Brooke Martin
Candles are an important tool for traders seeking to identify potential price movements and trends. The inside candle is a two-candlestick pattern where the second candle's entire price range falls within the first candle's high and low price range. This pattern, also known as the mother bar and inside bar, respectively, indicates market consolidation and indecision, providing valuable insights for traders looking to improve their strategies. The inside candle can be further categorised as bullish or bearish, depending on the trend and candle colours. A bullish inside candle suggests potential upward price momentum, while a bearish inside candle indicates potential downward price pressure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wax | Paraffin wax, Soy wax, Beeswax, Tallow |
| Wick | Wood, Cotton, Zinc |
| Oils | Fragrance oils, Essential oils |
| Dye | Liquid or solid dye colourants |
| Burn time | Depends on wax type and size of candle |
| Combustion | Efficient combustion machine, produces heat, light, water vapour, and carbon dioxide |
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What You'll Learn
- Wicks: Wooden, cotton, or zinc wicks absorb wax and move it upward to keep the candle burning
- Wax: Paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax, or tallow are common types of wax used in candles
- Combustion: The process of a candle burning involves the wax melting, vaporizing, and reacting with oxygen to create heat, light, and water vapour
- Fragrance: Essential oils or fragrance oils are added to the wax to create scented candles
- History: Candles have been used for over two millennia, with early candles made from plant materials dipped in animal fat
Wicks: Wooden, cotton, or zinc wicks absorb wax and move it upward to keep the candle burning
The wick is an essential component of a candle, embedded in wax or another flammable substance. It is responsible for absorbing melted wax and drawing it upwards through capillary action, a process where liquid moves through narrow spaces, to keep the candle burning. The rate of absorption must be balanced to maintain a steady flame. If the wick is too large, the candle will melt rapidly, whereas a small wick can lead to "tunneling", where only the centre of the candle burns.
There are several types of wicks, including wooden, cotton, and zinc. Wooden wicks and those with zinc cores are self-supporting, remaining upright without additional support. In contrast, cotton wicks require wick holders to stay upright. The choice of wick material can impact the candle-making process and the overall stability of the candle.
The wick's role extends beyond wax absorption. Initially, the wick burns to heat the wax, which then vaporises and reaches its ignition temperature, sustaining the flame. The wick's exposed portion remains cool due to the vaporising wax, preventing it from burning up entirely. This cooling effect is similar to the principle behind the camping trick of boiling water in a paper cup, where the water cools the cup, preventing it from burning.
The absorbency of the wick is crucial. It should be naturally absorbent or exhibit strong capillary action, like glass fibre wicks found in oil lamps. The absorbency allows the wick to draw liquid wax upwards while the candle burns. The un-waxed wick found in craft stores, for example, is absorbent and soft, making it suitable for candle wicks.
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Wax: Paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax, or tallow are common types of wax used in candles
The wax is the fuel of a candle, and different types of wax are used depending on the candle's purpose and desired burn characteristics. Paraffin wax, for example, is one of the most common types of candle wax. It is derived from petroleum and burns faster, making it suitable for candles that need to be consumed quickly. However, it tends to give off soot, which can be a drawback. Paraffin wax is also a heavy hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, and it needs to be heated to a high temperature for combustion.
Soy wax, on the other hand, is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to paraffin. Derived from soybeans, soy wax is plant-based and burns cleaner and slower than paraffin. It is a good option for candles that need to burn for an extended period without producing excessive soot. Soy wax is also a more sustainable choice, as it comes from a renewable resource.
Beeswax is another traditional wax used in candle-making, particularly in the Middle East during the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates, and in Europe among the elite. It is typically more expensive than soy wax and comes in yellow or white varieties. Beeswax is sourced from the honeycomb of honeybees and other bees, and it has a long history of use in candles, dating back to ancient times.
Tallow is a less expensive alternative to beeswax that was commonly used in medieval monasteries and rural households. It is made from animal or vegetable fats and was a readily available option for candle-making. However, tallow candles were less aesthetically pleasing and had a lower burning quality compared to beeswax candles.
The type of wax used in a candle will impact its burning characteristics, scent, and overall appearance. Harder waxes are typically used for pillar candles, while softer waxes are preferred for container candles in jars. The wax also plays a crucial role in the combustion process, melting near the wick and being drawn up through capillary action to fuel the flame.
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Combustion: The process of a candle burning involves the wax melting, vaporizing, and reacting with oxygen to create heat, light, and water vapour
The process of a candle burning is a fascinating example of combustion. This process involves the transformation of solid wax into a gas through melting and vaporization, which then reacts with oxygen to create heat, light, and water vapour.
When a candle is lit, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick, turning it into a liquid. This liquid wax is then drawn up through the wick by capillary action, a process where the liquid moves up through narrow spaces due to adhesive and cohesive forces. As the wax moves upwards, it reaches the flame and is vaporized, turning into a hot gas. This occurs in the blue zone at the base of the flame, the hottest part as it directly meets with the oxygen in the air.
The vaporized wax molecules are broken down into hydrogen and carbon atoms. The hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water vapour, while some of the carbon burns to form carbon dioxide. This combustion reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light. The heat radiates in all directions, melting more wax to fuel the flame and continue the combustion process. This cycle of melting, vaporizing, and reacting with oxygen sustains the flame until the fuel (wax) is consumed or the heat source is removed.
The efficiency of the combustion process depends on maintaining a balance. If the flame receives too much or too little air or fuel, it can result in incomplete combustion, producing smoke and soot (unburned carbon particles). Therefore, it is important to trim the wick regularly to control the size of the flame and ensure a steady burn.
Candles have been a significant source of light for over two millennia, with various materials used over time, including beeswax, tallow, and paraffin wax. While electric lighting has reduced their necessity, candles remain popular for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes.
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Fragrance: Essential oils or fragrance oils are added to the wax to create scented candles
Candles are made from wax and a wick, and often include fragrance oils or essential oils to create a scented candle. The role of the wick is to absorb the melted wax and keep the candle burning. The heat of the flame melts the wax near the wick, and this liquid wax is then drawn up the wick by capillary action. The heat of the flame vaporises the liquid wax, turning it into a hot gas, and starts to break down the hydrocarbons into molecules of hydrogen and carbon. These vaporised molecules are drawn up into the flame, creating heat, light, water vapour, and carbon dioxide.
To create scented candles, essential oils or fragrance oils are added to the wax. Essential oils are pure plant extracts, which makes them more expensive to work with, whereas fragrance oils are synthetically made scents and are therefore less expensive. The amount of oil added to the wax defines how fragrant a candle will be. The ideal temperature to add fragrance oil to melted wax is 65ºC.
Paraffin wax is one of the most common types of wax used to make candles. It is inexpensive and works well with fragrance oils and colourants. However, it tends to burn faster and give off soot. Soy wax is becoming an increasingly popular alternative, as it is plant-based and burns cleaner and slower than paraffin. Other types of wax used in candle-making include beeswax and tallow.
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History: Candles have been used for over two millennia, with early candles made from plant materials dipped in animal fat
Candles have been used for over two millennia, with early candles made from plant materials dipped in animal fat. The word 'candle' comes from Middle English, Old English, and Anglo-Norman, all derived from the Latin 'candēla', meaning 'to shine'.
Before the invention of candles, ancient people used open fires, torches, and oil lamps to provide artificial light at night. The earliest candles likely evolved from tapers with wicks of oakum and other plant fibres soaked in fat, pitch, or oil and burned in lamps or pots. These early candles were made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax.
The Romans made true dipped candles from tallow and beeswax. Tallow, rendered from beef or mutton fat, was inexpensive and easily accessible, making tallow candles the most common type of candle for centuries. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, were more expensive and limited to the wealthy and churches.
Candle-making techniques varied and included dipping wicks in molten fat or wax, rolling candles by hand around a wick, or pouring fat or wax onto a wick. In the 14th century, Sieur de Brez introduced the use of moulds, but it wasn't until the 19th century that moulds were truly optimised for efficient candle production.
Today, most candles are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct. However, candles can also be made from a variety of other materials, including beeswax, gel, plant waxes, and even some less conventional materials like skin fat, bone fat, and fish oil.
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Frequently asked questions
A candle is made of wax or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, with an ignitable wick embedded in it. Wicks can be made of wood, cotton, or zinc. The most common type of wax used to make candles is paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. Other types of wax include soy wax, beeswax, and plant wax.
When a candle is lit, the heat of the flame melts the wax near the wick. This liquid wax is drawn up the wick by capillary action and vaporizes, breaking down into molecules of hydrogen and carbon. These vaporized molecules react with oxygen from the air to create heat, light, water vapour, and carbon dioxide.
A candle flame has several zones, each with a different colour. At the base of the flame is a blue area, where hydrocarbon molecules vaporize and break apart into hydrogen and carbon atoms. Above this is a small dark orange-brown section, and the largest part of the flame is the yellow region. The yellow colour is due to the dominance of the yellow portion of the spectrum when carbon ignites. The fourth zone, sometimes called the veil, is the faint blue edge that extends from the base of the flame up the sides of the flame cone.
The white smoke is paraffin wax in vaporized form. It is still hot enough to re-light, and if a fire source is touched to the stream, a flame will run down and re-light the wick.
