How to distinguish stearin candles from paraffin ones? How to make stearin candles with your own hands. Do-it-yourself soap (stearic) candles While burning

When describing paraffin, I already noted that stearin (stearic acid) is also used to make candles.

This is a natural substance obtained from plant and animal fats. By the way, stearin was discovered in lard back in 1816 by the French chemist Chevrel.

Stearin (stearic acid) is produced in this form - a free-flowing substance consisting of small white balls:

Stearin is used in the manufacture of various cosmetics (they are also used in creams self made). It is also indispensable in soap making, is a thickener for various rubber masses, and, of course, in candle making!

When melted, stearin becomes completely transparent, like water.

The melting point of stearin is higher than that of paraffin (69.6 °C, and the boiling point is 376.1 °C), and it is because of this property that stearin candles are more resistant to high temperatures. room temperatures than paraffin.

P-2 grade paraffin has a melting point of 50-54 °C, while technical grades have a melting point from 42 °C.

The higher the melting point, the longer and more evenly the candle burns.

Some even make pure stearin candles. They burn slightly longer than paraffin ones.

Note - if a paraffin or stearic candle is placed in the freezer for a while, it will burn even more evenly and longer, until it warms up.

Stearine (stearic acid) in candle making

In order for paraffin candles to have an even color, a more uniform consistency and become more resistant to high temperatures they contain stearin (stearic acid)

For example, look at this photo:

On the right candle sampler, strictly paraffin and dye are used, and on the left, stearin is also added to them. I think this picture answered many questions.

Candle making masters use different proportions in the manufacture of candles, from 10 grams of stearin per 90 grams of paraffin, to a ratio of 20/80. Most often they use 15/85, but personally I settled on the one that suits me best in terms of quality - 20/80.

Stearin is more expensive than paraffin, but quality still matters!

Stearin, paraffin

Extracting stearin from soap for making candles.

Use a knife to cut off the soap and place it in a clean metal bowl. Pour in excess water, place the mixture on water bath. Stir the soap and water mixture from time to time wooden stick so that the soap dissolves in the water as quickly as possible. After the soap has dissolved, remove our container and pour vinegar into the solution. Under the influence of acid, a thick white mass will separate from the solution and float to the surface - stearin- a translucent mixture of several substances, mainly stearic C 17 H 35 COOH and palmitic C 15 H 31 COOH acids. The exact composition depends on the substances that were used to make the soap.

You can make candles from stearin, as they did before. Currently, the industry produces paraffin candles, because... paraffin obtained from petroleum is cheaper.

When the container has cooled, scoop the candle making stearin from the surface with a spoon and transfer it to clean dishes. Rinse the stearin two or three times with water and wrap it in a clean white rag or filter paper to absorb excess moisture. When the stearin dries, we begin making the candle.

First way: Dip a thick twisted thread into slightly warmed molten stearin several times, each time allowing the stearin to harden on the wick. Repeat this operation until the candle has grown to a sufficient thickness on the wick. This good way, although somewhat tedious.

Making candles using the second method simpler than the first: immediately coat the wick with stearin heated until soft (you can even just prepare it, not yet cooled down). But in this case, the wick will be less saturated with the fusible mass and the candle will not turn out very good, although it will burn.

Stearic and paraffin candles. Stearin candles are prepared from a mixture of 88 g of stearin, 10-20 g of paraffin and 2-6 g of wax, and paraffin candles - from 85-97 g of paraffin, 3-15 g of stearin or ceresin. The mixture of these components is melted with stirring and the melt is poured into a metal cylinder or mold, well polished inside, with a wick stretched along its axis. When the melt has hardened, the finished candle can be pushed out of the metal mold with a round wooden rod.

Paraffin, a product of petroleum distillation, is the most popular material for candles and is included in most candles in one form or another. In the 19th century, stearin significantly replaced it as a candle material.

Cast paraffin candles are the most popular. Paraffin melted to 70 degrees in a water bath is poured into a pre-prepared mold with a fixed wick. Depending on the thickness, the candle hardens in 3 to 6 hours. Ready-made paraffin candles often bend during storage; to eliminate this drawback and increase the melting point, 3 to 15% stearin is often added to the paraffin. The forms can be very diverse.

wax

To make candles look beautiful, you need to use light yellow wax. When selecting sheets of foundation, make sure that there is no dirt on them, otherwise the candle will crack or burn unevenly.
From a sheet of foundation you can twist a candle 26 cm high and 2.5-3 cm in diameter. If the starting material is very thin, then when burning the candle quickly warps and loses its shape. If the foundation is too thick, it is difficult to curl.

The best place to work is in the kitchen. For safety reasons, wax should be melted in a water bath. To do this, you will need two containers: one for the wax (it is very practical to use a jug with a spout for this), the other (a large saucepan) for the water bath. For wax, the dishes should be enameled so that when heated it does not turn gray. In addition, you will need scissors or a sharp knife, as well as a board for cooling and drying the wicks.

Rolling a wax candle does not require any equipment. All you need is a clean countertop near the stove or stove, a knife with a straight blade, a long drawing ruler, and a cutting mat.

When casting candles from wax, the table should be covered with cardboard or an old tablecloth, or aluminum foil, prepare lubricant, brush, stick for attaching wicks and various shapes for casting.

When working with melted wax, observe simple rules safety: liquid wax ignites at a temperature of 180 ° C, so the container with it cannot be placed directly on the stove; make sure that drops of wax do not fall on it; the wax should only be melted in a water bath, since the water temperature will never exceed 100 °C; take care of your eyes; do not extinguish burning wax with water, but use damp rags for this; workplace ventilate from time to time, as prolonged inhalation of wax vapors can cause headache; Do not allow children to work with hot wax.

If drops of wax get on the fabric, they can be removed with a heated iron, placing a clean sheet of white paper under it. If they get on the table or floor, they are removed with a cloth soaked in hot water.

The central element of a candle is the wick; it is woven from thin cotton threads. Wicks come in round and flat sections. Round wicks have better hygroscopicity, so I prefer them. The thickness of the wick is chosen depending on the diameter of the candle, but there are no exact recommendations and I can only give approximate correspondence of these indicators.

For thin Christmas tree candles, you need to use the thinnest wick. Candles rolled from foundation generally require a thinner wick than cast candles.

When making candles from foundation, the following ratios of candle and wick diameters can be suggested: candles with a diameter of up to 30 mm should have a wick with a diameter of 2 mm; up to 45 - 4 mm; over 45 - 6-8 mm; over 60 - 10 mm.

The tip of the wick of a burning candle should be as short as possible - this prolongs its burning life. Therefore, at a lit candle, it is constantly trimmed.

Wax

Before pouring the wax, the molds must be heated, and their cooling must occur slowly; for this, they are wrapped in a towel.

It makes sense to make wax candles at home if you have a large supply of wax. Such candles are made using the “twisting” method: the wick is pulled horizontally and evenly covered with wax softened in warm water. When the workpiece reaches required thickness, they start rolling her around smooth board a flat board to give the future candle a cylindrical shape. Then the candle is cut from the bottom and its top is pulled out.

Before installing the wick into the mold, do not forget to lubricate its inner surface with a substance that will ensure the wax separates from the walls. For example, dishwashing liquid. Mix this liquid with warm water and immerse the form. Having taken it out, make sure that there are no soap bubbles on its surface and wipe it with a damp cloth, but not until dry. I do not recommend using vegetable oil, since it leaves a greasy layer on the surface that is difficult to remove. However, if the mold is wooden, then it can be greased with oil. In this case, it is not necessary to impregnate the wick with wax; its upper end can be processed after casting.

It is important that the wick is located exactly in the middle of the mold and is taut. If the shape has a bottom (for example, a tin can), then you need to make a hole in it and pass the wick through it, tying it with a knot on the outside. Place, for example, a pencil on the upper edge of the form and tie the other end of the wick to it with tension. If a hole cannot be made in the bottom of the mold, then the wick is glued to the bottom. If the mold does not have a bottom, then it is glued with wax to a plastic surface (for example, to cutting board) so that there are no gaps at the bottom. At the same time, forget to grease the bottom of the mold. The wick is also glued to the bottom and secured on top.

Wax melts at a temperature of 64 °C. It is best to pour it into molds at a temperature of 80 ° C in one step to avoid the formation of seams. The scoop is used only when working with small shapes. After pouring, the wax cools in the direction from the outer surface to the center. At this time, a hole is formed around the wick, which must be filled with wax before it hardens. When casting thick candles, as the wax cools, it must be pierced several times with a knitting needle along the length of the wick to avoid the formation of air bubbles. The wax must cool slowly, otherwise the candle may crack.

Thin candles can be carefully removed from the collapsible mold when the wax has hardened halfway. Using a heated knife, the growths formed at the junction of the mold are cut off from the surface of the product. Then the candle is placed on the table to cool further. In this case, sharp fluctuations in air temperature and shocks should be avoided. The mold is cleaned of wax and washed with dishwashing liquid. If a non-collapsible mold is used, then you should wait until the wax has completely cooled and hardened, which sometimes takes a whole day.

Since the wax shrinks slightly, the cooled finished candle is pulled out by the wick, not forgetting to untie the knot from below. If the candle does not come out, you can gently tap the mold on the table. If this does not help, then it is briefly dipped in hot water. It is easier to remove a candle from a mold without a bottom; to do this, use a knife or squeeze it out with some object.

There is also a method of making wax candles by repeatedly dipping the wick into wax and gradually building up the candle. This method is the oldest. In this case, the container for melting should be tall and narrow, which will allow you to get long candles. But the container should not be filled with wax to the very brim, and the water in the second pan should not boil. The work requires patience. The wick is tied to a stick and repeatedly dipped into melted wax. Dipping should be short to avoid melting the previous growth. Then the workpiece is kept in air until each new wax layer hardens. Thus, the candle gradually grows.

Wax candles are made from beeswax, Japanese, Chinese, carnauba wax and other methods of pouring, twisting, stretching, dipping, rolling, casting into molds (rarely) and pressing on special machines. When pouring, the wick is held over the cauldron, turning it around its axis and pouring wax melted in a water bath, and the first pouring is the “hottest” so that the wick is saturated with wax, then portions of wax are taken from the edges of the cauldron.

Once the desired thickness is reached, the candle is allowed to cool and rolled on a marble board with maghel - a special board with a handle, cut and leveled. When cutting, the wick is evenly covered with wax melted in a water bath and rolled on a board with maggel, giving the desired shape and diameter.

When drawn, the wick is passed through a bath of molten wax to create thin candles and wax threads. Dipping is a process where the wick is dipped into molten wax, the first time the wick is lowered for three minutes so that it is saturated with wax, roll the candle, then lower it a quarter of the length for 4 seconds into the wax - take it out for 2 minutes, then lower it halfway length - take it out for 3 minutes, lower it three-quarters of the way - take it out for 3 minutes, then lower the entire candle into the wax - take it out for 3 minutes, lower it a third - take it out, two-thirds - take it out, and the whole thing again. The process continues until the desired thickness is achieved. Rolled wax candles made from foundation, rolling it into a cylinder with a wick inside.

Before the process, the wax must be warmed up, for example, with a hairdryer; it is recommended to keep the finished rolled candles in the refrigerator before use. From original size The shape and size of the candle depends on the sheet of foundation; for example, a sheet of foundation cut diagonally will produce a cone-shaped candle. Rolled candles are extraordinarily beautiful and fragrant, retaining the warmth of the hands that made them. Wax candles are colored by dipping the candles into melted colored wax or using a brush when cold. Gilding is applied using special gold-plated sheets by stamping.

Salo (sugar candles)

To make tallow candles harder, it is recommended to dip the candles sequentially in the following three mixtures:

1) Melt 4 white resin, 88 good lard, 6 camphor, 20 stearic acid, 2 dammar gum.
2) Melt 48 lard, 6 camphor, 20 stearic acid, 4 white gum, 10 dammar gum.
3) Melt 20 stearic acid, 4 white wax, 10 lard, 6 camphor.

Fat (fat candles)

To make fat candles, take 450g of alum, 450g of saltpeter, dissolve it in 2 liters of water, add 5400g of fat (for example, beef) and cook over low heat, not allowing the fat to darken.

1) Dissolve 450 g of alum and 450 g of saltpeter in 2 liters of water over low heat. Add 5400 g of fat, stirring constantly until all the fat has dissolved. Do not leave on the heat for too long as the fat may darken.

2) Cut 8 kg of fat into small pieces, put in a pot along with 250 g of alum and 250 g of saltpeter, previously dissolved in 0.5 water over low heat. Stir constantly over low heat until all the fat has dissolved. Leave on low heat. until steam stops rising, then remove from heat.

Glycerol

Glycerin suppositories burn quietly, without spreading any odor. Mix dissolved in 20 parts by weight. water, colorless gelatin with 26 parts by weight of glycerin, add 2 parts by weight. tannin, diluted in 10 parts by weight of glycerin, per. Boil until the turbidity disappears, pour into a container with a wick.

Glycerin suppositories according to Laroche

Dissolve 5 colorless gelatin in 20 water, add 26 glycerol and heat until a completely clear solution is formed. To this solution add 2 tannins, dissolved by heating in 10 glycerol. A turbidity appears, which disappears with further boiling. Boiling continues until all the water has evaporated. Candles made from this composition are transparent, like water, and burn calmly, without spreading any odor.

Regular glycerin suppositories

They are made as follows: mix 5 g of gelatin, 25 ml of glycerin and 20 ml of water with heating until a clear solution is obtained, then add 2 g of tannin, previously dissolved in 10 ml of glycerin with heating. The resulting solution is heated to a boil; the dregs that appeared at first gradually disappear. The solution is boiled until all the water has evaporated. Then candles are cast from the resulting mass. Glycerin candles are transparent, like glass, burn calmly and without smoke, without spreading any odor.

Gel (gel suppositories)

Making gel candles is accessible to anyone, even a child. Take a suitable container, play with decorative elements, pour in the gel, stick in the wick. The gel does not tolerate overheating, after 120 degrees it becomes cloudy and does not acquire the desired consistency when it hardens. Also, when making it, try not to let the wick reach the bottom so that the container you choose does not burst from the fire. Possibility of using a variety of decorative elements And unusual shapes containers make gel candles the most exotic among the entire range of candle products.

Many people involved in spiritual development and yoga often use candles. For example, lighting them while doing some kind of practice and creating a special atmosphere in the room. In yoga there is such a shatkarma (purification practice) as looking at a candle flame, called trataka. Also trataka is.

A candle is a symbol of connection with the Cosmos, the Higher Mind. Her fire is the light of our soul, our bright thoughts. Like a small sun, the fire of a candle helps transformations in a person and movement towards a righteous life. The softness and pliability of wax expresses a person’s readiness for obedience, his humility, and short burning - an unfaithful life that is easy to extinguish, its fleetingness. When a person prays while lighting a candle, he makes a sacrifice to God (instead of animals), thereby showing his respect and humility.

It is believed that if you look at the fire, it cleanses the person’s aura and the space around.

The history of candles goes back hundreds of thousands of years. The first candles were made from animal fat and oily fish, as opposed to modern candles made from wax and paraffin. Initially, they resembled a small torch. The Romans invented the wick, the Chinese and Japanese continued their work. Some used rice paper as a wick, others rolled papyrus into a tube and immersed it in a container containing fat. Candles were also made from resin and plant fibers. American Indians extracted wax by burning the bark of the wax tree or resin tree. Candles were also made from pine resin. Much later, cotton and hemp fibers began to be used for wicks.

In the Middle Ages, candles began to be made from bees wax. This made it possible to avoid the disadvantages of fat candles, since the wax does not produce any soot or unpleasant odor; it burns brightly and evenly. But fat in large quantities is easier to obtain than wax, so wax candles were expensive, just as they are now.

Invented in 1850 paraffin, from which most modern candles are made. Paraffin is obtained from oil and shale. Mass production of paraffin made it possible to make cheap candles, since it cost much less than wax and similar substances. The material for paraffin candles is, of course, paraffin, but mixed with stearin (stearin 1 gives the candle softness and makes it less fragile). Fatty dyes are used: they dissolve well in paraffin and give even, rich tones. At the end of the twentieth century, a “candle renaissance” began throughout the world. Decorative scented candles have become an indispensable attribute of the holidays, an original gift, interior decoration. In addition to traditional elongated candles, you can now find figurine candles, gel candles in glasses, floating tablets, tea candles (in aluminum housing), candles in glass containers or coconuts.

The fruits of scientific and technological progress, unfortunately, are not always favorable for people. The use of most modern candles can be very harmful to human health! This is exactly what I want to talk about below. So, why are candles harmful...

Firstly, when paraffin burns, it releases benzene and toluene into the air, carcinogens that are very harmful to living organisms. Along with carcinogenic benzene has mutagenic, gonadotoxic, embryotoxic, teratogenic and allergic effects. Toluene is a generally toxic poison that causes acute and chronic poisoning. Its irritating effect is more pronounced than that of benzene. It causes endocrine disruption and reduces performance; prolonged contact with small doses of toluene can have an effect on the blood. Due to its high solubility in lipids and fats, toluene accumulates mainly in the cells of the central nervous system.

Secondly, many manufacturers use a complex compound as a fixative for the persistence of aroma - diethyl phthalate, which chemists classify as moderately toxic. It can cause allergic reactions and eczema, dizziness, headache, irregular breathing, lacrimation, nausea and vomiting. It has teratogenic and mutagenic effects, which is very dangerous for pregnant women. With regular exposure, it can affect the nervous and respiratory systems, internal organs and blood cells, contribute to the formation of malignant tumors. By the way, this fixative is very often used in perfumery.

Thirdly, chemical (gel, stearic 1 and paraffin) candles almost all contain up to 70% of various additives, dyes, fragrances and other ingredients. Artificial additives are often used in the production of scented candles. It’s good if these flavorings have a neutral effect on human health. There is a high probability that the fragrance in the candle will be cheap, synthetic, and therefore harmful; the dye will also be used in order to reduce the cost of the product.

Even if the candle is scented with natural essential oils, the scent burns out in the process and its effect may be harmful. The oil gets very hot, its chemical structure changes and the aroma is distorted. Therefore, I do not recommend abusing even natural scented candles...

Rare use of paraffin candles will not cause any serious harm, but systematic use will have an impact on your body. If a paraffin candle burns in a ventilated room 2-3 times a week, for about half an hour, nothing bad will happen.

Often candles are lit in poorly ventilated areas and in the evening. Because of this, lovers of various scents sleep in a smoky room with a high content of toxic substances in the air. Be sure to ventilate the room! Scientists have stated the fact that inhaling the vapors of a scented candle throughout the evening is equivalent to several hours of passive smoking.

In small rooms a large number of lit candles are especially dangerous. 1-2 is enough.

You should not light candles for several hours at a time and use them as an air freshener.

Buy safe aroma candles from natural wax - beeswax or soybean. Beeswax candles don’t even need to be scented - they smell like honey and propolis when they burn, but suitable essential oils are often added to them. Soy wax is obtained from soybeans - they learned to make candles from it not so long ago, but they were immediately appreciated by experts. There are candles that use palm and coconut wax. To determine whether a candle is paraffin or wax, remove shavings from it with a knife. Paraffin will crumble.

Safe, naturally scented candles are sold only in specialized stores. The smallest beeswax or soy wax candle can be more expensive than a whole pack of paraffin candles.

If you set yourself a goal, then by surfing the Internet, you can find the most diverse and original eco-friendly wax candles. Nowadays many craftsmen offer their original works. Personally, I found it very interesting option for myself - herbal-wax candles.

And my last word of advice, dear reader: carefully examine the candle wick. If you notice a metal rod in the weave of the wick, then this is a lead thread. Well, the harmful effects of lead on the cardiovascular and nervous system We have known for a long time...

I hope whoever reads this article will become more attentive to the choice of candles.

Take care of yourself and be healthy! OM.

1. Stearin(French stearine, from Greek stear - fat) - an organic product obtained from fats. It consists of stearic acid with an admixture of palmitic, oleic and other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Now you can find vegetable stearin, it is obtained by pressing chilled coconut or palm oil.

DIY soap (stearic) candles

Stearin( French stearine, from Greek. stear - fat) is an organic product obtained from fats. It consists of stearic acid with an admixture of palmitic, oleic and other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Used in soap making, paper, rubber, textile industries, and for making candles. A mixture of kerosene and stearin is used as a lubricant during molding work. As a component it is part of wax used in the foundry industry.

Try making your own stearin candle,

using a bar of laundry soap.

Use a knife to cut about half a piece of laundry soap and place it in a clean tin can or an old saucepan. Pour enough water to cover the soap shavings and place the mixture in a water bath. Stir the contents of the saucepan from time to time with a wooden stick so that the soap dissolves in the water as quickly as possible.

When this happens, remove the vessel from the heat and pour vinegar into it. Under the action of acid, a thick white mass will separate from the solution and float to the surface. This is stearin - a translucent mixture of several substances, mainly stearic C17H35COOH and palmitic C15H31COOH acids.

It is impossible to name the exact composition; it is different and depends on the substances that went into making the soap.

As you know, candles are made from stearin. Or rather, they did it before, because now there are candles for the most part not stearic, but paraffin - paraffin obtained from oil is cheaper and more accessible. But since we have stearin at our disposal, let’s make a candle out of it.

When the jar has cooled completely, scoop the stearin from the surface with a spoon and transfer it to a clean container. Rinse the stearin two or three times with water and wrap it in a clean white rag or filter paper to absorb excess moisture.

When the stearin is completely dry, let's start making the candle. The simplest technique is probably this: dip a thick twisted thread, for example from a kerosene wick, into slightly heated molten stearin several times, each time allowing the stearin to harden on the wick. Do this until the candle grows to a sufficient thickness on the wick. This is a good method, although somewhat tedious; in any case, in ancient times candles were often prepared this way.

There is an even simpler way: immediately coat the wick with stearin heated until soft (you can even just prepare it, not yet cooled down). True, in this case the wick will be less saturated with the fusible mass, and the candle will not turn out very good, although it will burn.

For beautiful shaped candles, the manufacturing methods are not easy. First of all, you need to make a mold - wooden, plaster, metal. In this case, it is advisable to first soak the wick with one or two layers of stearin; it is then secured in the mold so that it runs exactly down the middle. It is advisable that the wick be slightly stretched. And after that, hot stearin is poured into the mold.

Candles changed their appearance and composition at all times. Both a primitive torch and a kerosene lamp were used as a light source. But in the age of electric lighting, candles remained just as in demand and popular. I wonder if they will be more advanced a millennium from now? And what will wax, scented, stearin candles look like then?

History of the origin of candles

About 5,000 years ago, the candle was first mentioned in Egypt and has been used for lighting ever since. The Romans were the first to gain worldwide fame in the production of such light sources. They soaked papyrus in flammable substances with the addition of fat, rolled up a paper wick and set it on fire.

The Chinese formed candles from high-density paper, the Japanese from wax walnut trees, and the Indians were engaged in boiling the fruits of the cinnamon tree. Less expensive methods developed, and rare ones ceased to exist.

In the 12th century, tallow candles were burned in Russia, for the production of which the wick was repeatedly immersed in melted fat. And thus they increased the required diameter.

In the 13th century in Europe, candles became the main way of lighting rooms. They were implemented in any area, city and village, there were many masters. A smoky tallow candle is depicted as a prototype of poverty and hopelessness.

In the 15th century, a conical shape was invented, and the fat was replaced with beeswax. These candles emitted minimal smoke and odor.

In the 18th century, spermaceti, a substance from the whale’s body that does not melt at high temperatures, became the main candle remedy.

Stearic acid began to be used in candles in the 19th century. It is this substance that will be discussed in the article.

How did stearic acid come about?

In 1820, a method of extracting animal fats from animals was invented in France, resulting in the formulation of stearin wax, which was quite hard and clean-burning. And in 1825, chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul, in collaboration with Joseph Gay-Lussac, created a stearin candle.


When did the stearin suppository appear? The development of its production in Russia began in 1837. And in 1851 it was established in the USA, thanks to immigrant Antonio Meucci. To this day, stearin candles are still in demand in Europe.

In the 20th century, paraffin and stearin became the primary components in the production of products in this area. Since the 1980s, other types of candles have begun to fill the market: scented, clear, mineral oil and polymer additives, palm, soy wax.

Differences between the main components

How to distinguish from stearic? Both substances are different in chemical and physical characteristics. Paraffin is a composition made from refined petroleum substances, and stearin is a combination of processed fats and stearic acid with the addition of glycerin.

• Stearic candles consist of only 4% paraffin and, in addition, contain palm oil, while paraffin candles contain about 3-15% stearin to give strength to the product.
• To melt paraffin, a temperature of +36-55 degrees is needed, and for stearin - 55-72.
• The flame temperature of a stearin candle reaches 1500 degrees, and a paraffin candle reaches 1400 degrees.
• Stearin reacts with an alkaline substance to form soap foam, but paraffin does not interact with it in any way.
• Stearin candles burn longer than paraffin candles and do not deform, unlike them.

Is stearin harmful?

The smoke from a low quality paraffin candle is toxic, which is important to remember when indoors. The following substances enter the atmosphere: toluene, which causes dizziness, as well as benzene. The second substance is characterized by carcinogenic properties; it has dangerous mutagenic, teratogenic, gonadotoxic, allergic, and embryotoxic effects. In case of allergies, the combustion products of a paraffin product can provoke a spasm in the respiratory tract, and if a metal thread is visible in the wick, then this is lead, which is harmful to the heart.

If stearin suppositories are harmful, it is completely insignificant compared to their analogues. Unfortunately, they are not very common in Russia. And the safest from an environmental point of view are relatively expensive candles made from natural wax: soy, beeswax. When they burn, no harmful components are released. Inexpensive candle- this is the first reason to think about its chemical composition.

Aroma candles

Aroma candles cause severe harm to health if you burn them daily and long time indoors. Prolonged exposure to artificial odor vapors is sometimes tantamount to nicotine poisoning. This should be taken into account by people who prefer to meditate by candlelight and use them as a scent.

If diethyl phthalate is used as an odor fixing agent, its influence is fraught with mass adverse reactions body, to the point of nausea. Even essential oil when heated, it loses its original structure, so it pleasant aroma distorted.

Stearic acid in cosmetics

A number of fats and oils contain stearic acid. It is used in the manufacture of:

• candles;
• soap;
• toothpaste;
• creams;
• hair dyes;
• rubber compounds.

This white crystalline substance is used in pharmaceuticals and analytical chemistry. Stearin is an odorless ingredient and is therefore highly valued in the cosmetics industry.

In cosmetic products, it acts as a thickener and stabilizer that inhibits the separation of unstable ingredients into separate substances. Thanks to stearin, the cream looks homogeneous and opaque.

Benefits of stearin

Stearic suppositories are not produced in their pure form. Only a small fraction of the substance is added to the base material of the candles, and manufacturers value it for the following benefits:

• economical combustion;
• brighter candle flame;
• products with stearin come out of molds without force;
• stearin does not form soot (paraffin candles will require soaking the wick in sodium nitrate);
• stearin protects products from distortion when heated.

Market

In Europe, 90% of candles are made from paraffin. Let's consider the size of the constituent components of an industrial line. About 4% of products are household stearin candles, 0.5% of products are made from beeswax, the rest of the market share comes from products made from soybean and palm plant wax. In Sweden and Norway, stearin as a raw material for candles is much more widespread. Sometimes up to a quarter of stearin is present in paraffin products. Composite candles consisting of stearin, spermaceti, solid fats with bismuth and the addition of arsenic for strength are also common.

You can buy multi-colored stearin candles at the market or in an online store. Their cost is higher than their paraffin counterparts, but the quality, service life and impressions from them are worth it.

Homemade

To create a candle, regular wax (including cinder wax), paraffin available in stores, or stearin are suitable. The latter is easy to obtain by melting crushed soap, which is dissolved over a fire in a container of water, and then vinegar is added to it. The substance that floats to the surface is collected with a spoon. This is stearin, which is rinsed and dried with a cloth.

A thick cotton thread is used as a wick. Artificial is not suitable, as it will quickly burn and release bad smell. You can use floss or remove the wick from a regular wax candle.

To give the product the desired shape, you need to use an appropriate container in the form of a ball, jar, plaster, wood, or metal. The hole should be reasonably wide to fill the container with molten stearin.

In order for the candle to have color, you need to add food coloring or crushed wax crayons to the filler. The exception is coloring matter on water and alcohol based- they don't fit. You can also add a fragrance - any essential oil you like.

Procedure:

• dissolve laundry soap over low heat;
• collect stearin from the surface;
• melt the stearin in a water bath;
• soak the wick with melted substance;
• add flavoring and coloring to the mixture;
• weight the end of the wick with a weight;
• place the wick exactly in the center of the mold;
• pour the mixture into the mold, wait until it hardens;
• Remove the finished candle from the mold.

To make a stearin candle a surprise, delight and create a festive atmosphere, decorate it with accessories: beads, shells, coffee beans, which can be fused into the hardening material. And the completion of the decorative look will be an original candlestick or an unusual candelabra.

1. The saying “the game is not worth the candle” came from gamblers, who used this phrase when comparing winnings to the cost of a burnt candle when playing.
2. Some churches have introduced virtual services. Cathedral the city of Santiago de Compostel pleases parishioners with the inclusion of electronic candles for 1.4 euros.
3. IN Pacific Ocean inhabited by fish with a high proportion of body fat. Local residents burn it like a candle, stretching the wick through it.
4. As distributors confirm, 96% of candles are purchased by women.
5. The largest candle in the world was lit in honor national holiday in the kingdom of Bahrain, it weighed three tons, reached 73 m in height and had 14 thousand wicks.