To make a regular white candle, you will need stearin, paraffin and a wick. Buy these materials in small flakes or small forms.
What are candles made of? To color liquid molten material, dissolve powdered wax in it. It comes in all colors of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Now new materials have appeared on sale, such as colored powder wax. Buy it in packages of several grams - such packages are also good for gifts.
To introduce original inclusions into the base material and achieve beautiful color combinations, use small tablets or grains of wax.
Buy special wax strips and use them to decorate the outside of the candle.
Leaves from beeswax will give the candles a delicate honey scent.
Special gelatin for candles is available in various colors and has good properties, in particular, it dissolves easily and burns for a long time.
Modeling wax is sold in small forms and is suitable even for delicate fingers, so you can safely involve your child in the candle making process.
Chandelier
A massive candelabra, as a rule, has numerous branches. A large candle is placed in the center of it, and smaller candles around it. Antique candelabra made from different materials: wood, Ivory, bronze - and decorated with decorative and symbolic figures.
What are candles made of?
Paraffin and stearin
Paraffin is contained in different types petroleum and is a by-product in the production of lubricants. It is sold in paint departments in the form of bars, blocks and flakes. In fact, it is a white transparent mass without taste or smell, which melts at a temperature between +40°C and +65°C. Paraffin is used not only for making candles: it is used in the paper, textile and electrical (as an insulating material) industries, in the production of rubber, explosives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Paraffin is mixed with stearin - a triglyceride of stearic acid obtained from animal fats. Stearic suppositories contain up to 60-70% stearin, the rest of their composition is paraffin, beneficial features which improves the quality of the cheapest varieties.
Buy wax leaves, gold or silver decorative cords and ready-made candles different shapes and the colors you are going to decorate.
Decorate candles with laces before the New Year and Christmas holidays and give such candles to your friends and family.
Liquid paraffin and stearin take the shape of the container where it is stuck.
Use yogurt jars plastic cups, clay bowls and cookie cutters.
Stores sell special plastic molds for candles.
Containers made from reimbursable materials
Insert the wick into the cardboard cone. Melt paraffin (3:4) and stearin (1:4) in a saucepan. Let the liquid cool so that you can dip your finger into it without getting burned. Supporting the wick with a wooden stick (toothpick, clothespin, etc.), pour a little wax and cool it so that the wick attaches to the bottom of the container and remains exactly in the center of the candle. Seal all possible holes with putty, otherwise the wax will leak out, then pour it into the container. Shake it a little to prevent air bubbles from appearing. If, despite this, voids have formed around the wick, add more wax.
Table decoration
Place small flat candles in a bowl of water so that they float on the surface, and larger candles on a composition of Christmas trees, fruits and flowers made from butter dough, and let them illuminate festive table.
Decorate the candles with decorative polka dots, paint them with stripes, and decorate them with flowers made using the patchwork technique.
Stores sell flat wicks specifically for very large candles and hard wicks already impregnated with wax. different sizes. Choose a wick that is suitable for the size of your candle: if it is too small, the candle will only burn partially, and if it is too large, a smoky flame will form.
Get your wicks and adhesive packing tape ready.
To place wicks in a large container, secure them to the bottom with beads of putty. Place two strips of adhesive packing tape around the edges of the container, make holes and insert the wicks.
Pull the wicks well and secure them with duct tape. Pour melted wax into a container.
Working with wax
Melt the wax in a water bath, but do not bring the process to the appearance unpleasant odor. If you do this on kitchen stove, cover it with special foil, otherwise wax stains can damage the surface, and it is very difficult to remove them.
Melt the wax. You can use paraffin and add 10-15% stearin.
To color the base material, mix the liquid substance with aniline, wax pastel or oil paint.
Pour the melted liquid into the container.
Often, during the cooling process, a void forms around the wick. Fill it with wax of the chosen color.
Cones and colored stripes
To make candles with colorful layers, fill part of the mold with wax and wait for it to harden. Then add wax of a different color. Rub the candle with flannel moistened with ammonia or ethyl alcohol.
Insert the wick into the mold. Insert it obliquely into the saucer with salt.
Slowly pour the wax near the wick. To ensure that the stripes stand out clearly, do not stain the sides of the mold.
When the liquid hardens, turn the opposite side and pour wax of a different color. Continue the process until the entire form is completed.
Since ancient times, people have looked at fire and felt safe. Many centuries have passed, but even now, when looking at the hearth, the same feeling arises. But today we don’t sit by the fires; wax candles replace them. They give any room an atmosphere of intimacy, and the smooth vibration of the flame fascinates people, just as it did hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Nowadays, with so many different materials available, you can make wax houses to create your own masterpieces. They can be various forms, sizes and colors.
Materials needed to create paraffin candles
You will need:
- cotton threads;
- wax crayons;
- ordinary candles.
These materials are inexpensive and available.
Auxiliary materials for candle production
You will also need:
- old saucepan;
- a container where the wax will melt;
- two plastic or wooden sticks to stir the wax and attach the wick;
- molds for creating candles, these can be children's toys or plastic cups;
- decorative embellishments for future creations.
In this case, you can select materials at your own discretion.
Nuances in choosing a wick
Any candles: church, wax, gel, paraffin - have a wick. It must be made from 100% cotton. This could be a strip of fabric or string. The main thing is that the composition does not contain synthetics. Multi-colored wicks made from floss threads look especially good on transparent candles.
For each candle, the wick is selected individually. Its rigidity and thickness depend on the part of the candle that will have to burn out. Also from her material. For wax candles, it is worth making thick wicks, the threads of which are not woven very tightly. For paraffin or gel, on the contrary, you need to tightly intertwine thin threads. Such a wick will not smoke when burning. It must be remembered that if used for coloring, their shavings may not dissolve in the candle material and clog the wick.
In a word, there are many nuances here that can only be understood in practice. If the wick is thick, the wax candles will smoke and burn out too quickly. And very thin ones will often go out. In general, you need to try and experiment.
The wick can be twisted (like a rope), braided or crocheted. Immediately before pouring, it is better to soak the threads with wax, but many people think that this is useless and simply fill them with wax, paraffin or gel.
The principle of creating a candle
To make wax candles with your own hands, you need to find a suitable shape. You can use any plastic cups, children's toys, that is, anything where you can pour paraffin. However, this container must withstand temperatures of 100°. For the first time it is better to take simple form to understand the principle of creating a candle.
A knot is tied at the end of the cotton rope. After this, a hole is made in the center at the bottom of the mold. This cotton wick is inserted into it so that its knot is on the outside. It will subsequently be the top of the candle, and will also prevent wax or paraffin from flowing out of the mold when creating it. Next you need to secure the second end of the wick, which will be at the bottom finished product. It should be in the middle of the form. To do this, take any stick, you can take a toothpick or a match. It is placed across the mold, and the second end of the wick is tied to its center. It needs to be centered and tight. Once everything is secured, you can start creating the candle.
We need material to fill out the form. Therefore, they take church candles, wax, paraffin, in general, everything that is available. It is better to chop them finely to make shavings. It folds into tin can and installed on water bath. That is, take a pan of water, put it on the fire, and after it boils, immerse a container with material for the candle there. It becomes liquid under the influence of temperature, and then you can pour it into a candle mold. In the process, you can use any container, the main thing is not glass.
Materials for coloring candles
In order for the product to be the desired color, for example, you want to get green, red, blue, or even multi-colored wax candles, then you need to add dye to the composition. The most widely used material for this is children's wax crayons. In general, you can use any fat-soluble dye. If you take gouache or watercolor, they will not be suitable, because they will not be able to dissolve in the material, and will simply float in pieces, and subsequently settle to the bottom.
Some artists use lipstick and eye shadow to color their masterpieces. However, as the candle burns, the lipstick releases a scent. If it is pleasant, then this is an excellent option not only in terms of color, but also in terms of aromatic effect.
Special dyes for candles are also sold, where there are many colors and shades. Using them, you can make both snow-white and black candles (wax or paraffin). By adding them in various proportions, you will achieve both delicate pastel tones and bright, saturated colors.
Pouring material into mold
If everything is prepared, we proceed to the main stage. The mold is lubricated from the inside vegetable oil or liquid used to wash dishes. This is necessary to make it easier to remove the frozen candle. First, a little material is poured onto the bottom to close the hole with the wick. After all, if you fill the entire space at once, the wax or paraffin will leak out a lot. But this is inconvenient and will take much more time.
After the bottom has hardened, pour in the rest of the wax or paraffin until the entire container is filled. When it's ready, wait for the wax to cool at room temperature. This way the wax candles will cool down gradually and evenly. If you try to speed up the process and put the product in the freezer, the surface of the candle may crack, which will ruin its appearance.
Removing the candle from the mold
You need to untie the knot on the wick, where the top of the product will be, then pull it on the other side. The spark plug should come loose. If the product cannot be removed, there are two solutions: the first is to cut the mold, the second is to place everything in the freezer for two minutes. After this, the candle is immediately doused hot water. Thanks to the sharp temperature change, it can be easily removed.
After this, the wick is shortened to required size, and the seams that remain from the mold need to be doused with hot water - then they will disappear. However, the product loses its original shine. Therefore, when you create wax candles, you should select molds without seams, so that there are no problems with removing them later.
Aroma candles
They are made in the same way as wax ones, but with the addition of essential oils. They will fill the room when burning pleasant aroma. You can use any essential oil, just not pink. When burned, it emits a suffocating odor. You need to add the required flavoring to the liquid wax, then mix everything thoroughly. After everything becomes homogeneous, the wax is poured into the mold. Further actions identical to the above.
Homemade wax candles burn and look very beautiful. However, you can make such accessories absolutely transparent, as if it were water. They are made from a gel that is specially prepared for this purpose.
Gel candles
To create such a lovely miracle, you can buy it in the store gel wax. But if you wish, it can be easily done at home. For this you will need:
- water;
- tannin;
- glycerol;
- gelatin.
Take 5 parts of gelatin (necessarily colorless) and dissolve it in 20 parts of water. After this, you need to add 25 parts of glycerin and stir everything thoroughly, after which a transparent essence will begin to appear. 2 parts of tannin are added to it, which are pre-dissolved in 10 parts of glycerin. Immediately after combining, a dirty precipitate forms, which disappears when boiled. After creating a transparent mixture, it is poured into a mold, like ordinary wax candles, the production of which we discussed above.
The appearance of such candles can be made even more spectacular by adding dyes to them. Thus, they can be given gentle tones any color. Or you can pour different colors into the uncured mixture to get fancy abstractions.
We purchased candles from various churches and a honey store and conducted an experiment to see which candles were truly wax.
It’s very unfortunate to come across 100% wax candles these days. good quality extremely difficult. All over the world, preference is given to paraffin candles; they are cheap, but this is where all the advantages of paraffin candles end.
Paraffin is a petroleum derivative; in addition to paraffin, the candle contains a large set of chemical wax substitutes, stearin and fragrances. When burned, such candles release toxic substances, and paraffin itself is a carcinogen when burned. Now think about what the candles we like to light on birthday cakes are made of? But they drip into the cake when it burns.
Candles made from real raw beeswax are not only safe, but also healthy! Such candles contain propolis, which gives the candles a special smell and, when burned, evaporates, cleans and disinfects the air in the room and has a beneficial effect on the entire human body.
How can you tell wax candles from paraffin candles?
Participants in the experiment:
1. Control candle - a candle made by the housewife Old Believers Church handmade from raw bee wax from our bees in Russian Taurus. (Read in the previous article making our wax candles)
2. Factory-made wax candle from purified wax, purchased in the church on the 1905 square.
3. Half-wax candle from the church on the square in 1905 (The percentage of wax content in the candles turned out to be low).
4. A “wax” candle from a honey store, as it turned out in the experiment, is paraffin with other wax substitutes and fragrance.
5. Festive paraffin candle from the church on Goncharny Lane.
6. A Jerusalem candle, burned by holy fire, bought in the same church, turned out to be 100% paraffin.
The experiment showed:
1) By smell:
1. Our raw wax candle has a distinct natural wax aroma that is noticeable when the candle is held to your nose.
2. The factory candle has a very faint waxy smell, practically no smell, since it is made from purified wax, from which all the impurities that give such a unique aroma to our candles have been removed.
3. The semi-wax candle is odorless.
4. “Wax” from a honey store has no smell.
5. Paraffin candle is odorless.
6. Jerusalem paraffin is also odorless.
2) To the touch:
1. Our candle is a little rough, pleasant to the touch, waxy.
2. Factory wax candle is smoother, but also has a natural feel.
3. Semi-waxy is less pleasant to the touch, more like paraffin.
4. “Wax” from a honey store is unpleasant to the touch, also more reminiscent of paraffin
5. and 6. Paraffin to the touch like soap, very unpleasant, greasy.
3) When cutting with a knife:
1. Our candle is easy to cut, like plasticine, and does not crumble when cut.
2. The factory spark plug behaves the same way
3. Semi-wax is a little more difficult to cut, it is harder.
4. “Wax” from a honey store cuts normally.
5. Paraffin is cut in the same way as semi-wax. Apparently, in addition to paraffin, the composition contains other wax substitutes that make the candle closer in properties to wax.
6. Jerusalem candle behaves like 100% paraffin, crumbles when cut, there is no plasticity.
4. When burning:
1. Our candle burns evenly, does not flow, (does not cry), and melts when burning, forming a drop of wax inside the candle. During the combustion process it periodically crackles. Burns slowly. Gives a very faint waxy smell. The candle is easily placed on a drop of wax on a glass surface.
2. The factory light is also on.
3. Semi-wax burns a little faster.
4. “Wax” from a honey store burns very quickly. It was not possible to place it on the surface; the drop instantly froze, indicating a paraffin origin and greasy to the touch.
5. Paraffin burns quickly, flows, but there is a droplet when melting, which also indicates the presence of other impurities in it besides paraffin. Does not smell when burning. It was also not possible to light the candle.
6. Jerusalema behaves like pure paraffin, burns very quickly, as if evaporating in the air, without forming droplets. Does not smell when burning. It was not possible to light the candle.
5. If you hold glass over the candle flame:
1. Our candle does not produce soot or produces a very slight, barely noticeable darkening of the glass.
2. Factory spark plug also.
3. Semi-wax smokes glass moderately
4. “Wax” from a honey store smokes the glass a lot, it turns black
5. Paraffin one smokes a lot, just like the previous candle.
6. Jerusalem paraffin also produces a lot of soot on the glass.
6. When extinguishing a candle:
1. Our candle gives a natural scent, sometimes pleasantly waxy.
2. Factory also
3. Semi-waxy gives a weak, unpleasant paraffin odor.
4. “Wax” from a honey store gives a strong unpleasant paraffin smell
5. and 6. Even more unpleasant strong odor.
7. Plasticity of a candle:
1. Our candle is very plastic, it bends easily, but does not break or crumble.
2. Factory also
3. Semi-wax also
4. “Wax” from a honey store is quite plastic, but when broken it crumbles
5. Paraffin plastic, indicates other impurities
6. Jerusalem immediately breaks and crumbles, there is no plasticity, indicating 100% paraffin.
You can now buy natural wax candles made from raw wax in Yekaterinburg in our online store.
Candles are silent witnesses to secrets, quiet friendly conversations, intimate confessions. They illuminate not only the house, but also the mind, allowing you to feel the chords of pleasure and comfort. But only natural candles made from beeswax can become not only stylish element decor that reflects our taste even in daylight. Wax candles have unique healing properties!
Candle: biography
The first candles began to be made in ancient Egypt, more than 3 thousand. years ago, from animal fat and oily fish. These were small containers with liquid fat into which the wick was lowered.
The Romans dipped rolled papyrus in fat, which solidified it and allowed the material to burn longer. The Chinese and Japanese used rice paper for wicks, and the American Indians made candles from pine resin.
Candles made from beeswax appeared in the Middle Ages. Unlike fat, wax did not produce soot or an unpleasant odor, and burned brightly and evenly. But beeswax was difficult to obtain, expensive, and used only by the aristocracy and the church. In 1850, paraffin was invented from oil and shale. Candles have become available for any wallet. However, the use of paraffin candles turned out to be unsafe for human health.
Why are paraffin candles harmful?
Carcinogenic and toxic, they release benzene and toluene when burned. Benzene has a strong allergic effect. Generally toxic poison - toluene - causes poisoning, endocrine disorders, reduces performance, accumulates in the cells of the central nervous system. The diethyl phthalate contained in such suppositories causes dizziness, irregular breathing, headache, nausea. And with frequent exposure it affects the nervous and respiratory system and promotes the formation of cancer. The listed substances are especially dangerous for pregnant women and children.
Paraffin candles have many other disadvantages:
When stewing, smoke with heavy strong odor, unpleasant and greasy to the touch, burn quickly, dimly, they cannot be lit frequently and cannot be used as an air freshener.
The best alternative to many modern paraffin candles are candles made from real beeswax. They are not only safe, but also healthy!
What is beeswax?
Bees produce wax with special wax glands to build honeycombs. Insects raise their babies and store honey in wax cells. The highest quality wax is obtained from caps - wax caps that seal cells with mature honey. Before pumping out the honey, the beekeeper cuts off these caps. This wax is beautiful yellow color and smells like honey.
Beeswax contains more than 300 various connections. It contains minerals, propolis, resins, an admixture of pollen, vitamin A, beta-carotene, etc.
The wax ranges from light yellow to yellow-brown in color and has a characteristic, very pleasant smell. When cut or fractured, it is matte with a fine-crystalline structure.
Beeswax hardens at room temperature, and at 38-40 ° C it becomes soft and can take any shape. At 70-73 ° C the wax becomes liquid.
Why are wax candles needed?
- 1. Natural candles are good for your health! Wax candles are a completely natural, environmentally friendly product. They have the healing power of nature. When burned, wax releases antimicrobial enzymes and healing essential oils - the air in the house is purified. This is especially useful during a viral flu outbreak. The components of the candle destroy pathogenic microbes and increase immunity. The effect of a wax candle during natural “inhalation”:
- antimicrobial,
- anti-inflammatory,
- soothing,
- warming,
- painkiller,
- adsorbent.
Wax itself is nothing more than a mixture of simple lipids, which have low chemical activity. Wax and wax products do not dissolve in water, but they are susceptible to the power of gasoline, ether, and chloroform. There are two types of wax - animal and vegetable; they differ from each other in the way they appear and their natural purpose.
Using wax at home
Smart, practical humanity quickly realized what could be made from wax and now actively use it:
- for making candles;
- in the composition of natural and decorative cosmetics;
- in furniture production, wooden products, marble, explosives and even food additives;
- in art and medicine.
Wax candles are probably the most popular product. Only earlier they were a necessity, but now they are decor, a romantic or relaxing addition, relaxing the soul and body. The exception is church candles, which have had the same meaning in all centuries.
Video: Making candles at home from beeswax
Candles
Candles are made from natural and non-natural materials. Beeswax candles are natural and highly valued, which is why they are even used in churches. But the most popular unnatural substance is paraffin, which is extracted from oil refining and costs much less than wax candles. But where there is money, there is also human cunning, which is why sometimes it is so difficult to distinguish a natural candle from a paraffin one at a glance. Even church candles fall under this deception, from which some earn decent money. Also, cheap church candles are made from Austrian resin - ceresin.
Since ancient times, candles themselves have been something magical and cultic, causing a kind of awe in people. To this day, church candles are an inseparable attribute of services and any events associated with the name of God, which signifies many signs for people. Church candles are also used outside the temple, for example, by whisperers, grandmothers, fortune tellers, psychics, and magicians.
How to expose paraffin
In fact, beeswax candles differ in many ways from paraffin products. Here detailed instructions on how to distinguish them:
- Initially, it is worth remembering that wax yellow tint, sometimes even closer to brown tone, and paraffin is white. Of course, manufacturers thought of coloring paraffin, but if you see a white candle, then, in general, there can be no doubt.
- Bring the lit candle close to the mirror or glass and hold it there for a while. A wax candle will not leave a mark, but a paraffin candle will leave no black soot.
- Try to take a knife and cut the candle - the paraffin will immediately crumble, and the wax will react softly and pliably.
- Beeswax candles have a subtle but characteristic honey scent. The aroma of paraffin leaves much to be desired.
- You can check it by bending it - the paraffin will instantly break, the wax will most likely bend, but will not break easily.
- When the shelf life has expired, the wax candle becomes covered with a light coating, but the paraffin candle does not change, maintaining its original presentation.
- Paraffin burns out quite quickly, decreasing literally before our eyes. Wax candles burn slowly and are always accompanied by dripping drops of wax.
Common uses of wax by people
What people haven’t come up with to do with wax material and ready-made candles:
- Many people make candles on their own, turning this process into a hobby or income.
- Lovers of extraordinary sexual relations, hot wax is dripped onto the partner’s body (it is important to know the nuances here in order to avoid serious burns), which causes shocking reviews from most people.
- Candles are used in alternative medicine, for example, ear candles are popular, which need to be inserted into the ear and lit. Reviews from those who have tried this treatment on themselves are quite positive. But reviews from doctors are, at best, quite skeptical; at worst, otolaryngologists consider ear candles are dangerous.
Let's take a closer look at the above methods of using wax.
Video: This is how candles are made
Home made candles
It's up to you to decide what to make candles from. Suitable for casting:
- beeswax - melts at approximately 62 ºС, cools in 6 hours;
- soy wax – melts at approximately 80 ºС, cools in 5 hours;
- paraffin – melts at approximately 60 ºС, cools within 24 hours;
- old candles - melt at approximately 85 ºС, cool in 2 hours.
Candles are made according to the following scheme:
- Prepare workplace, covering it with newspapers, rags or something unnecessary.
- Grind the wax on a grater or cut it thinly with a knife. This will help the wax melt faster and more evenly.
- Next, you need to melt the wax using the water bath method. If you simply melt wax over a fire, it will either burn or evaporate completely.
- A special confectionery thermometer will help you maintain the temperature for the used material.
- You can add fragrance oil and oil-based dye to the melted wax. Mix very thoroughly.
- Before you start pouring the wax into the mold, place the wick in it. To place the wick in the center and not knock it down at the time of casting, you need to secure it to a long pencil or knitting needle. Place the knitting needle on top of the mold.
- Next is the crucial moment of casting. You need to pour the wax correctly, slowly without splashing.
- Cool the resulting candle. The ideal time for complete cooling is 24 hours.
Healing candles for ears
You can buy ear candles in pharmacies or order them online, but first it is important to familiarize yourself with the drug by carefully reading the information leaflet insert. The instructions contain information on how to properly use these ear candles and describe contraindications.
The simplest thing for which ear candles are used is to soften wax plugs and then remove them. The main function is heating, and the components included in the composition anesthetize and relieve inflammation. Ear candles are also used:
- with hearing impairment;
- having stress, insomnia;
- when ear noises appear;
- with inflammation of the ear, nose and throat;
- for colds, ARVI, flu;
- for headaches;
- with neuritis of the auditory nerve, otosclerosis.
Step-by-step description of the treatment procedure:
- Massage the auricle using baby cream.
- Lay the patient on his side so that he is comfortable. Place a towel or scarf on your head.
- Cover your ear with a napkin, in which you need to make a slit in advance. The hole should be located exactly above the ear canal.
- Place a protective circle cut out of cardboard onto the candle. It will create some kind of barrier between the face and the fire. Wrap the lower end of the candle with a piece of foil.
- Light a candle. Place the non-burning side to your ear.
- Wait until it burns to a certain mark and extinguish it in a glass of water.
- Gently clean the ear canal with an ear swab, then close the ear with a cotton swab. After which the person being treated must lie down for at least 10 minutes.
- Do exactly the same procedure with the next ear.
This treatment is always carried out on both ears, even if one of them does not hurt. You need to start warming up with a healthy ear or a less sick one.
Video:
Cleaning the candlestick
A beautiful candle holder adds to the magic of the candle and is also essential for safety. Reviews from most people say that cleaning a candlestick from wax is not an easy task. Maybe so, but it's still real. There are several ways to clean a candlestick:
- Initially, you need to rid the candlestick of large wax residues. WITH hard to reach places it is easy to remove with a toothpick. Severely dried drops can be softened by dousing them with boiling water or hot air from a hair dryer. The waxy film can be removed with an alcoholic liquid, such as cologne. Finally, polish the candlestick.
- In the second option, you can soak the candlestick in a bowl of hot water and powder, then wash it with a cloth using dishwashing detergent. Wipe dry with a towel.
- A candlestick smeared in wax should be placed in the freezer for a couple of hours, and then cleaned of wax using a brush and toothpick.
Not every candlestick will withstand all the methods described above, so when choosing a cleaning method, you should start from what material it is made of.
