Candle Types
When looking at buying or making scented candles it’s important to know the different varieties. Way back when candles used to be made of animal fats but these candles did not burn very well and didn’t smell the greatest. In these times natural sources of wax are now available the burn much cleaner, last much longer and also
smell much better.
Let’s start with palm wax. Palm wax is a good candle wax for long burning but is also the most difficult to work with if your are making candles. This type of wax is almost smokeless and when used with a cotton wick leave little if any soot in the air when lit. Soy is also another long burning wax but it doesn’t have the greatest scent and therefore isn’t as good as palm wax.
A long, clean burning and drip less wax is Beeswax. Typically beeswax is costly so it’s more of fancy item. Beeswax is made with no additional scents or fragrances. Similar to beeswax another expensive scented candle wax is bayberry. Bayberry wax is best used for tapers or tarts since most large diameter candles don’t burn as well. Bayberry wax has a dark olive appearance to it and if blended with another wax may have a whitish bloom on the exterior. Bayberry scent kind of smells like hay and won’t do so well mixed with other scents.
One of the older man made candle waxes is paraffin, which is the least expensive. This wax comes in different melt points and can be altered to have various, hardness, clarity and burn rate. Burn times with paraffin are pretty short so most candles today are not made with paraffin. Vybar is usually added to paraffin to harden the candle and lengthen burn times. If you have allergies you may want to check first if you’re allergic to Paraffin since it is an allergen. An alternative to paraffin is mineral oil candles.
Container gel candles and free standing scented clear wax candles are typically Mineral oil based. These candles burn evenly have a good solid burn and can hold more scent that paraffin and thus no allergic reactions of soot from the wick.
Taking the time to know the differences in candle waxes weather you want to make or buy will help you decide which type of wax you need for your particular situation. Gel candles are great for home decor but can be hazardous. A good alternative to a paraffin candle is natural wax but this is more expensive. Most popular type of candle today is the typical paraffin scented candle since it’s the most practical for decoration and scent.