Jessie Taylor
Candles are made up of three essential components: the wick, wax, and fragrance. The wick is the candle's fuel, drawing the wax up and into the flame to burn. Wicks are typically made from braided, plaited, or knitted fibres, with the most common core materials being cotton, paper, zinc, or tin. The wax is the solid substance that holds the wick in place and is often made from paraffin, beeswax, stearin, soy, palm, gels, or synthesized waxes. Fragrances are added to the wax to create a scented candle, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To provide light, heat, fragrance, or to keep time |
| Composition | Fuel, wick, colourant, and fragrance |
| Fuel | Wax or other flammable solid substances such as tallow, paraffin wax, beeswax, stearin, gel, soy wax, palm wax, etc. |
| Wick | Made from braided, plaited, or knitted fibres; commonly organic cotton |
| Shape | Pillar, taper, jar, etc. |
| Colour | Ivory, pastels, jewel tones, metallics, etc. |
| Fragrance | Scented or unscented |
| Burn Time | Depends on the wick and wax type; typically 60 hours for an 8 oz candle with proper care |
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What You'll Learn
- Candle wicks: made from absorbent materials like cotton, and come in various types, including flat and cored wicks
- Candle wax: made from fats, oils, and waxy substances from animals, insects, plants, or rocks. Common waxes include paraffin, beeswax, and soy wax
- Candle colours: available in a wide range of colours, from pastels to metallics, adding to the aesthetic appeal of candles
- Candle fragrances: scented candles are popular and use fragrance oils to create custom scents, enhancing mood and ambience
- Candle fuels: besides wax, candles use fuels like tallow (animal fat) or stearin (from palm waxes) to burn and provide light and heat
Candle wicks: made from absorbent materials like cotton, and come in various types, including flat and cored wicks
Candle wicks are an essential component of candles, alongside wax and fragrance. Wicks are made from absorbent materials, such as cotton, and are responsible for drawing the wax and fragrance up and through the wick to fuel the flame. The size of the flame and the rate of burning are determined by the type of wick used.
There are hundreds of different styles and sizes of wicks available, and the choice of wick depends on the type of fuel, size, shape, colour, and fragrance of the candle. Flat wicks, for example, are flat-plaited or knitted wicks that usually consist of three bundles of fibre. They are very consistent in their burning, curling in the flame for a self-trimming effect, and are the most commonly used wicks, often found in taper and pillar candles.
Another type of wick is the cored wick, which uses a core material to keep the wick straight or upright while burning. The most common core materials are cotton, paper, zinc, or tin, and these wicks can be found in jar candles, pillars, votives, and devotional lights. Wooden wicks have also gained popularity in recent years due to the visual aesthetic and soft crackling sound they create.
Specialty wicks are also available, designed to meet the specific burn characteristics of certain applications, such as oil lamps and insect-repelling candles. The choice of the correct wick is critical to ensuring the candle burns cleanly and properly.
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Candle wax: made from fats, oils, and waxy substances from animals, insects, plants, or rocks. Common waxes include paraffin, beeswax, and soy wax
Candle wax is derived from a variety of fats, oils, and waxy substances from animals, insects, plants, or even rocks. The type of wax used in a candle will determine its burn rate and temperature.
Over the centuries, candle waxes have been developed from raw materials that were readily available. For example, the Ancient Egyptians and Early Romans relied on tallow rendered from animals, particularly sheep and cows. In the 12th century, the Chinese developed candle wax from the Coccos pella insect. Meanwhile, the Japanese used extracts from tree nuts, and the Indians boiled the fruit of the cinnamon tree for candle wax.
In the Middle Ages, beeswax was introduced to Europe. However, due to its high cost, its use was limited to the elite and churches. In the 18th century, tallow was the typical everyday candle wax used in Europe and the Americas. This changed in the 19th century with the development of the whaling industry, which led to the creation of spermaceti wax, a clean-burning, low-odor wax derived from sperm whales.
Today, there are many different types of candle waxes available, including paraffin wax, beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, synthetic waxes, and blends. Paraffin wax, a byproduct of petroleum refining, is the most commonly used candle wax globally due to its affordability. However, it releases harmful by-products when melted. On the other hand, soy wax, made from hydrogenated soybean vegetable oil, is non-toxic, clean-burning, and produces less smoke. Other plant-based waxes include palm, carnauba, bayberry, and soybean wax.
The wick of a candle is another critical element. It should be naturally absorbent to draw the wax and fragrance upwards toward the flame. Different types of wicks, such as flat wicks and cored wicks, are chosen based on the candle's fuel, size, shape, colour, and fragrance to ensure a clean and proper burn.
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Candle colours: available in a wide range of colours, from pastels to metallics, adding to the aesthetic appeal of candles
Candles are available in a wide spectrum of colours, from soft pastels to rich jewel tones, metallics, and chromatic layers. The colour is an important element of a candle, often considered more critical than its shape, fragrance, or wick. The colour of a candle can enhance its aesthetic appeal and help set the mood or ambiance.
The colour of a candle can be achieved through the use of colourants, which are added to the wax. The type of wax used can also impact the final colour of the candle, as some waxes burn with a yellow flame due to the presence of carbon. For example, paraffin wax, the most commonly used candle wax, burns with a yellow flame.
The colour of a candle can be chosen to match a particular theme or season, or to express one's personal style. For example, a candle in a simple, classic vessel might be dressed up with a coloured wax and a themed container. Additionally, coloured candles are often used for specific purposes, such as birthday cakes, Christmas celebrations, or vigils.
Candle manufacturers have also introduced candles with layers of different colours, creating a chromatic effect. These candles not only add to the visual appeal but can also provide a unique experience as the candle burns down, revealing the different hues.
The colour of a candle can be an important consideration when choosing a candle, whether for functional, symbolic, or aesthetic purposes. The right colour can enhance the overall experience and create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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Candle fragrances: scented candles are popular and use fragrance oils to create custom scents, enhancing mood and ambience
Candles are made up of three essential components: the wick, wax, and fragrance. The popularity of scented candles has soared in recent years, with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns leading to a significant increase in sales.
Scented candles are used to enhance the mood and ambience of a space, and they can be customised with fragrance oils to create unique scents. The fragrance oils are drawn up through the wick as it burns, releasing the scent into the air. The type of fragrance used can vary, with some candles containing essential oils or other natural fragrances, while others use synthetic fragrances.
The choice of wick is critical to the performance of a scented candle. The wick should be naturally absorbent, allowing it to draw the scented wax upwards through capillary action. Different types of wicks include flat wicks, cored wicks, wooden wicks, and specialty wicks. Flat wicks are the most common type and are often found in taper and pillar candles. Cored wicks use a core material to keep the wick straight, with cotton, paper, zinc, or tin as the most common core materials. Wooden wicks have gained popularity for their visual and auditory appeal, creating a soft crackling sound. Specialty wicks are designed for specific applications, such as oil lamps or insect-repelling candles.
The wax used in scented candles can also vary, with paraffin wax being the most commonly used worldwide due to its affordability and accessibility. However, other types of wax, such as beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, and coconut wax, are also popular choices. The choice of wax influences the burn rate, temperature, and cleanliness of the candle flame.
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Candle fuels: besides wax, candles use fuels like tallow (animal fat) or stearin (from palm waxes) to burn and provide light and heat
Candles are composed of a wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance, such as tallow or stearin, that serves as fuel to provide light and, in some cases, fragrance and heat.
Tallow, rendered from beef or mutton fat, has been a primary ingredient in candle-making throughout history. It is a 100% fat substance, composed mainly of monounsaturated and saturated fats, and contains no water, protein, or carbohydrates. Before the advent of electric lighting, candles were commonly used for illumination, with tallow being a more affordable alternative to beeswax candles. While candles are now predominantly used for their aesthetic value, cultural and religious significance, and symbolic purposes, tallow remains a crucial component in candle production.
Stearin, derived from animal fats or palm waxes, is another important fuel source for candles. Chemically, stearin is a triglyceride derived from stearic acid, and it can exist in three polymorphs with different melting points. Stearin serves as a hardening agent in candles, contributing to their structure and burning properties.
In addition to wax, tallow, and stearin, candles may also incorporate other fuels and substances. For example, traditional candles often combined tallow with beeswax, and stearin candles may be blended with palmitic acid to create a unique composition. The diversity of fuels and additives in candle production allows for variations in burning rates, fragrances, colours, and other characteristics, catering to diverse consumer preferences and requirements.
The evolution of candle fuels has been driven by advancements in technology, changing consumer demands, and the discovery of new materials. While tallow and stearin have played a significant role in candle-making, the development of paraffin wax, derived from petroleum refining, has made candles more affordable and accessible to a wider range of consumers. Today, candle fuels are chosen based on factors such as cost, sustainability, and the desired characteristics of the final product.
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Frequently asked questions
A candle is made of a wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance.
Candle wicks are made from absorbent materials like cotton, paper, zinc, or tin.
Candles are often made with colourants and fragrances.
Common types of wax used in candles include paraffin wax, beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes.
Some candles use tallow, a substance rendered from animal fat, instead of wax.
