Candle Making Glossary: 23 Terms Explained
The words that show up in candle making specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Additive
- A small amount of a supplementary ingredient, such as vybar or stearic acid, blended in to change hardness or throw.
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- Beeswax
- A natural wax made by honeybees, valued for a higher melt point, natural honey scent, and use in pillars and tapers.
- Read more about beeswaxRelated: Best Beeswax for Candles
- Cold throw
- How strong a candle's fragrance smells before it is lit, from the wax itself and the room around it.
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- Container wax
- A wax formulated to adhere well to glass or tins and stay soft, used for jar candles rather than freestanding shapes.
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- Cure time
- The rest period after pouring and before burning a candle, allowing fragrance to bind fully with the wax.
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- Double boiler
- A pot set inside a larger pot of simmering water, used to melt wax gently without direct, uneven heat.
- Read more about double boilerRelated: Best Double Boilers for Melting Candle Wax
- Flash point
- The temperature at which fragrance oil vapor can ignite near a flame, a limit to respect when heating wax.
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- Fragrance load
- The amount of fragrance oil added, expressed as a percentage of wax weight, used to balance scent strength and safety.
- Read more about fragrance loadRelated: Best Candle Fragrance Oils for Strong, Clean Scent Throw
- Frosting
- White, crystalline patterns that can appear on the surface of soy or other natural wax candles as they cool and age.
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- Hot throw
- How strongly a candle's fragrance fills a room while it is burning, as opposed to how it smells unlit.
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- Melt point
- The temperature at which a solid candle wax fully turns to liquid, used to match wax to a wick and pour method.
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- Melt pool
- The area of liquid wax that forms around a lit wick, used to judge whether a candle is burning evenly.
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- Pillar wax
- A firmer wax blend formulated to hold its shape at room temperature, used for freestanding pillar and taper candles.
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- Pour temperature
- The wax temperature recommended for pouring into a vessel or mold for a smooth top and strong glass adhesion.
- Read more about pour temperatureRelated: Best Candle Thermometers for Accurate Pours
- Sinkhole
- A dip or hidden air pocket that forms in the top or center of a candle as the wax cools and contracts.
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- Soy wax
- A plant-based container wax made from soybean oil, known for a creamy look, clean burn, and lower melt point.
- Read more about soy waxRelated: Best Soy Wax for Candles
- Test burn
- Burning sample candles to check melt pool, flame height, and burn quality before a full production batch.
- Read more about test burnRelated: Best Candle Testing Supplies for Burn Trials
- Tunneling
- A candle burning straight down through the center, leaving unmelted wax stuck to the sides of the container.
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- UV inhibitor
- An additive that helps slow the yellowing or fading of candle wax and color caused by light exposure over time.
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- Wet spots
- Patches where wax pulls slightly away from the inside of a glass container, usually from temperature changes.
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- Wick centering tool
- A bar or clip placed across a container's top to hold the wick straight and centered while the wax sets.
- Read more about wick centering toolRelated: Best Wick Centering Tools
- Wick size
- The wick diameter and construction matched to a container's size and the wax used, for a clean, even burn.
- Read more about wick sizeRelated: Best Wick Sample Packs
- Wooden wick
- A flat piece of wood, instead of braided cotton, used as a candle wick for a crackling sound and wide flame.
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