How can you extend the lifespan of a candle?

The key to preserving the freshness and quality of a candle lies in storage. UV light destroys both the colour and the fragrance. To store a candle correctly, the container must be tightly closed and protected from direct sunlight. This protects the wax and fragrance of the candle.

Extreme temperature fluctuations can change the molecular composition of the ingredients, but also the shape of your candle. Storing candles at room temperature will extend their lifespan.

How can I, as a candle maker, ensure longevity during candle production?

There are a number of measures that help to increase the lifespan of your candle.

• When it comes to wax, make sure to use only high-quality wax. Cheap paraffins tend to yellow significantly when exposed to sunlight. However, all paraffin will turn slightly yellow under strong sunlight. UV stabilisers from our range help to slow down or completely prevent colour changes in high-quality waxes.
• When choosing wax, care should also be taken to use high-melting-point waxes for pillar candles (e.g. paraffin with a solidification point of 58-60°C or 60-62°C, or rapeseed wax 57-61°C) to avoid changes in shape caused by temperature fluctuations.
• With natural waxes, it is important to use waxes made from so-called fully hydrogenated oils whenever possible. These usually have a shelf life of 24 months or longer and are better protected against becoming rancid than waxes made from partially hydrogenated oils. Natural waxes can also change colour and become more yellow when exposed to sunlight (UV light).
• With stearins, it is essential to choose a suitable wick. Stearins are acids and these can destroy cotton wicks that are not designed for stearin over time. The burning behaviour of such candles can then become almost impossible. Therefore, always choose wicks such as the SSD series from our range.
• Good candle colours are dyes and not pigments, so they burn well through the wick and do not clog it, as pigments can. However, dyes lose some of their intensity when exposed to UV light. Our UV stabilisers help to maintain colour intensity for longer. Even longer colour stability is provided by so-called pigment colours – e.g. our 2501 series (neon). These colours can be incorporated very well into the Tudastar 2311 coating wax and used to coat candles by dipping them. They then do not interfere with burning and create a great surface that does not fade as quickly as wax colours in fully coloured candles.
• For fragrances, synthetic fragrances are significantly more stable than natural ones. In addition, our fragrance retention additive helps prevent fragrances from evaporating quickly. This allows them to retain their scent over longer periods and remain suitable for use in the next season while still looking attractive.