Introduction to Rapeseed Wax
Rapeseed wax is derived from the rapeseed plant, which is cultivated for its oil. It is a renewable source of natural wax and has recently become a popular choice for candle making. Rapeseed wax has attractive properties such as being soft and elastic in nature, having a low melting point and burning longer and cleaner than other vegetable waxes. It contains no petrochemicals or paraffin-based materials making it more environmentally friendly. Furthermore, rapeseed wax doesn’t require bleaching due to its natural yellowish hue and can be easily molded, giving it an advantage over beeswax which is brittle and difficult to work with. As it provides minimal smoke while burning and has little or no emissions of toxins, making candles with this type of wax limits soot formation which can result in less frequent cleaning of surfaces near lit candles. Lastly, when chosen as the main ingredient for candles, rapeseed wax offers excellent scent throw as fragrances disperse evenly throughout the melted wax resulting in pleasing aromas being released while burning; making it ideal for aroma therapy treatments.
Properties of Rapeseed Wax
Rapeseed wax is a vegetable wax extracted from the seeds of the rapeseed plant. The main characteristic of this type of wax is its soft, creamy texture and its natural color which ranges from golden yellow to light brown. It has a light, pleasant smell and a melting point of 82-95C (180-203F). Rapeseed wax is known for being an excellent choice for candle making because it burns cleanly and evenly, produces minimal soot, and offers a longer burn time than many other popular types of candle waxes due to its low melting point. Additionally, rapeseed wax is fully biodegradable and contains only non-GMO ingredients, making it ideal if you are looking for an environmentally friendly option when creating candles. The texture of rapeseed wax also makes it perfect for achieving intricate details as well as vivid colors with your candle designs.
Benefits of Using Rapeseed Wax
Rapeseed wax is a great choice for anyone looking to make candles, as it provides great benefits in comparison to other waxes. First, rapeseed wax is known for its excellent stability and high melting point- providing an even burned and consistent surface. Additionally, compared to other traditional paraffin waxes, rapeseed wax is much cleaner and produces far less smoke when burning. Rapeseed’s cleaner burning properties can reduce the presence of toxins in the air from burning candles, making it a safe choice for anyone who wants to reduce their exposure. Furthermore, rapeseed wax also holds more fragrance than most other types of wax, making fragrant candles extra scented throughout the entire burn. Finally, rapeseed is also considered a sustainable option since it grows naturally and has lower environmental impacts to produce than paraffin or soy waxes.
Scented Candles
Rapeseed wax is highly recommended for making premium scented candles, due to its low melting point and long burn time. To ensure a rich scent for your candles, it is important to use a high-quality rapeseed wax with richly fragranced materials in the formulation such as essential oils or phthalate-free fragrances. With some quality mixing bowls, containers, and thermometers, you can create beautiful candles with complex aromas.
Start the candle making process by weighing out the correct amounts of rapeseed wax and other ingredients such as fragrances and dyes. Place them in a stainless steel bowl set over another stainless steel bowl filled with boiling water. As the temperature rises, mix the ingredients gently so that they all disperse evenly through the wax. Once you reach an optimal temperature between 80°C – 100°C you can add your chosen fragrance before pouring into your container molds. After cooling down at room temperature to approximately 40°C – 50°C, you will be able to pop out your candles! For those looking for extra playtime with their creations why not add decorations around the outside of your containers or embellishments onto your wick holders ” get creative!
Making With Rapeseed Wax
Making a candle using rapeseed wax begins with melting the wax. This can either be achieved by using a double boiler, which is highly recommended, or a microwave-safe container – this should only be done if there’s no access to a double boiler as microwaves may cause wax to heat unevenly. After the wax has been melted, it needs to be combined with fragrances and/or dyes if desired. Afterwards, pour the mixture into the desired molds and allow it to cool before removing from the mold. Lastly, for best results, finish with adding a wick that’s been pre-sized for maximum burn time and core stability.
Troubleshooting
When working with rapeseed wax for candle making, candle makers should be aware of the fact that it has a much higher melt point than other popular waxes such as soy or paraffin. It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing a wick for your candles. If the wick is too small, the wax won’t be able to properly pool around the wick. This can lead to tunneling. Alternatively, if the wick is too big and “hot” it can result in large bulges and “lopsided” candles with your wax leaking onto the vessel.
Additionally, beeswax should never be combined with any other products when using rapeseed wax as this will cause it to thicken and become difficult to pour or unmold from molds.
Finally, due to its low shrinkage properties and high scent retention, many consider rapeseed wax ideal for container candles. Adding scent at between 0.5-2% works best but remember not to overdo it – more than 2% could overwhelm certain fragrances or create a smoky smell after some burning time due to oils evaporating from the top of the flame instead of fully combusting inside of it!
Creative Uses
1. For an aesthetically pleasing candle, you could make a layered effect by combining different colors of rapeseed wax and melting them together.
2. You could also explore texture when creating candles by incorporating inclusions such as flowers or herbs.
3. A beeswax and rapeseed wax blend can be used to make smokeless, longer-burning candles with an even burn rather than a flickering flame.
4. To give your candles a unique look, consider layering the wax with fruit or spices before pouring it in the moulds.-
5. Create colorful candles by adding natural dyes made from food grade ingredients such as turmeric or beetroot powder.
6. Use rapeseed wax for your scented creations! The lusciously creamy texture makes it ideal for holding in essential oils for longer-lasting scent, which can be further enhanced by adding fragrant herbs like lavender buds on top the melted wax.
Conclusion
Rapeseed wax is an ideal material for making candles due to its superior burning properties. It burns longer and brighter than other types of wax, has a higher melting point, produces minimal smoke when lit and has a pleasant smell. In addition, it’s non-toxic, water resistant and easily fragranced without additives. These advantages make rapeseed wax an attractive option for candle makers seeking a high quality product with dependable performance. With proper care and maintenance, rapeseed wax can provide a beautiful, long-lasting burn.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
