CANDLE
TYPES |
Container |
Any candle that is poured
into a container of any type, such as jars,
glasses, tins, etc. Container candles
create a large pool of molten wax. Because they
"contain" the wax, they are non-messy
and very popular. They are also known
for giving off a strong scent, which is due
to their melt pools. |
Floater |
A small candle shaped with
a rounded or tapered bottom so it floats in
water. Floaters must be designed to core
burn so that the wax stays contained and doesn't
run into the water. |
Gel Candle |
Clear or translucent candles
made of candle gel. Candle gel is a patented
material comprised of mineral oil and a polymer
resin. |
Hurricane |
Candle shell mold used for
dried flowers & other decorations.
Leaves the center of the mold hollow, to be
filled with wax not containing the flowers.
The outside shell doesn't burn so the flowers
don't float into the flame. These can
be refilled over and over. Or you can
insert a votive or tea light candle in the shell. |
Layered Candles |
Pillars or containers that
are layered in 2 or more different colors. |
Luminaries |
Candle lanterns usually
made with a votive cup set inside a paper bag
full of sand, and used to line a driveway or
sidewalk. |
Molded / Novelty
(Freestanding) |
These are irregularly-shaped,
free standing candles made by molding, sculpting
and/or pouring into a shaped mold. Many are
made to be burned, and many are used more for
decoration and are not meant to be burnt. |
Oil Candle |
Glass container filled with
liquid paraffin fuel, burned with a fiberglass
wick. |
Pillar |
A free standing candle usually
round and tall like a cylinder, but can be made
in other shapes such as square, hexagon, triangle,
star, heart, etc. These are made in metal,
acrylic or latex molds and are meant to be burned
on a flat holder. |
Sand Candle |
Free standing candle with
an outer shell made of sand & wax.
Damp sand forms the mold in which hot wax is
poured to make this type of candle. |
Sculpted Candle |
Made from a pliable wax
and hand formed to resemble an object or character. |
Taper |
Taper candles are tall,
skinny candles that require a special fitting
taper candle holder. They are either made
in a mold, or they can be made by the traditional
method of dipping a length of wick into hot
molten wax. Another method is to roll a sheet
of beeswax around a wick, forming a taper. The
most common size is 1/2 or 7/8 inch in diameter
and either 9 or 12 inches tall. |
Tea light |
Tea lights are like small
votives used to warm pots of potpourri and to
heat foods. They fit are poured in small metal
or plastic tea light cups and are usually sold
in packages of 10 or 12. |
Votive |
These are small pillar shaped
candles that are usually about 1½ inch
in diameter and 2-3 inches high. They are designed
to be burned in a glass votive cup because they
are made to completely liquefy when burning,
essentially becoming a small container candle.
A candle flame must have a pool of fuel (molten
wax) to draw from, so if you burn a votive on
a flat holder or a plate, the burning time will
be shorter because the candle will loose it's
shape and basically become a puddle, drowning
out the wick. The tighter fitting glass
cups work best. |
Tart / Melt |
Small disc of scented wax
used to melt in a potpourri or tart burner or
melter. These are usually round 2.5"
scalloped and fluted, but can also come in other
shapes such as hearts, leaves, stars, etc. |
GENERAL
TERMS |
Appliqué |
Thin wax shape applied to
outer surface of pillar or taper candles for
decoration. |
Bloom |
A powdery substance that
appears on beeswax candles. Bloom is the
result of the oils migrate to the surface of
the wax over time. It can be removed by
rubbing with a soft cloth. |
Burn Rate |
The burn rate is the amount
of wax consumed per hour (in grams). Burn
rates are based on testing performed with straight
paraffin wax with no other additives. |
Chunk |
Cubes or random pieces of
wax used in containers or molds, and then over
poured to make chunk candles. |
Cold Pour |
This is a technique in which
you pour the wax at a cooler temp, and sometimes
into a chilled metal mold to give it a rustic
look as opposed to a smooth finish. |
Core Burning |
When the melt pool does
not reach the edges of the candle and it burns
a hole down the center, but leaves a wall of
wax around the edges. This can happen
in both container candles and pillars, and is
due to improper wicking. |
Core Candle |
Core means "middle".
Core candle many times refers to plain unscented
& uncolored pillar candles used for over-dipping
and cut & curl candle making. A core
pillar can also be used when putting embedded
objects such as potpourri or sea shells around
the outside of a pillar. |
Coreless |
Usually refers to cotton
wicks with no core material (such as zinc, paper,
etc). |
Double Boiler |
Pan or other metal container
placed inside a pot of water. |
Essential Oil (aka
EO) |
Volatile aroma compounds
from plants, or plant essence oils. |
Flash Point |
The lowest temperature at
which the vapor of a combustible liquid can
be made to ignite momentarily in air.
This relates to both wax and fragrance oils.
For wax it is the temperature that wax would
have to reach before it combusts and catches
fire. For fragrance oil it is the temperature
the oil would have to be in order to catch fire
when coming into contact with a spark or an
open flame. |
Fragrance Oil (aka
FO) |
Combinations of synthetic
and natural aroma chemicals blended to create
scented oil for use in candles, bath products
and other aroma products. |
Frosting |
White, chalky marks that
appear often on soy candles. Similar to
bloom on beeswax candles. Frosting is
also sometimes used to describe whipped wax
on cake candles. |
Grubby |
A popular style of primitive
candle. This involves dipping the candles
in wax that has been cooled to a lumpy texture
and often rolling in spices, coffee grounds
and crushed herbs for a "grubby" look. |
Jump Lines |
These are small horizontal
lines that form in the wax as it's being poured
into a cold jar or mold. This can be a
result of the wax itself being poured at a cooler
temp also. Some people refer to them as
skip lines or chatter marks or stutter marks. |
Melt Pool |
Refers to the size of the
pool of melted wax that forms around the wick
of a burning candle. |
Melting Point |
Refers to the temperature
a particular wax reaches when it melts.
Wax comes in several different melting points. |
Mold Release |
Used to help candles come
out of the mold easier. Comes in a powdered
wax additive form or a liquid spray to pre-coat
inside of mold. |
Mold Sealer |
Usually a grey or white
putty type material used to spread around the
wick on the outside of a pillar mold.
This seals the wick hole so it doesn't leak
wax, and keeps water from seeping in if a water
bath is used. |
Molten Wax |
Hot melted liquid wax. |
Mottling |
Snowflake type splotches
and spots of white or sometimes differing color
shades. Usually caused by high oil content. |
Mushrooming |
Carbon mushrooms form at
the top of a candle's wick, caused by incomplete
combustion. This can be caused by the
type of wick, and cooler burning additives like
petro, crisco & some scented oils. |
Over Dip |
The process of dipping a
finished candle in wax formulated to make the
candle have a glossy, shiny finish. |
Pouring Temp |
This is the temperature
at which you pour your wax into your mold or
containers. Pour temp will depend on the
type of wax used and the desired effect. |
Re-pour |
Filling in the cavity where
the wax has shrunk to make it level. |
Relief Holes |
Relief holes are poked in
paraffin wax after the first pour. This
releases air bubbles before the 2nd pour or
"re-pour" is done. |
Rustic |
Usually refers to pillar
candles that have a frosty or chalky cold-poured
appearance. |
Shrinkage |
Most paraffin waxes will
contract once poured and hardened, and shrink
away from the sides of the mold or container,
as well as shrinking down and leaving a dip
in the middle (also referred to as a sink hole
or cavity). |
Water Bath |
Container of cool water
to place your hot mold in to help the candle
cool and harden. |
Wet Spots |
Also known as Delamination.
Sections of a glass container candle where the
wax pulled away from the glass, making what
looks like "wet" spots. A very
common problem with container candles. |
Whipped Wax |
Regular melted wax, whipped
with a fork or beater until frothy or foamy
and thick. |
Wick Tabs |
Small, flat metal discs
with hole in the middle for wick. Used
to hold the wick at the bottom of candle.
They are usually round and come in a 15mm and
a 20mm size, or some come in a square shape. |
Wicking Needle |
Long, thin metal poker used
to make wick holes in candles. |
ADDITIVES |
Clear Crystals |
Raises melting point, prolongs
burning time and brightens colors. |
Color Stabilizer |
Inhibits fading from light,
and also helps improve the stability of the
candle's color and protect it from the effects
of heat and fragrance solvents. |
Glaze |
Clear viscous liquid used
to coat free standing decorative candles to
give them a shiny finish. |
Gloss Poly C15 |
Clear crystals that harden
wax & add gloss. Commonly used in
pillar/molded candles. Average use 1-2%
or 1/2 to 1 tsp. per lb. of paraffin wax.
*Note: Must melt separately from wax on
direct heat, then stir into melted wax. |
Luster Crystals |
Raises melting point, prolongs
burning time, brightens and makes colors opaque
(solid, not see thru). |
Petro (Petrolatum) |
Additive used in container
candles to soften wax, lower the melt point
and cause a larger melt pool. Also commonly
known as petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
Petrolatum is the wax byproduct of the heaviest
lube oil, bright stock. Petrolatum wax consists
of a natural mixture of microcrystalline wax
and oil. It has good oil-holding capacity that
when filtered and blended it becomes mineral
jelly. When fully refined it becomes microcrystalline
wax. |
Micro Wax |
Slab form wax with a tacky
consistency. Aids in fragrance retention
and adhesion to glass. Recommended use approx.
1 oz. per pound of paraffin in containers. |
Mineral Oil (White
Oils) |
White oils are colorless,
odorless, tasteless mixtures of saturated paraffinic
and naphthenic hydrocarbons that span a viscosity
range of 50-370 SUS at 100F. These nearly chemically
inert oils are virtually free of nitrogen, sulfur,
oxygen and aromatic hydrocarbons. They are common
ingredients in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics,
textiles and foods. |
Stearic Acid (sterine) |
Used in paraffin and vegetable
wax candles for hardness, slower burn and opacity.
Commonly used in pillar/molded candles at approx.
3 tbs per pound. Also used in soaps for
hardness, and in lotions as an emollient and
thickener. Typical usage rates are around
1-3%. |
Vybar 103 |
For melt points over 130,
pillars & votives. Reduces air bubbles
& mottling, acts as an oil binding agent
& makes wax opaque. Average use is
between 1/4 tsp to 1 tsp per pound. Can cause
increased shrinkage and rippling. |
Vybar 260 |
For melt points under 130,
containers. Reduces air bubbles &
mottling, acts as an oil binding agent &
makes wax opaque. Average use is between
1/4 tsp to 1 tsp per pound. Can cause
increased shrinkage and rippling. |
Universal Additive |
187 melt point pellets.
Aids in mold release, hardens wax, binds oil
to wax, increases opacity and lengthens burn
time. Can be used in all types of candles.
Suggested use is from 1/2 to 1 tsp per pound
of wax. |
UV Inhibitor |
Inhibits color fading from
UVA and UVB light by absorbing light. |