Candle Formulation Questions!

[Ambr0se]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if there is a thread or a source of gathered knowledge on candle formulation.

From the little research I have done on Basenotes, I can find scattered snippets of knowledge around scented candle formulation, which are quite hard to piece in together to make a story.

I can also see @David Ruskin is one of the experts on this matter, so I am hoping he is still active on this forum.

In the meantime, I do have some specific questions…

For example, if the wax is melting at 67oC, do all of my ACs / Naturals in the formula have to have a higher flashpoint?

What are the best practises to increase both cold and hot throw?

Your response would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time in advance.

 

[Casper_grassy]

I’m no expert but I did dabble a bit, maybe I made 10-15 candles lol but I know you need high impact, diffusive materials (and a good formula in general) for both hot and cold throw.
I found getting cold throw right was more difficult than hot throw. You can try aldehydes, strong green and muguet types and citrus like materials.

One great thing about candles is the the difference in restriction of materials, such as cinnamaldehyde has no restriction.

You have to also be mindful of discoloration, things like (Ethyl) Vanillin discolor far worse in candles than perfumes.

I’d also suggest using much more top notes and mid notes, keep musks and other things down unless they’re powerful materials.

Also dependent on the wax used you should play around with different solvents, I just used Benzyl Benzoate (I have it on hand) and I did 3:1 Paraffin to White Beeswax. From what I understand beeswax and soywax are much more dampening to materials.

I know that most molecules have higher boiling points than that, but IDK if consistent heating will cause issues.

Apologies my post is a bit scattered, I quit coffee lol.

 

[David Ruskin]

I'm still here, although less active than previously (I'm 71 !)

I have no idea, and never did, what are the physical characteristics of the ingredients used in candles. As most ingredients are liquid, knowing the melting point is irrelevant. I cannot give you a definitive list of best performing materials, even if I wanted to. I have written about candle perfumery before, so maybe you could try to do some research.

Keep solids and resinous materials to a minimum. Do not use large amounts of limonene containing oils (i.e. citrus oils), and keep the amount of Clove oil down. Other than that, I would recommend you do some raw material testing using your own wax, your own wicks and your preferred concentration of ingredient.

Straight chain aldehydes work well. Violet and Iris nitriles work well. IsoE Super works well.

The best solvents to use are Diethyl Phthalate, isoPropyl Myristate, diOctyl Adipate.

 

[Ambr0se]

I'm still here, although less active than previously (I'm 71 !)

I have no idea, and never did, what are the physical characteristics of the ingredients used in candles. As most ingredients are liquid, knowing the melting point is irrelevant. I cannot give you a definitive list of best performing materials, even if I wanted to. I have written about candle perfumery before, so maybe you could try to do some research.

Keep solids and resinous materials to a minimum. Do not use large amounts of limonene containing oils (i.e. citrus oils), and keep the amount of Clove oil down. Other than that, I would recommend you do some raw material testing using your own wax, your own wicks and your preferred concentration of ingredient.

Straight chain aldehydes work well. Violet and Iris nitriles work well. IsoE Super works well.

The best solvents to use are Diethyl Phthalate, isoPropyl Myristate, diOctyl Adipate.

Bless! Sorry I just realised I meant flashpoint and *not* melting point, or is flashpoint temperature still irrelevant?

I did see your name pop up quite a few times - which is brilliant. Where have you written about candle perfumery? Perhaps you should consider writing a book, I would certainly buy it!

 

[Ambr0se]

I’m no expert but I did dabble a bit, maybe I made 10-15 candles lol but I know you need high impact, diffusive materials (and a good formula in general) for both hot and cold throw.
I found getting cold throw right was more difficult than hot throw. You can try aldehydes, strong green and muguet types and citrus like materials.

One great thing about candles is the the difference in restriction of materials, such as cinnamaldehyde has no restriction.

You have to also be mindful of discoloration, things like (Ethyl) Vanillin discolor far worse in candles than perfumes.

I’d also suggest using much more top notes and mid notes, keep musks and other things down unless they’re powerful materials.

Also dependent on the wax used you should play around with different solvents, I just used Benzyl Benzoate (I have it on hand) and I did 3:1 Paraffin to White Beeswax. From what I understand beeswax and soywax are much more dampening to materials.

I know that most molecules have higher boiling points than that, but IDK if consistent heating will cause issues.

Apologies my post is a bit scattered, I quit coffee lol.

Thanks for your input! I read somewhere it’s better to use ethyl vanillin than vanillin for candles? As it discolours much less. I also meant flashpoint and not melting point! I know what you mean with regards to quitting coffee ha-ha!

 

[David Ruskin]

I have written about candle perfumery on Basenotes; a lot. Use the search function to find the many posts I have made.

I didn't know about the flashpoints either. Everything I know about candle perfumery is as a result of my own research, and the research of my fellow perfumers when I was working..

Vanillin and ethyl vanillin will both discolour in candles, but because ethyl vanillin is so much stronger you can use less of it.

If you want to use either vanillin or ethyl vanillin it is wise to make solutions of them rather than adding solid to your fragrance. Make a solvent mix of benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol at a ratio of 50:50, and use that to dissolve the ethyl vanillin or vanillin. Adding a small amount of a UV absorber will help reduce discolouration.

 

[Ambr0se]

I have written about candle perfumery on Basenotes; a lot. Use the search function to find the many posts I have made.

I didn't know about the flashpoints either. Everything I know about candle perfumery is as a result of my own research, and the research of my fellow perfumers when I was working..

Vanillin and ethyl vanillin will both discolour in candles, but because ethyl vanillin is so much stronger you can use less of it.

If you want to use either vanillin or ethyl vanillin it is wise to make solutions of them rather than adding solid to your fragrance. Make a solvent mix of benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol at a ratio of 50:50, and use that to dissolve the ethyl vanillin or vanillin. Adding a small amount of a UV absorber will help reduce discolouration.

I appreciate your prompt response, David. Thank you for the advice! I will take a gander if I have any more specific questions I might pop them here.

 

[Saraiva]

Good Morning
Why use that Paraffin/White Beeswax mixture in a 3:1 mix?
What kind of Paraffin, there are several, from food grade Paraffin to Paraffin for lubrication?
They have different smells, which may have an effect on the perfume released.
Benzyl Benzoate as a solvent?
The most appropriate solvent for candle fragrance is IPM, never DPG.
Natural citrus essences due to their low "flash point" should not be used in candles.
I have been making candles as a hobby for many years, even with fragrances bought from Firmenich, I have not yet achieved satisfactory results, I am thinking that when I have a little more economic possibilities, I will try to make a composition, possibly of woods, but only in a few months.
In my point of view, the best product to retain the aromas, either cold or hot, is Paraffin, however, it is very pollutant, so I do not worry much with the fragrances, only in the meaning of the candles themselves, so I use soy wax or virgin beeswax, that I find easily here in Portugal.

 

[Kittycat74]

Hello. I've been making candles and selling them (no longer) for a while and can possibly point you in the right direction. First up: what wax are you using and where are you based (pertinent to potential supplier recommendations).

 

[Scntwtk]

One very fastidious but very insightful method to learn how materials perform in wax is to buy a load of tea-light containers and tiny wicks.. test every material that you suspect would be interesting, useful, problematic or anywhere in-between at 5% in wax (95% wax 5% neat material...). If they have a good cold scent and if they throw noticeable scent when lit in a small space like a small bathroom, it's usually good news. you will find that a lot of materials don't behave the way you would expect. Some will smell distorted, some will soot, some will smell bad, some will perform much better than in "perfume". Usually stay away from PEA, oils with high limonene, pinene tend to burn.. Good luck.

*5% is just a suggestion
Edit: Limonene not linalool my bad

 

[jsweet]

Having dabbled in soy wax candlemaking, I can share that cashmeran, vetiver, calone, maritima, and dynascone all give massive, immense hot throw.

 

[Kittycat74]

Having dabbled in soy wax candlemaking, I can share that cashmeran, vertiver, calone, maritima, and dynascone all give massive, immense hot throw.

I love bloody love this! Actual Chems we can buy and try. It’s one thing to talk about wax, wicks and hot throw and wot not but it’s almost unheard of for fellow Candle makers to discuss how aroma chemicals work in this most frustrating of mediums. Harry Sherwood makes candles (which I suspect are the best candles any of us have ever smelled) and lots of his treasure trove is geared towards projection and hot candle throw. He’s brilliant.

 

[pkiler]

He’s brilliant.

Yes he is. I threw him a 15 scent candle job last year...

 

[David Ruskin]

Usually stay away from PEA, oils with high limonene, pinene tend to burn.. Good luck.

*5% is just a suggestion
Edit: Limonene not linalool my bad

PEA is somewhat water soluble and so incompatible with candle wax; use phenyl ethyl acetate instead. Likewise don't use hydroxycitronellal, use another muguet chemical such as bourgeonal.

 

[mnitabach]

PEA is somewhat water soluble and so incompatible with candle wax; use phenyl ethyl acetate instead. Likewise don't use hydroxycitronellal, use another muguet chemical such as bourgeonal.

I don't know anything about candles, but I do know that bourgeonal/legional is a gorgeous powerful diffusive muguet material!