Whether you want to try making candles yourself, or excited to learn more about the craft, understanding the key terms of the craft can enhance your candle knowledge for creating high-quality candles. This glossary will help you with the language of candle-making.
1. Wax
Wax is the primary substance used to make candles. There are several types of wax, each with unique properties:
- Paraffin Wax: A by-product of petroleum, it’s the most commonly used wax due to its versatility and ease of use.
- Soy Wax: Made from soybean oil, soy wax is popular for its natural origins and clean burn.
- Beeswax: Produced by honeybees, beeswax is prized for its natural fragrance and long burn time.
- Coconut Wax: Derived from coconut oil, this wax is known for its slow burn and excellent fragrance throw.
2. Fragrance Oil
Fragrance oils are synthetic or natural blends used to scent candles. They’re specially formulated to mix well with wax and are available in countless scents, from floral to spicy.
3. Essential Oils
Essential oils are natural extracts from plants and are used to create more natural scents in candles. They’re often used in aromatherapy candles due to their therapeutic properties.
4. Wick
The wick is the part of the candle that you light. It draws up wax to fuel the flame. There are several types of wicks:
- Cotton Wick: Made from braided cotton, this is the most common type of wick.
- Wood Wick: A flat, wooden wick that creates a crackling sound reminiscent of a fireplace.
- Zinc-Core Wick: A cotton wick with a zinc core, which helps it stay upright in the molten wax.
5. Burn Time
Burn time refers to how long a candle can burn before it’s fully consumed. Factors that affect burn time include the size of the candle, type of wax, and wick size.
6. Hot Throw
Hot throw is the strength of a candle’s fragrance when it’s lit. It’s what you smell when the candle is burning, and it's a crucial factor in determining the effectiveness of scented candles.
7. Cold Throw
Cold throw is the scent a candle emits when it’s not burning. A good cold throw indicates that the candle will also have a strong hot throw.
8. Flash Point
The flash point is the temperature at which fragrance oil or essential oil becomes volatile and can ignite. It’s an important safety consideration in candle-making.
9. Melt Pool
The melt pool is the liquid layer of wax that forms around the wick when the candle is lit. A full melt pool is desirable because it ensures even burning and maximizes fragrance throw.
10. Tunneling
Tunneling occurs when a candle burns down the center, leaving a ring of unburned wax around the edges. This can be avoided by ensuring the candle burns long enough to create a full melt pool on the first burn.
11. Frosting
Frosting is a white crystalline layer that can appear on the surface of soy candles. It’s a natural characteristic of soy wax and doesn’t affect the performance of the candle.
12. Cure Time
Cure time refers to the period during which a candle needs to sit after being made before it’s ready to burn. This allows the fragrance to fully bind with the wax, resulting in a stronger scent throw.
13. Double Pour
Double pour is a technique used to prevent sinkholes (a common issue where the wax sinks in the center as it cools). It involves pouring the wax in two stages, allowing it to cool between pours.
14. Sinkholes
Sinkholes are cavities that can form in the center of the candle as it cools. These can be filled in with a second pour or by using a heat gun.
15. Fragrance Load
Fragrance load refers to the amount of fragrance oil used in a candle. It’s usually expressed as a percentage of the total wax weight. A typical fragrance load is between 6% and 10%.
16. Wick Mushrooming
Wick mushrooming occurs when the wick forms a mushroom-shaped cap of carbon after burning. This is usually a sign that the wick is too large or that the candle has a high fragrance load.
17. Throw
Throw is a general term for how well a candle disperses its scent in a room. It can be broken down into hot throw and cold throw, as described above.
18. Pour Temperature
Pour temperature is the temperature at which wax is poured into the candle mold or container. This can affect the appearance and performance of the candle.
19. Candle Dye
Candle dye is used to color candles. It comes in several forms, including liquid, powder, and dye chips, each with different properties and effects.
20. Wick Testing
Wick testing is the process of testing different wick sizes and types to determine the best one for a specific candle. It’s an essential step to ensure even burning and optimal performance.
Hope you enjoyed learning candle terms. Remember, when making candles there is math involved. Each type of wax can hold a different amount of fragrance. Fragrances have different qualities themselves, i.e. the base notes come out last in a hot throw because they are the heaviest. That means if a wax takes 12% fragrance, but the fragrance you are using gives a powerful scent throw, consider using less of it or balancing it out to create a more layered palate of notes- and if you haven't guessed, that is what I do and that is the Whiskey & Woof difference. All scents are originally mixed with my own signature scent stories to tell.
Wishing you good smells,
Coco
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