Types Of Candles

Candles have been enjoyed by numerous cultures since ancient times. Nowadays, the versatility of candles couldn't be more apparent – they can transform your household's ambience or décor, provide a summer breeze scent in the dead of winter, and even symbolize romance. Indeed, with the many uses and types of candles available it can be easy to forget that their primary purpose in earlier times was providing light. Evidence of pre-historic candles revealed waxes that were amazingly diverse, including those derived from insects, seeds, and even from boiling cinnamon.

Tallow, made by generating animal fat, was another common candle making material. After the advent of paraffin in the 1800's, however, tallow became obsolete. Paraffin remains the most popular wax for candles today.

Candle making was first introduced as an official practice in the 13th century. During this time, candle molds were created manually. It wasn't until the 19th century that mechanical molding was invented, making candle making much easier. Although we have become more sophisticated at making candles, the process of creating a candle has virtually stayed the same throughout time. First the cotton wick is placed into the wax, which is then molded, dipped, extruded, pressed, rolled, drawn or filled into a specific shape and size. When used for aromatherapy, essential oils are added to the wax. Candles that just use fragrance oils will not provide aromatherapy benefits.

Candle stores usually provide a few choices in terms of candle composition. These include paraffin, beeswax, gel, and recently, soy candles. They each have unique traits in their appearance, texture, durability, and aroma.

Paraffin candles:

The most common candle on the market, paraffin is a waxy hydrocarbon without a smell. It is a by-product of petroleum. Paraffin candles have the advantage of being cheap and easy to work with. They are best recognized for their colorless translucence. However, if you still cannot distinguish them, you can usually assume it is a paraffin candle if the label does not indicate otherwise.

Soy Candles:

Produced from soybeans, soy candles burn longer and cooler than their paraffin counterpart. The soy wax has been found to emit less soot into the air, making it a great alternative for those afflicted with allergies. They burn 25-50% longer than paraffin candles. Soy candles have received lots of attention in the media because they are less hazardous to one's health. Another interesting selling point for soy candles is its support to the American agricultural economy. Soy is also a readily renewable material and biodegradable as opposed to paraffin, whose petroleum origins are finite. The wax can be easily cleaned up with soap and water. An increasing trend is to use soy candles for aromatherapy because their health attributes go hand in hand. If you are a health conscious individual or have children, purchasing soy candles can be a good decision.

Gel Candles:

Gel candles can be a lot of fun. They are popular because of their crystal clarity and their ability to incorporate color and fragrance. You can also embed objects in them such as glitter, glass, etc. The source of gel wax is petroleum oil that is essentially turned into jelly. Due their softness, gel candles are only available in containers. As a general rule, the thicker the gel, the stronger the aroma.

Beeswax Candles:

Beeswax candles, as the name implies, are derived from beeswax, which is the substance that honeybees emit to seal the honey into the honeycomb. Beeswax has a slightly sweet aroma and is generally amber-gold in appearance. During the time that tallow was popular, beeswax was used among the wealthy because the odor was more pleasing. These candles are also known to burn more cleanly and longer than most other candles. For this reason, the Catholic Church instilled the use of beeswax candles in order to avoid damage to the delicate artwork of the churches. Beeswax candles also make a healthier alternative for those with allergies. They remain the preferred choice for churches today. They are more expensive, but have longer burning times than other candles.

Safety

An important point to keep in mind is that no matter which you choose all candle types will burn cleanly and safely. There are two causes for a candle to emit smoke: either when a draft disturbs the flame's tear-dropped shape or when the wick is too long. The National Candle Association has also played an active role in setting industry standards for safety such as fire-safety labeling of candles and heat-resistance of glass candleholders.

Interesting Facts about Candles

• If you're a fan of scented candles, you might have wondered why candle manufacturers don't add more fragrance. The reason for this is because there is a maximum amount of fragrance that manufacturers can add into candles to ensure that it burns properly.

• Overall candle sales are growing faster than the United States economy as a whole. The past few years have seen incredible growth in the candle industry (perhaps because we are so busy and looking for ways to de-stress).

• You should try and keep the wick of a candle only a ¼ inch long to ensure its effectiveness (and to prevent soot smoke).

• Candles have different melting points depending on their purpose. Rigid candles have a higher to medium melting point because they are meant to stand up. Container candles on the other hand, have lower melting points.