A Quick Look: Candle Making Wax
The Candle Making Wax Essentials
Most people have a few hobbies that they like doing. For some it’s jewelry making, for others its model cars. A hobby that’s growing in popularity is candle making. There are many differ things to consider when deciding making candles. Perhaps the most important fact to ponder is the type of candle making wax that best suits your projects.
One type if wax that is commonly used and is one of the less expensive than natural wax. Paraffin is made of a by-product of crude oil and is very clean burning. It has a low melting point so it is more easily handle than those waxes with a higher melting point. Paraffin with the lowest melting point, which is 130*F, is softer than that of a paraffin or wax with a higher melting point. Because it is soft when dried and cooled, it is not used for candle making without a container.
Soy wax is a type used for candle making that is rapidly rising in popularity. It comes in many different blends, changing the melting point, clarity and hardness. Soy wax is known for its ability to push out bubbles without having to tap the container. The melting points of soy wax depends on the blend and can be anywhere from 120*F to 180*F.
A type of wax used for candle making in years past is called Tallow. Tallow is a natural wax and is derived from animal fat such as pigs and cows. The invention of paraffin in the mid 1800’s gave tallow very little competition. Paraffin was known to be for the rich and famous, so tallow continued to be used by the not so rich. Today tallow is referred to as sterarin and is commonly used with paraffin to improve the life of the candle.
Another popular wax used for making candles is beeswax. It is 100% pure and natural so it burns a brighter flame and has a natural sweet scent. One advantage of using beeswax to make candles is that it doesn’t shrink when it hardens and the stiffness of the wax allows it to keep its shape. This allows the artist to use beeswax when the other waxes don’t seem to hold up. The quality of beeswax renders it quite expensive. The wide array of uses makes beeswax worth the money.
A wax known as bayberry comes from the excretions from the bayberry shrub. This natural was discovered as a low cost alternative to tallow. Not only did the tallow give off a lot of soot, it didn’t smell very pleasant. Bayberry wax dries a natural green and has a very pleasant scent. It is not required to dye the wax or add any fragrances.
There are many other choices when wanting to explore the world of making candles. Along with the natural waxes, gel candles are making an arrival and increasing in popularity. Highly scented gel candles can be found in almost every gift store and department stores across the world.
Candle making waxes is the most important part creating beautiful artworks known as candles. Using the waxes with caution, they are hot, will insure you get the best out of the craft of candle making.
