Make Sense of Natural Candles

Well, that depends!

Completely natural candles are not very common because there is more to a candle than just the wax. Candles consist of wax, color, fragrance and a wick.

Completely all-natural candles are colorless (dyes are synthetic). They're scented with essential oils made from plants, rather than synthetic fragrance oils. They have cotton (or hemp) wicks. And they're made of a natural wax like bees wax, soy, palm or other vegetable waxes (not paraffin, which is the most common wax used in candles today).

Candles that use natural wax and wicks, but synthetic fragrance and color, are much more common, and are usually what is meant by a natural candle.

There is debate, actually, about the benefit of natural candle wax (soy, palm, other vegetable wax, bees wax) vs. paraffin (petroleum) wax. Some people believe that natural waxes burn more cleanly than paraffin waxes. Others claim that since all waxes are hydrocarbons and give off carbon when burned (that black stuff, called soot), high quality paraffin wax burns just as cleanly as natural wax. Wick quality, color and fragrance are also factors in the cleanliness of the burn with either natural or paraffin wax.

But . . . natural vegetable waxes (e.g. soy, palm) are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and biodegradable. They're unquestionably environmentally friendly, healthy and the best choice, in my opinion!

The purpose of candle wicks is to move fuel (melted wax) up to the flame where it vaporizes and burns. Although consumers of candles find scent to be the most important factor, the wick is actually the most vital in terms of candle construction.

Good wicks are designed to facilitate this process as efficiently and cleanly as possible.

1. Wicks are treated with flame-resistant substances so that they are not burned up by the flame (without a wick, there would be no candle).

2. Some candles contain more than one wick for more complete combustion.

3. Wicks are chosen to work with the type of wax and the candle's shape, size, color and fragrance.

4. Wicks are shaped according to need e.g. flat, square.

5. Wicks are made up of fibers that are twisted, braided or knitted together. Twisted wicks are usually lower quality and burn faster because they are looser and cause more fuel to reach the flame.

6. Wicks are most often natural wicks. They are usually made of cotton. In the past, a lead core was included to allow the wick to remain stiff. This is now banned in the United States due to health hazards. Now, tin, zinc, paper and synthetic materials are often used in cores. However, it is preferable to purchase candles without zinc or tin cores (i.e. natural cotton coreless wicks).

The history of candles is a long one!

There is evidence of candle use in nearly every human society and candles in some form have been used by humans for more than 5000 years!

The Ancient Egyptians used torches made from soaking the core of reeds or rushes in melted tallow (cattle or sheep fat). These torches were called "rushlights" after the rushes they were made from. Egyptians used wicked candles later, around 3000 BC, but the Romans are thought to have first developed a wicked candle by dipping rolled papyrus (paper made from the pith of an Egyptian aquatic plant) in tallow.

China, Japan and India also used wicked candles. The wicks were made from paper and the wax, from plants and insects.

Dish-shaped candles were used in the Mediterranean region. Wicks were laid in olive oil inside the dish.

Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest used oil from the eulachon, or "candlefish," for light.

In the West, tallow was used at first but when bees wax was found to produce a much more enjoyable scent and a cleaner burn, it became used as well, although it was much more expensive.

Candle making began in America in colonial times when women produced a pleasant-smelling, clean-burning wax from bayberries.

By the 18th century, spermaceti, a harder, pleasant-smelling wax from sperm whale oil, was used.

In the 1820's, Chevreul, a French chemist, discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids. From this, stearin wax, a hard, durable, clean-burning wax, was developed. As well, Cambaceres created a plaited wick, rather than the common twisted wicks that required high maintenance. Mechanical candle production began in the 1830's with Morgan's invention.

Economical paraffin wax was discovered in the 1850's by separating the wax from petroleum during refining. Paraffin was often mixed with stearic acid.

The most common historical uses for candles werfor illumination, in religious ceremonies and to keep time. By the 1980's, candle use began to expand into home decor, ambiance and gifts. Candle varieties, colors, shapes and scents exploded.

Soybean wax and palm wax began to be developed.

Today, candles are widely used for celebration, romance, relaxation, decoration, and many other uses. They are made from a variety of waxes, including paraffin, stearin, bees wax, bayberry, soy and other vegetable waxes. Woven cotton wicks are usually used, sometimes with a wire core.

Check out the pictures (below) of the five top types of candles:

1. Votives.

2. Pillars.

3. Jar or container candles.

4. Tealights.

5. Tapers.

1. Always keep burning candles in sight; attend them at all times.

2. Only burn your candles as long as the manufacturer recommends.

3. Trim the wick to 1/4" each time you burn the candle.

4. Make sure the wax pool is free of wick trimmings and other debris.

5. The flame should only be 1/2" to 3/4" high. If it's higher, you need to trim the wick, or blow the candle out.

6. Burn votives in a snug, glass votive holder for best performance. Votives will not burn as long, and may collapse, if place on a flat holder.

7. Use candle holders designed for use with candles.

8. Place candle holders on stable surfaces and in areas where they are safe if you have children and pets.

9. Burn candles in areas free from drafts e.g. vents, ceiling fans, floor fans.

10. But, burn candles in well-ventilated areas.

11. Burn candles in areas free from items that may catch fire e.g. drapes, paper, bedding.

12. Make sure candles are completely extinguished before leaving them unattended.

13. Only touch and move candles that are not burning, and that have been completely cooled.

14. Remove all packaging before burning candles.

15. Extinguish your candles with a candle snuffer.

16. Discontinue burning candles when 1/2" of wax remains.

17. To minimize wax left on the sides of the jars or holders, burn candles 1 hour for each inch of it's diameter to allow the flame time to melt the wax to the outer edge.

18. Burning for less time will cause the candle to form a hole down the middle and shorten the burn time.

19. Never extinguish a candle by placing the lid on a jar. It may cause the jar to break. Let the candle cool before replacing the lid.

20. Keep candles out of direct sunlight so they retain their color.

21. Store candles in a cool, dry place.

Close your eyes and breathe in deeply.

. . . the scent of fresh-baked, hot apple pie fills your senses on a cold winter's day

. . . the sweet, fruity aroma of pomegranate feels like new life in the spring

. . . the zesty scent of sweet orange and chili pepper enlivens your passion and vitality

. . . Japanese pear's exotic mystique sets the perfect romantic mood

. . . and soothing cherry vanilla removes all the stress and tension like you're at the spa

Can you imagine it?

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

The Buddha

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Mother Teresa

You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

Bob Hope

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got ahold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

George Bernard Shaw

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

William Arthur Ward

The teacher is like the candle, which lights others in consuming itself.

Italian Proverb

When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?

Ralph Martson

Enthusiasm is the match that lights the candle of achievement.

William Arthur Ward

You know you're getting old when you get that one candle on the cake. It's like, "See if you can blow this out."

Jerry Seinfeld

We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled but as candles to be lit.

Robert Shaffer

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Elton John

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Edith Wharton

The best candle is understanding.

Welsh Proverb

Instead of cursing in the darkness,
Light a candle for where we're going,
There's something ahead, worth lookin' for.

Neil Young

It's a candle Einstein, except this one blows you out.

Joker, Batman, 1992

Intro Photo: sparkle_lavalamp on Flickr
Relaxing Candle: unknown
Votives: wingingit on Flickr
Pillars: ghyde on Photobucket
Jars: ScentsandSparkles on Photobucket
Tealights: M i x y on Flickr
Tapers: homeave on Photobucket

Disclosure: I earn money from the sale of items on this page.