Learning about the constituents of a candle can be just as important as candle safety. There are four different elements to a candle and they each play different roles to ensure proper burning: the wax, wick, fragrance and colorants. By going through each element you will have a better understanding of candles in general and perhaps have more knowledge when it comes to finding the best of the best.
Candle waxes have been developed for centuries and over the years many different fats and oils have been used to create this wax. Basically, the chemical composition of all candle wax is quite similar. All wax is primarily made of hydrocarbon originating from animal, vegetable or petroleum bases. Did you know that an estimated 1 billion pounds of wax is created each year for the candle industry? This is an outstanding amount of wax and if nothing else should give you an idea that you are not the only candle lover in the world today!
The wicks of course are very important when it comes to how the candle burns, whether it burns straight, crooked or all the way to the bottom. When most people are shopping for new candles they almost never consider the wick when it is perhaps the most important aspect of any candle. The purpose of the wick is to draw the wax to the flame to create the perfect flicker of light. This process can compared to a fuel pump that is constantly drawling fuel to keeping the flame burning for hours. Of course, the length of the wick is important in regards to how large your flame is. Keep your wick trimmed to ¼ inch so your flame is no bigger than an inch tall.
For many people the fragrance is what they consider to be the most important part when choosing a candle. It is estimated that 75% of all candle sales in the USA are scented candles. You can feel confident that candle manufacturers work closely with fragrance teams to not only create the scents you love but make sure they burn properly and safely as well. Most scented candles are made of a combination of synthetic and natural materials, from essential oils or synthetic aroma chemicals. For the manufacturers there are as many as 800 different essential oils and aromas to choose from to create unforgettable fragrance, which means more variety for you.
Lastly, the color of a candle is very important for the décor of any home and today you can find almost every color every created in the form of a candle. The candle manufacturers are constantly coming out with new shades and complimentary hues and shapes to keep up with the ever changing home decorating trends to accommodate your new tastes. Dyes and special pigments are used to create these color candles and each has their own chemical makeup. Dyes create the translucent color where pigments create a solid color wall.
Not only can it be important to understand these different candle elements it can also be very interesting as well. With so many people including candles in their home décor, why not understand how they are made as well?
