Wax for Candle Making
The ever increasing popularity of candle making has resulted in more readily available and more diversified waxes than ever before. The ballooning demand for new and better wax has brought about these changes simply because candles are mostly composed of wax.
Currently, much of the wax used for candle making is petroleum based paraffin wax which is common, very easily accessible, and cheap. There are other kinds of wax that are natural, derived from refined plants such as palm, bayberry or soy. Today, environmental consciousness has increased demand for soy based wax which is a result of hydrogenating soybeans. Soybeans are a renewable resource, are grown in the United States, and are a more environmentally suitable source from which to make wax for candle making as well as candle burning. Another natural wax is palm wax which is also a renewable resource. Sadly, however, the increasing use of palm wax from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia prompted the clearing of large sections of rainforest for palm plantations, resulting in ecosystem devastation and endangering of animal life including rhinoceroses, Sumatran tigers, and orangutans. Fortunately, the RSPO, an organization founded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has acted in bettering the practices for sustaining the cultivation of palm. In addition they aid member organizations with implementing and verifying palm agriculture procedures. It is hoped that when shopping for palm wax, the buyer is seeking wax from environmentally friendly sources.
Candles can also be made from beeswax, palm, and bayberry which have been available in the past but have recently received growing interest due to an increasing interest in natural products. Beeswax, available in yellow or white, is a popular wax choice when making candles, and although it is often more expensive, candle makers and candle burners alike enjoy the honey fragrance and burning qualities as well as the hardy qualities of beeswax.
Using gel wax is a new relatively new method to make candles. This type of gel candle has a rubber-like texture and burns similar to wax. There are three different gel wax densities. Gel density requirements depend on the kind of candle that is planned and the amount of fragrance desired. Low density gel is more suitable for a 0-3 % fragrance amount and can also be poured at lower temperatures. Medium density gel is suitable when making gel candles using 3-5 % fragrance. Medium density gel is likely the most popular choice as it allows a higher amount of fragrance that can be added. High density gel is appropriate when making candles using yet higher fragrance amounts.
The availability of a variety of waxes available has allowed candle makers to choose the wax they are able to best work with. An understanding of different waxes allows candle makers a fuller experience in candle making, doubling, tripling, or quadrupling enriched fulfillment.
