Pure coconut wax candles have become a popular choice for those seeking eco-friendly and sustainable ways to fill their homes with delightful scents. Made primarily from soybeans, these candles offer a renewable and biodegradable option compared to traditional paraffin wax.
- Eco-Friendly: Natural coconut wax is a vegetable-based wax, reducing environmental impact.
- Renewable Resource: It comes from coconut trees, which are perennial crops that can live for many years and be harvested year-round.
- Biodegradable: Unlike paraffin, coconut wax doesn’t contribute to long-term waste.
Coconut wax burns cleaner, with little to no soot, enhancing indoor air quality and providing a longer-lasting aroma for your spooky nights in.
I’m Jillian Walkowiak, founder of The Smell of Fear candles, dedicated to creating high-quality, coconut wax candles. Inspired by my passion for horror, I handcraft each candle to ensure a sustainable and atmospheric experience, perfect for horror enthusiasts like you. Let’s dive deeper into coconut wax candles!
Benefits of Coconut Wax Candles
Coconut candles are not just about the ambiance; they offer a host of benefits that make them a standout choice for your home. Let’s explore why these candles are the preferred option for many.
Renewable Resource
Coconut wax is derived from the fruit of the coconut tree, which are perennial crops. Each tree can live for 50-60 years and be harvested year-round. This makes it a renewable resource, unlike paraffin wax, which is petroleum-based. By choosing coconut, you’re supporting a cycle of sustainability that benefits both the environment and farmers.
Biodegradable
One of the standout features of coconut wax candles is their biodegradability. Unlike paraffin, which can linger in landfills for years, coconut wax breaks down naturally. This means you’re not only enjoying a beautiful candle but also contributing to a cleaner planet.
Cleaner Indoor Air
Burning candles made from coconut wax results in significantly less soot production compared to paraffin candles. This means cleaner indoor air and less residue on your walls and furniture. For those concerned about air quality and health, coconut wax candles provide peace of mind with each burn.
Longer Burn Time
Coconut wax has a lower melting point, which means it burns slower and lasts longer than other types of wax. This extended burn time allows you to enjoy your favorite scents for a longer period, making coconut candles a cost-effective choice in the long run.
Incorporating coconut wax candles into your home not only improves your living space with delightful fragrances but also supports a sustainable lifestyle. Whether you’re curling up with a good horror novel or hosting a spooky movie night, coconut wax candles set the perfect mood while being kind to the planet.
How to Choose the Best Coconut Wax Candles
Choosing the best coconut wax candles can improve your home with delightful scents and a cozy atmosphere. Here’s how to make the right choice:
Fragrance Throw
The fragrance throw is how well a candle spreads its scent in a room. Coconut wax candles are known for their excellent fragrance throw, thanks to their natural ability to hold and release scent evenly. Look for candles like ours with phthalate-free fragrance oils to ensure a clean and healthy aroma.
Wick Type
The wick type is crucial for a clean and even burn. Many coconut wax candles use cotton or wood wicks. Wood wicks add a pleasant crackling sound, much like a fireplace. They're also self-trimming, making them low maintenance. Cotton wicks, especially those made from lead/zinc-free materials, are another safe and popular choice.
Candle Size
Candle size affects both the burn time and the strength of the fragrance. Smaller candles are great for trying out new scents, while larger candles are perfect for filling bigger spaces with aroma. Consider the room size and how long you want the candle to last when picking the size.
Burn Test
Conducting a burn test helps ensure you get the most out of your candle. Light the candle and let it burn for a few hours, ensuring the wax melts evenly to the edges. This prevents tunneling and maximizes the candle's lifespan. Regularly performing a burn test can help you choose the right wick and wax combination for your needs.
By considering these factors, you can find the perfect coconut wax candle that suits your preferences and improves your home's ambiance. Whether you prefer a subtle scent or a strong aroma, there's a coconut wax candle out there for you.
Making Coconut Wax Candles at Home
Creating your own coconut wax candles at home can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, these tips will help you get started.
Beginner Tips
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Gather Your Materials: Start with coconut wax flakes or solid slab, a heat-safe container, wicks, and fragrance oils. You’ll also need a thermometer and a double boiler or microwave-safe container for melting the wax.
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Melt the Wax: Use a double boiler to gently melt the coconut wax. Heat until the wax reaches about 180°F. This ensures the wax is fully melted and ready for fragrance.
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Add Fragrance: Once the wax is melted, remove it from heat and let it cool to about 150°F. Add your chosen fragrance oil and stir well to ensure it's evenly distributed.
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Secure the Wick: Use a wick holder or a dab of melted wax to stick the wick to the bottom of your heat-safe container. Make sure it's centered for an even burn.
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Pour the Wax: Carefully pour the wax into your container, leaving a little space at the top. Let it cool and harden for several hours, ideally overnight.
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Trim the Wick: Once the wax has set, trim the wick to about ¼ inch. This helps prevent smoke and ensures a clean burn.
Troubleshooting Guide
Even with the best preparation, you might encounter some common issues either in professionally made or home crafted candles. Here's how to fix them:
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Tunneling: If your candle begins to tunnel, or burn down the center without reaching sides, there's a quick fix! Take a piece of aluminum foil and wrap it around edge of your candle, forming a raised rim. Cover the top of the foil rim with another piece of foil with a hole in the center, over the flame. While your candle burns, the foil will help trap in heat to make the edges pool. Do not burn this way unattended & remove foil once edges pool.
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Dirty Jar: If you don't trim your wick with each burn, you can get some soot on side of jar. To fix, dab some coconut wax on a cloth or rag and wipe down the inside of extingushed and cool candle.
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Candle Flame Too Large: The usual cause of a large flame is the wick is too long. Be sure to trim your candle wick to ¼ inch before burning each and every time.
With these tips and solutions, you can both craft and burn beautiful and aromatic coconut wax candles right from the comfort of your home. Enjoy the creative process and the delightful scents that fill your space.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coconut Wax Candles
Can a candle be 100% coconut wax?
Not usually, no. Coconut wax is naturally extremely soft. Coconut candle wax is usually formed with a blend of both coconut waxes as well as other natural waxes, like pure soy, to harden and fortify. These candles are crafted using only natural wax, making them a natural choice for those looking to avoid chemicals and pollutants. Because coconuts (and soybeans) are a renewable resource, using them for candles supports sustainability efforts. Additionally, blended coconut wax candles are biodegradable, which means they break down naturally and don't contribute to landfill waste.
Is pure soy wax good for candles?
Coconut wax is an excellent choice for candles for several reasons. It has a lower melting point than paraffin wax, allowing it to burn cooler and last longer. This means you get more burn time from your candle, making it a cost-effective option. Furthermore, coconut wax is derived from plants, making it a renewable resource. It is an environmentally-friendly option because it doesn't release harmful chemicals into the air, helping to keep your indoor air cleaner.
What are the downsides of soy candles?
While coconut wax candles offer many benefits, there are a few downsides to consider. Some natural wax candles may release small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can contribute to indoor air pollution. However, these emissions are significantly lower than those from paraffin candles. Additionally, the quality of natural wax candles can vary due to manufacturing quality. Factors like improper wick size or poor fragrance blending can affect performance. It's essential to choose high-quality coconut wax candles to ensure a pleasant and safe burning experience.
Conclusion
At The Smell of Fear, we craft more than just candles—we create experiences. Our horror-inspired scents transport you to the eerie worlds of your favorite stories, making each candle a journey into the spine-chilling unknown. But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to sustainability.
Our products, including our coconut wax candles, are made from sustainable materials. This means that while you're enjoying a hauntingly beautiful aroma, you're also supporting efforts to protect our planet. Coconut wax, derived from coconuts, is a renewable resource that is both biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It burns cleaner and longer, ensuring you can enjoy your candle without the worry of harmful emissions.
We are proud to use Shopify Planet, an initiative that helps fight climate change. Every purchase you make contributes to this important cause, allowing us to give back to the environment. So, when you choose our products, you're not just enhancing your home with unique fragrances—you're also taking a step towards a greener future.
Explore our collection and find a scent that speaks to your inner tripr. Whether you’re drawn to the scent of tobacco and oak floorboards or prefer something even more chilling, we have something for everyone. Find more about our products and our mission. Let's make your space smell fearfully fantastic while making a positive impact on the world.
