What Are The Different Forms Of Candles Plus What Are They Prepared From?
Candles are of course made mainly of wax, but there are a lot of different types of wax available. Each wax type contains its own qualities and advantages, and each has a very slightly different look and stability. Most candles on the market right now are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum product. However when paraffin candles are burned they give off hazardous toxins. Nowadays a new candle wax is becoming well-known and that is soy candles. Scented soy candles when glowed do not discharge hazardous toxins. Soy wax and paraffin wax can be made in many different consistencies, including a soft wax for container candles and harder waxes for hurricane candles. Most candles fall somewhere in the middle, with a mid-density paraffin that can be applied in molded candles of all varieties. It can also be used for taper candles, although there is also an unique formula particularly for tapers.
Other forms of wax are soy wax, as stated earlier, bees wax as well as a new unique palm wax. All of these forms are celebrated as being more natural, and are better for the environment. Soy wax, made from soy beans, is a clean-burning wax with an equivalent consistency to the mid-range paraffin waxes. Bees wax is a more gentle wax, and is prized for its malleability. Beeswax is often shaped into sheets with a honeycomb design. Someone purchasing these sheets can then make an instant taper candle by wrapping the flexible sheet around a wick and pressing it tightly. One drawback of beeswax however is that it is very pricey. As you can see, soy candles are your best alternative to paraffin wax candles.
Candle wicks come in different sizes that stand for the diameter of the candle. Bigger candles, often candles more than six inches in size, need more than one wick. Wicks are made of cotton treated with chemical components that slows down their burn rate. A wick may contain only the treated cotton, or it may have a firm core to allow it to stay straighter as it burns. The cores are usually made of either a stiffened piece of cotton, a tightly rolled strip of paper, or zinc. Lead candle wicks are not anymore made because of the health hazards associated with lead.
Candle wax is treated with different chemicals to give it the color, stiffness and odor desired. Color usually is available in pigment blocks that can be melted into the wax. Fragrance is available in either liquid or solid block form. To produce more solid candles, Stearine or Vybar is often included to increase the burning spell of the candle. Additional effects can be formed with other additives that can make the wax mottled, translucent or give it a snowflake pattern. Changing the wax's additive recipe can greatly change the look of the wax, presenting candles the wide range of colors and effects that are there on the market at present.
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