The wax is often paraffin, but can also be beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel, or plant waxes such as palm, carnauba, bayberry, or soybean wax. The wick is typically made of wood, cotton, or zinc, and it works by absorbing the melted wax and drawing it up via capillary action. The liquid wax is then heated and vaporized, and the vapor burns to keep the candle lit. Candles have been made from a variety of materials over the centuries, including fats, oils, and waxy substances derived from animals, insects, plants, and even rocks. They have been used for over two millennia and were a significant form of indoor lighting until the invention of other light sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance such as tallow. |
| Composition | Wax, wick, and oil. |
| Types of Wax | Paraffin wax, beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel, plant waxes (palm, carnauba, bayberry, soybean wax), stearin candle wax, soy wax, palm wax, synthetic waxes, blends of waxes. |
| Types of Wicks | Wood, cotton, zinc, braided, plaited, knitted fibres, flat wicks. |
| Types of Oils | Fragrance oils, essential oils, aniline-based dye. |
| Burning Process | Heat from the flame melts the wax, which is drawn up the wick and vaporized. The vaporized wax molecules react with oxygen to create heat, light, water vapour, and carbon dioxide. |
| Uses | Light, heat, timekeeping, decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial purposes. |
| History | Used for over two millennia, with early candles made of beeswax, tallow, whale fat, plant materials, animal fat, and other materials. |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are made from wax, wick and oil
A candle is made up of wax, wick and oil.
Wax
Candle wax is typically made from paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum refining. Paraffin wax is inexpensive and works well with fragrance oils and colourants. It is also derived from crude oil, which is the same source as gasoline. Other types of waxes used include beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel, and plant waxes such as palm, carnauba, bayberry, soybean wax, and coconut wax.
Wick
The candle wick is a piece of string or cord that holds the flame of the candle. Commercial wicks are made from braided cotton, wood or zinc. The wick needs to be absorbent, like a towel, so it can absorb the melted wax and move it upwards while the candle is burning.
Oil
Oils used in candles are typically fragrance oils or essential oils. Fragrance oils are synthetically made scents, whereas essential oils are pure plant extracts.
Candles have been made from a variety of materials over the centuries, including tallow (animal fats), beeswax, whale fat, colza oil, rapeseed oil, and spermaceti (a waxy substance produced by the sperm whale). The development of new waxes has been influenced by the availability of raw materials and the ease and economy of processing them into a suitable wax for candle-making.
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Paraffin wax is a common candle wax
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance. They have been used for over two millennia, initially as a source of light and heat. While candles are no longer necessary for illumination, they are still commonly used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes.
Paraffin wax was first created in 1830 by German chemist Karl von Reichenbach. It was a significant advancement in candle-making technology as it burned more cleanly and reliably than tallow candles and was cheaper to produce. Paraffin wax is inexpensive and works well with fragrance oils and colourants. It typically burns faster than other waxes and gives off soot.
Other types of waxes used in candle-making include beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel wax, and plant waxes such as palm, carnauba, bayberry, soybean wax, and coconut wax. The type of wax affects the burn rate, with beeswax and coconut wax burning longer than paraffin or soy wax.
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Wicks can be made from wood, cotton or zinc
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable substance, such as tallow. They are made of matter and have been used for over two millennia worldwide.
Candle wicks can be made from wood, cotton, or zinc. Wooden wicks are made from thin slabs of wood, untreated and sourced directly from trees. They are often soaked in fragrance oils to enhance the scent of the candle. They create a crackling sound akin to a mini campfire, adding to the ambiance of the candle. However, they require more maintenance than standard cotton wicks, as they tend to burn hotter and produce more carbon buildup.
Cotton wicks, on the other hand, are braided strands of cotton that are dipped in wax and compressed to hold their shape. They are easy to light and maintain, making them a popular choice for candle manufacturers. Cotton wicks are often treated with a core stiffener or wax coating to help them stand upright and burn effectively.
Zinc wicks are less commonly mentioned but are another option for candle wicks. They are typically found at the core of a wick, providing structure and stability.
The choice between wood, cotton, or zinc wicks depends on various factors, including the desired atmosphere, ease of lighting and maintenance, and the type of wax used in the candle. Each type of wick has unique properties that can enhance the overall candle-burning experience.
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Wicks absorb wax and pull it upward
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable substance, such as tallow. They are made of matter and have been used for over two millennia worldwide.
The wick is a crucial component of a candle, and its absorbency is essential to the candle-burning process. The wick needs to be naturally absorbent or have a strong capillary action, like a towel, to absorb the liquid wax and move it upward. This absorbency ensures that the wick can absorb the melted wax at a rate that sustains the flame.
The type of wick used in a candle can vary, with wood, cotton, and zinc being common materials. Wooden wicks and wicks with zinc wires at their core generally stay upright on their own, while cotton wicks require wick holders for support. The size of the wick is also important, as too large a wick will cause the candle to melt too quickly, and too small a wick will result in tunnelling, where only the centre of the candle burns.
The wicking process involves the wick absorbing the melted wax and pulling it upward through capillary action. The absorbed liquid wax then moves along the wick through tiny channels, moving upward due to the heat of the flame. This movement of liquid wax through the wick is essential for the candle's continued burning.
The liquid wax that is pulled upward through the wick is then vaporized by the heat of the flame. It is this wax vapour that burns and produces the candle's light and heat. The vaporization process also cools the exposed wick, protecting it from burning away too quickly. Thus, the wick's absorbency and its ability to pull wax upward are critical to the functioning of a candle.
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Wax vapourises and burns, creating heat and light
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable substance, such as tallow, that provides light and heat. The wax is typically made from paraffin, beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel, or plant waxes. The wick, usually made of cotton, acts like a straw, absorbing the melted wax and drawing it upwards through capillary action.
When a candle is lit, the heat of the flame melts the wax near the wick, creating a small pool of liquid wax. This liquid wax is then absorbed by the wick and drawn up towards the flame, where it vaporises. This process of wax vapourising and burning creates heat and light.
The vaporised wax molecules react with oxygen in the air in a process called combustion. This reaction produces heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water vapour. The heat generated helps sustain the flame, continuing the cycle until all the wax is consumed.
The size of the flame and the corresponding rate of burning are controlled by the candle wick. A larger wick will cause the candle to melt faster, while a smaller wick can lead to tunnelling, where only the centre of the wax burns. Different types of wicks are available, including wood, cotton, and zinc.
The type of wax also affects the burn rate, with some waxes, such as beeswax and coconut wax, burning longer than others, like paraffin or soy wax. The composition of the wax, along with factors like the size of the wick and burning conditions, influence the rate at which the wax is consumed.
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Frequently asked questions
A candle is made of wax, a wick, and sometimes oil. The wax can be paraffin wax, beeswax, microcrystalline wax, gel, plant waxes, or tallow. The wick can be made of wood, cotton, or zinc. Oils used are usually fragrance or essential oils.
The wick absorbs the melted wax and pulls it upward. The heat of the flame then vaporizes the wax, which is what burns.
When the wax vaporizes, it breaks down into molecules of hydrogen and carbon. These molecules react with oxygen from the air to create heat, light, water vapour, and carbon dioxide.
In early civilizations, candle-making materials included tallow rendered from animals, whale fat, and plant materials dipped in animal fat. In China, beeswax was used for candles as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), and candle fuel derived from the Coccos pella insect was developed by the 12th century.
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