Candles are one of the oldest things invented by mankind. This invention was borne of great ingenuity, first by using boiled down fat from animals to create candle wax and now, predominantly with paraffin wax. It wouldn’t be too much to say that candles appeared to have evolved right alongside humanity, despite the fact that they are not as popular or as essential as they used to be. Yet, there are now more kinds of candles in the markets than ever before and every now and then, people begin to wonder about the difference between colored candles and white candles.
WHAT ARE COLORED CANDLES?
Colored candles are candles which have colors or hues apart from white. They are not white because they contain pigments of colors which may have been included during the candle-making process as a factor of the material used for the wax or as a result of the addition of liquid or solid dyes into the liquid candle wax. Usually, when dying agents or pigments are not added intentionally to liquid candle-wax during the candle-making process, but the candle formed still is not completely white, it is usually because the material used to make the candle wax has its own color, which is not white.
For instance, normal beeswax usually gives off a cream or yellowish color when used in making candle wax, and so even without adding additional dyes or coloring agents, normal beeswax candles are usually slightly yellow in color. However, white candles can also be gotten from beeswax. In other to get white candles from beeswax, the beeswax is bleached.
Asides their array of beautiful colors – cutesy of different types of dyes – colored candles are not necessarily scented. Scented candles are candles to which fragrances or perfumes have been added, during the candle making process, while the candle wax was still in its liquid form. And so, scented candles emit these fragrances as vapors when their wicks are lit and their waxes start burning. Colored candles, on the other hand, do not emit any odors because their colors are not indicators of flavors, except in the instance of colored candles which also happen to contain added fragrances or perfume. Colored candles that also happen to be scented often have colors that match the fragrance that has been imbedded in them. For instance, wine-colored candles can be used to indicate strawberry fragrance and so on.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLORED CANDLES AND WHITE CANDLES?
The difference between colored candles and white candles lies in the fact that colored candles contain dyes which ascribe to them colors or hues which are a factor of that dye. As a matter of fact, it is considered a defect in candle-making if the color produced from the use of a particular wax dye is different from what it is supposed to be. In such an instance, a defect like that could be seen as a result of contamination of the dye or the action of some other interfering factors. However, when it comes to the resultant shade of color of a colored candle, this also depends on the type of dye used. However, it may also be a factor of the amount or quantity of dye used. Dyes used for coloring wax during the process of candle making occur in different forms; they vary from powders to crystals and liquid form and the type of dye to be used depends on the desired color and effect in the finished product. Nevertheless, many candle-makers – or chandlers – tend to prefer to use liquid dyes rather than solid dyes, powders or crystals because they are easier to measure and are also easier to mix into the melted candle-wax. As a matter of fact, many candle-makers claim that liquid dyes mix more thoroughly and readily in liquid candle wax – during the candle making process – compared to other forms of dyes such as powders, pellets and crystals.
White candles, on the other hand, are usually formed by bleaching liquid wax – e.g wax from beeswax, which is naturally slightly yellow – in order to obtain white color in the finished product. However, paraffin wax is naturally white in color, and more common in global markets, and it does not need bleaching.
WHY DO PEOPLE BUY COLORED CANDLES?
Many people purchase colored candles because they are attracted to a particular color or hue. That is, most purchasers of colored candles tend to buy that color of candle because they like it. Colored candles are fun and powerfully aesthetic in nature. They add brightness and a bit of flair to the décor if they are matched well, in terms of hues and shades. Asides this, many people also buy colored candles for a specific purpose. For instance, the use of a certain color of candle might have a specific meaning in one religion, during certain rites, although white candles are the most common by far. Apart from being an indicator of personal taste, colored candles can also be used to indicate a specific flavor or aroma of scented candles. For instance, while many colored candles may not emit any kind of perfume or fragrance when lit, some do.
And sometimes, these fragrances tend to match the kind of hues used in the colored candles in one way or another. This fact holds true in some cases, although it has to be said that a lot of scented candles come in the color white. Nevertheless, it is not unusual to see a lavender-scented candle in a pale purple color or a mint-scented candle colored in light green. Similarly, a citrus-scented candle may come in orange, golden-yellow colors or a shade of citrus, strawberry-scented candles may come in wine color, vanilla-scented candles can come in color white, grape-scented candles may come in a signature shade of the color green, pineapple-scented candles and mango-scented candles may come in color yellow, peach-scented candles may come in light pink or the color peach and so on.
