Jessie Taylor
Candles are made from wax, which is a generic term for materials that are solid at room temperature and liquid at higher temperatures. Waxes are organic compounds that consist of long aliphatic alkyl chains and may include functional groups such as fatty acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and esters. The most common type of wax used in candles today is paraffin wax, a soft, colorless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale that consists of hydrocarbon molecules. Other types of wax used in candles include beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes. The development of new waxes for candles has historically depended on the availability and ease of processing of raw materials.
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Paraffin wax candles
Paraffin wax, also known as petroleum wax, is a soft, colourless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. It consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between 20 and 40 carbon atoms. Paraffin wax is solid at room temperature and begins to melt at temperatures above approximately 37 °C (99 °F). Its boiling point is above 370 °C (698 °F). Paraffin wax is created by removing the oil (de-oiling or de-waxing) from slack wax, which is a mixture of oil and wax. The resulting product is called "product wax" or "press wax". The lower the percentage of oil in the wax, the more refined it is considered. The wax may be further processed to remove colours and odours and blended to achieve desired properties such as melting point and penetration. Paraffin wax is sold in both liquid and solid forms.
Paraffin wax was created by German chemist Karl von Reichenbach in 1830. He developed a method to efficiently separate and refine waxy substances naturally occurring in petroleum. Paraffin wax was a significant advancement in candle-making technology as it burned more cleanly and reliably than tallow candles and was cheaper to produce. The addition of stearic acid helped to increase its initially low melting point. The production of paraffin wax increased in the early 20th century due to the growth of the oil and meatpacking industries, which created paraffin and stearic acid as byproducts.
Paraffin wax is the most commonly used candle wax today. It is preferred due to its clean burning, low cost, and availability. Paraffin wax is also versatile and can be used to create various types of candles, including container candles, pillars, votives, and tarts. However, other types of waxes are also used in candle-making, such as beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes.
Waxes are organic compounds that characteristically consist of long aliphatic alkyl chains. Natural waxes may contain unsaturated bonds and functional groups such as fatty acids, primary and secondary alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and fatty acid esters. Synthetic waxes, on the other hand, often consist of homologous series of long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes or paraffins) that lack functional groups. In chemistry, paraffin is synonymous with alkane, indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2.
Paraffin wax has a variety of applications beyond candle-making. It is used in foods, such as chewing gum and cheese wrapping, in cosmetics, as a non-stick and waterproofing coating, and in polishes. It is also an excellent electrical insulator and has been used in electronics cooling, lubrication, and neutron moderation. In laboratories, paraffin wax is used to impregnate tissue samples in histology or pathology experiments.
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Beeswax candles
Beeswax is a well-known animal wax produced by bees for constructing honeycombs in their hives. It is frequently used to make candles, cosmetics, and lubricants. The wax is a light tan to white colour and has a hexagonal pattern.
Beeswax is made from the esterification of a saturated 16-carbon fatty acid. It is not a pure material but a mixture of similar compounds, consisting of 75% long-chain fatty acid esters, with a melting point of ~60°C. The fatty acid is usually palmitic acid, with the chemical formula C16H32O2, and the alcohol is typically triacontanol, with the formula C30H62O. The esterification process involves the reaction of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol, resulting in the formation of an ester and the elimination of a water molecule. In the case of beeswax, the combination of palmitic acid and triacontanol produces myricyl palmitate (C46H92O2), the primary component of beeswax.
Overall, beeswax candles offer a natural alternative to paraffin candles, providing longer burn times, cleaner combustion, and pleasant fragrances derived from volatile organic compounds.
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Soy wax candles
Soy wax is considered a more eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum or crude oil. It produces less soot, which can stain candle jars and discolour walls and curtains over time. Soy wax candles are also non-toxic and safe for human health, like all other types of candle wax.
Paraffin wax is a soft, colourless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. It consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between 20 and 40 carbon atoms. Paraffin wax was first created by German chemist Karl von Reichenbach in 1830 and revolutionised candle-making technology due to its clean burn and low production cost. However, paraffin wax initially had a low melting point, which was later improved by adding stearic acid.
In addition to paraffin and soy wax, other types of waxes used in candle-making include beeswax, palm wax, gels, synthetic waxes, and blends of different waxes. The choice of wax depends on various factors such as availability of raw materials, ease of processing, and desirability of the final product. Ancient civilisations used raw materials available to them, such as animal fats, to create candle wax. For example, the Ancient Egyptians and Early Romans used tallow rendered from sheep and cows.
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Palm wax candles
Waxes are organic compounds that consist of long aliphatic alkyl chains, and they may also contain aromatic compounds. Natural waxes may contain unsaturated bonds and functional groups such as fatty acids, primary and secondary alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and fatty acid esters. Synthetic waxes, on the other hand, often consist of homologous series of long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes or paraffins) that lack functional groups.
Palm wax is a popular choice for candle makers due to its eco-consciousness and ability to create elegant, natural-looking candles. The process of making palm wax candles involves melting the wax to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, adding fragrance and colour if desired, and then pouring the hot wax into moulds at around 200 degrees. The candles are then allowed to set at room temperature before being removed from their moulds, ready for use.
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Tallow candles
To make tallow candles, one must first gently melt the tallow in a double boiler to preserve its delicate antioxidants. Once melted, the tallow can be poured into warmed jars, with essential oils added if desired. It is important to ensure that the jars are warm before pouring in the tallow, as cold jars may crack or shatter. The wick should be centred in the jar and held in place with pencils or another similar object.
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Frequently asked questions
Candles are made of wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow. Waxes are organic compounds that consist of long aliphatic alkyl chains.
Different types of wax used in candles include paraffin wax, beeswax, stearin wax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes.
Paraffin wax is a soft, colourless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. It consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between 20 and 40 carbon atoms. Paraffin is the most commonly used wax for candles today.
Beeswax is a natural wax secreted by bees and used in the construction of honeycombs in beehives. It has been used for candles since ancient times, including in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Candles are ignitable wicks embedded in wax. When lit, the heat melts and ignites the wax, which vaporizes and combines with oxygen in the air to form a flame. The flame then melts the top of the wax, which moves upward through the wick and is continually burned, maintaining a constant flame.
