Wax candles, how to identify a fake, and why paraffin candles are harmful. How to distinguish paraffin candles from wax candles How long does a large candle burn

Candles are the same constant participant in the New Year's Eve, like a garland, Olivier and the hundredth viewing of "The Irony of Fate ...". Here are just really beautiful festive specimens can "tighten" so much that it is even a pity to light it up. But manufacturers of wax accessories hide one trick, thanks to which the candles will burn twice as long. And that's at least!

Candles in the house create a special festive comfort and mood. But all good things come to an end. In this case, well, very quickly. To make your candles last twice or more, use three little tricks.

Trick # 1: Cold - Comrade on Fire

First, be sure to put the candles in the freezer before lighting the candles. At least for an hour and a half. The frozen wax will harden and burn for much longer. This trick alone almost doubles the life of a candle. Especially if you freeze it before each use.

Trick # 2: Trim the wick

It turns out that the longer the wick, the faster the candle burns out. Here is such a paradox. That is why all lovers of high-quality candles know the golden rule: the wick should rise no more than 1 cm above the wax. Cut off all unnecessary things without hesitation. Use a nail scissors - it's more convenient.

Trick # 3: Give it time!

Another paradox: for the candle to last longer, let it burn longer. At least the first time. This is because the top layer of wax should melt evenly. If this does not happen, a "tunnel" will form in the middle, the wick will sink in and the candle will quickly lose its presentable appearance. Do not know how long to give the candle for the first burning? We'll have to do some math: about 4 cm of diameter burns out in 1 hour. So a candle with a diameter of 8 cm should not be extinguished for at least 2 hours, 12 cm - 3 hours and then according to the same formula.

Paraffin candles are beautiful to look at and quite ornate. They are used, as a rule, to add a festive atmosphere to any event.

Description

Paraffin is the most common candle material, displacing stearin as the main product in the early 19th century.

In 1830, German chemist Karl von Reikenbach discovered a chemical compound called paraffin. The resulting substance instantly gained popularity not only among the craftsmen who make candles (paraffin in one form or another is part of most candles), but also affected the textile, food, and printing industries.

Candle composition

In a purified form, the resulting product is actively used in the manufacture of candles. It is a colorless substance that has neither taste nor smell. The resulting material is greasy to the touch, does not dissolve in water, but it dissolves perfectly in mineral oils and when heated in a variety of vegetable oils. The density of the purified material varies within 0.907-0.915 / cm 3. The colorless substance is characterized by low thermal conductivity. The synthetic material begins to melt at a temperature of 50-60 ° C.

Essentially, paraffin is a carbon compound. Many types of chemical compounds are known to chemists and scientists.

Difference from wax

Unlike wax candles, paraffin candles do not burn for long. Wax ones are inferior to them in beauty, and even in an interesting design they look more like church ones in appearance. However, from a medical point of view, candles made from wax are better than paraffin candles, as they are made from a natural material - wax produced by bees. Due to the fact that wax candles are quite expensive, they are usually not made entirely from beeswax, but are used interspersed with various materials in order to extend the burning time of the candle, as well as to imitate the natural aroma.

The main distinguishing feature of a wax candle from a wax candle is fragility. So, candles made of paraffin, easily crumble, because they are a direct product of oil refining. Wax candles are always cut evenly.

Household paraffin candle

Household candles are most often made from unpainted medium to high purity paraffin. In appearance, they have a cylindrical shape, in color, as a rule, they are white, translucent or opaque. Such candles are the simplest, most popular and cheapest type of candles. Use them for their intended purpose during a power outage. It is used by placing it in a candlestick, with the help of which the candle becomes more stable.

Candle making

Paraffin candles can be easily made at home. To do this, you will need the following materials:

• Paraffin wax (for example, from old candles or purchased in the form of a bar).
• Small load (you can use a nut).
• Thread for the wick.
• Essential oils and dyes.
• Metal utensils for melting.
• Form (you can use the children's sandbox kit).

Next, you need to prepare the paraffin. In the case of using old candles or purchased, but ugly, they must be placed in hot water. Then cut, pull the wick out from the inside and lower it into a bowl. Melt the paraffin in a water bath.

If you purchase a piece of paraffin in a specialized store, you need to cut it into small pieces and immerse it in a melting pot. At this time, it is necessary to stir the mass periodically to prevent overheating, blackening and leakage of the substance.

Then you need to lubricate the walls of the candle mold with liquid soap and tie a weight to one of the ends of the wick, placing it in the center of the mold. Add dry dye or wax crayons to the straightened paraffin mass. Pour in essential oil or fragrance. Then, slowly, in a thin stream, it is necessary to pour the paraffin into the prepared form. After that, a candle made of paraffin must be left in the room until it dries completely.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of a candle include good melting of a paraffin candle. The synthetic material melts perfectly and takes any shape. Also, paraffin goes well with dyes, for example, when mixed with fatty dyes, it gives a rich bright color.

The only thing to look out for when adding colors and flavors is that you don't need to get carried away with them. For the simple reason that when a paraffin candle burns, an excess of dye can release harmful, toxic substances and create carbon deposits on the wick. And a large amount of flavoring to give off an unpleasant smell when burning.

Another positive point that can be used when making candles is their versatility and unlimited scope for imagination. During production, metal, colored chips are added to paraffin candles, they are decorated in various ways with the help of glass. In the form of molds for paraffin candles, silicone, glass, metal molds are used.

The disadvantages of candles made of paraffin include their inability to maintain a certain shape for a long time. So, after a short amount of time, candles made of pure paraffin deform, especially at high temperatures. To avoid this, experienced candle-makers add stearin, beeswax or mineral wax, ceresin or ozokerite.

Also, carbon deposits and pungent smoke can be attributed to the unpleasant property that occurs when using candles. When the following negative signs appear, the conclusion suggests itself that unrefined synthetic material was used in the preparation of such a candle. And, therefore, the candle contains a significant proportion of mineral impurities. Soaking the candle wick in ammonium chloride can help in this situation.

Useful properties of candles

The material in question has beneficial properties for humans. Scientists have come to this discovery relatively recently. In their opinion, paraffin candles made with interspersed eucalyptus or thyme essential oils have the ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria. Scientists and researchers have come to the conclusion that it is all about the correct concentration of oils in the composition of the miraculous candle. For the simple reason that the basis of essential oil is turpentine, and our grandmothers have heard about the healing properties of this material. So in the near future, thanks to the burning of a candle, it will be possible to eliminate a huge number of microorganisms harmful to human health.

Also, heated paraffin improves blood circulation and accelerates the healing process, significantly improves the functioning of the joints. Treatment with synthetic material is quite often used in the post-traumatic period during rehabilitation after injuries.

We bought candles from different churches and a honey store and did an experiment to find out which candles are really wax.

Unfortunately, nowadays it is extremely difficult to find 100% good quality wax candles. All over the world, paraffin candles are preferred, they are cheap, but this is where all the advantages of paraffin candles end.

Paraffin is a derivative of oil, in addition to paraffin, the candle contains a large set of chemical wax substitutes, stearin and fragrances. When burning, such candles emit toxic substances, and the paraffin itself is a carcinogen when burned. Now think about what the candles that we love to light on holiday cakes are made of? And they drip into the cake when it burns.

Candles made from real raw beeswax are not only safe, but also healthy! Such candles include propolis, which gives a special smell to candles and, when burning, evaporates, cleans and disinfects the air in the room and has a beneficial effect on the entire human body.

How can you tell the difference between wax candles and paraffin candles?

The experiment involved:

1. Control candle - a candle made by the mistress of the Old Believer Church by hand from untreated beeswax of our bees in the Russian Taurus. (Read the previous article on making our wax candles)

2. Factory made wax candle from refined wax, bought in a church on the square in 1905.

3. A wax candle from the church on the square of 1905 (The percentage of wax in the candles was low).

4. A candle "wax" from a honey store, as it turned out in the experiment, paraffin wax with other wax substitutes and perfume.

5. Festive paraffin candle from the church on Goncharny lane.

6. A Jerusalem candle burned with holy fire, bought in the same church, turned out to be 100% paraffin.

The experiment showed:

1) By smell:

1. Our untreated wax candle has a distinct natural wax scent that is felt when held close to the nose.

2. The factory candle has a very faint waxy smell, practically does not smell, as it is made of refined wax, from which all impurities that give such a unique aroma to our candles have been removed.

3. The semi-wax candle is odorless.

4. The "wax" from the honey store is odorless.

5. The paraffin candle is odorless.

6. Jerusalem paraffin wax is also odorless.

2) To the touch:

1. Our candle is a little rough, pleasant to the touch, waxy.

2. Factory-made wax candle is smoother but also natural to the touch.

3. Semi-wax to the touch is less pleasant, more like paraffin.

4. "Wax" from a honey store is unpleasant to the touch, also looks more like paraffin

5. and 6. Paraffinic to the touch like soap, very unpleasant, oily.

3) When cutting with a knife:

1. Our candle is easy to cut, like plasticine, does not crumble at the cut

2. Factory candle behaves the same

3. Semi-wax is cut a little more difficult, it is harder.

4. "Wax" from the honey store is cut normally.

5. Paraffin wax is cut in the same way as semi-wax. Apparently, in addition to paraffin, there are other wax substitutes in the composition, which 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), melts when burning, forming a drop of wax inside the candle. In the process of burning, it periodically crackles. Burns slowly. Gives a very faint wax odor. The candle is easily placed on a bead of wax on a glass surface.

2. The factory is lit as well.

3. Semi-wax burns a little faster.

4. The "wax" from the honey store burns very quickly. It was not possible to put it on the surface, the droplet instantly froze, indicating a paraffin origin, oily to the touch.

5. Paraffin wax burns quickly, flows, but there is a droplet during 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 a candle.

6. Jerusalem's one 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 flame of a candle:

1. Our candle does not give off soot or gives a very slight, subtle darkening of the glass.

2. Factory candle as well.

3. Semi-wax smokes glass moderately

4. "Wax" from the honey store smokes the glass heavily, it turns black

5. Paraffin wax strongly smokes just like the previous candle

6. Jerusalem paraffin wax also produces soot on glass.

6. When extinguishing a candle:

1. Our candle gives a natural scent, sometimes a pleasant waxy one.

2. Factory also

3. Semi-wax gives a slight unpleasant paraffin odor.

4. "Wax" from a honey store gives off a strong unpleasant paraffin smell

5. and 6. Even more unpleasant strong odor.

7. Plasticity of the candle:

1. Our candle is very flexible, bends easily, and does not break or crumble.

2. Factory also

3. Semi-wax also

4. "Wax" from a honey store is quite plastic, but crumbles when broken

5. Paraffin plastic, indicates other impurities

6. Jerusalem immediately breaks and crumbles, plasticity is absent, indicates 100% paraffin.

It is now possible to buy natural wax candles from untreated wax in Yekaterinburg in our online store.

In the temples you can find wax and paraffin candles. All things being equal, wax candles are preferable. Why so, and how to distinguish one from the other - I will tell below.

Natural versus artificial

Wax is a product that bees produce to build honeycomb cells. Special glands in the bee's body are responsible for the production of wax.

In contrast, paraffin is a synthetic substance obtained mainly from oil, a mixture of hydrocarbons. In the production of candles, chemical wax substitutes, fragrances and other components are added to paraffin.

That is, unlike wax, paraffin is a man-made chemical. From here you can see the difference between wax and paraffin candles. Firstly, paraffin candles burn for a maximum of 15 minutes, and wax candles 2-3 times longer. In addition, the wax candle does not go out, but burns out to the end. Also, if we look closely, we will notice that paraffin and wax candles are not similar in appearance. Paraffin candles are light yellow, wax candles are darker. And as they burn, they can gradually turn orange.

The candles on the left are suspiciously light. Most likely paraffin. The candles on the right are made of wax.

Burning odor

Beeswax candles have a rich, warm honey scent.

Currently, natural wax candles are included in the list of natural aroma candles. This is due to the fact that the aroma of wax candles comes essentially from their material itself, and is not introduced by extraneous additives, as, for example, with paraffin candles.

Physical properties

The differences between wax and paraffin candles are easily noticeable when performing physical actions on them. If we try to bend a wax candle, it will remain intact, only slightly changing its shape. A paraffin candle will disintegrate in a similar procedure. In addition, the wax candle can be easily cut with a knife, and the paraffin candle will again disintegrate or crumble.

Almost the only value of paraffin candles is their shelf life. Unlike wax candles, which become covered with a white coating over time, paraffin candles do not change color and shape over time. This is due to the chemical composition of paraffin candles. Some also see the value of paraffin candles in their value. As a rule, the price of a donation for a paraffin candle in a temple is 2-3 times less than for a wax candle.

However, at the same time, the significant harm that paraffin candles bring to people, and even to the temple, is forgotten. You need to know that cheap paraffin candles are artificially produced from ceresin or Austrian resin, as it is also called. Smoke, soot and fumes from such candles smoke up iconostases and affect the health of Christians. The reason for this is that ceresin is essentially a thickened oil. According to geologists, low-purified varieties of ceresin have a strong smell of oil, which closely resembles the smell of kerosene. From the soot and burning of such candles, a person has a headache, sometimes severe, which can turn into nausea or dizziness.

Doctors have found that the smoke of paraffin candles affects not only the physical, but also the psychological health of people, which is what various psychics like to use. So, from the stable soot of paraffin candles, subconscious fear can appear.

The holy fathers about the church candle

We examined the differences between wax candles and paraffin candles. It remains to remember what we know about candles from the saints and the apostles. The 72nd and 73rd Apostolic canons directly indicate the constant use of wax in the church life of the first centuries:

If someone from the clergy, or a layman, steals wax or oil from the holy church: let him be excommunicated from the communion of the church, and in five add to what he took.

Later, a saint of the 15th century writes about the need to light wax candles:

Wax, as the purest substance, signifies our purity and sincerity of the offering; wax, as a substance on which objects can be imprinted, means the seal or sign of the cross, which is assigned to us in baptism and chrismation; wax, as a soft and bendable substance, signifies our obedience and readiness to repent of our sinful life; wax collected from fragrant flowers means the grace of the Holy Spirit, wax, made up of many flowers, means an offering made by all Christians; wax, as a substance burnt, means our burning (that is, our nature, purified by divine fire); and finally wax, in which fire burns, and this very light, constantly burning, signifies the union and strength of our mutual love and peace ”(see New Tablet. Ch. 134, p. 40).

And here is the opinion of practically our contemporaries, bishops who served in the Russian Empire before the Revolution of 1917:

The Holy Synod on May 4, 1882, determined that in churches only candles made of pure beeswax should be used.

In the end, I would like to say that the material of the candle is not the main thing in prayer. And if the prayer is done sincerely, it does not matter whether a paraffin candle is burning in front of the icon or a wax one. Do not forget about the main thing, and the rest will follow.

When purchasing candles, it is better to ascertain their origin in order to protect yourself from harmful counterfeiting. Nowadays, paraffin candles are very often made to reduce production costs and to simplify the process itself. But paraffin is a chemical product and cannot be called harmless, unlike natural wax, from which high-quality wax candles are made.

Paraffin candles

Paraffin is a synthetic substance that is obtained from oil and a mixture of hydrocarbons. For the production of paraffin candles, the following are added to the substance:

• chemical wax substitutes;
• fragrances;
• other unnatural ingredients.

Because of this composition, paraffin candles are unhealthy. When they burn, they release benzene and toluene into the air, which do not have time to burn due to the low combustion temperature. The ingestion of benzene into the human body is fraught with sleep disturbances, weakness and dizziness. With regular ingestion through the respiratory tract, the functioning of the kidneys, liver, nervous and circulatory systems is disrupted, and diseases of the blood and bone marrow begin to develop. Toluene, when inhaled, also immediately affects the nervous system, and then gets to the circulatory system.

Wax candles

Wax is a waste product of bees, produced by their glands to build honeycomb cells. The production of wax candles does not require the addition of any unnatural ingredients, therefore it is not harmful to health. Such candles burn evenly, do not emit any harmful substances into the air and do not smoke.