With growing interest in sustainability and renewable resources, hemp wax offers an intriguing natural wax alternative. Derived from pressed hemp seeds, hemp wax provides eco-conscious candle makers with a plant-based wax made domestically supporting American farmers.
The creamy wax has a lower melting temperature than paraffin, making it easy to blend with other natural waxes for improved stability. Hemp wax candles emit a lovely glow alongside earthy, nutty aromas complementing essential oil scents.
While less rigid than paraffin in its requiring jars or containers, hemp wax delivers quality burn properties and an inviting ambiance perfect for space-enhancing luminaries.
What is Hemp Wax?
Hemp wax consists of hydrogenated oil extracted when pressing hemp seeds, composed largely of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic fatty acids. The extracted crude hemp oil then goes through hydrogenation, converting the oils into saturated solid fats forming the pliable textured wax for candle making.
The wax offers similar burn qualities as soy wax but has lower melting points making it better suited for embedding botanicals or blending with small amounts of beeswax or paraffin for improved rigidity. The wax also emits alluring nutty and grassy fragrances.
Where Does Hemp Wax Come From?
Hemp plants cultivated for oilseed and fibers grow well across most American states with Colorado, Kentucky, and Tennessee leading domestic production. The renewable annual crops thrive without intensive water, chemical fertilizers, or pesticides. Hemp provides versatile applications with seeds pressed into consumer goods while fibers convert into textiles, papers, and construction materials.
While legally regulated separately from psychoactive strains, hemp offers farmers supplemental income from plants yielding seeds for pressing wax, oil, or eating. The wax then gets processed domestically often within the state of origin.
How is Hemp Wax Made?
Producing hemp from the raw seeds undergoes a sequence of steps:
- Pressing – Hemp seeds get cold pressed extracting nearly 50% as crude hemp oil
- Solvent Extraction – Oil procured using hexane solvents further increases yields
- Refining – Treating with sodium hydroxide removes fatty acids and odors
- Bleaching – Activated clay lightens the color of the refined oil
- Deodorizing – High heat removes remaining volatile compounds
- Hydrogenation – Converts liquid hemp oil into solid hemp wax
- Cooling/Flaking – Wax cooled methodically into flakes for candlemaking
What are Hemp Candles?
Hemp candles provide sustainable lighting options with cotton-wrapped hemp fiber wicks embedded into pliable, aromatic hemp wax. The renewable hemp crops thrive without extensive fertilizers or irrigation supporting American family farms.
Hemp burns slowly, and very cleanly while allowing customization embedding items within. The wax also readily accepts natural dye colors and pairs nicely with essential oils. Cool hues complement underlying nutty, grassy tones of unscented hemp emitting inviting glows.
Is Hemp Wax Good for Candles?
Hemp makes fabulous quality candles on its own or blended with small amounts of beeswax or soy wax. The pliable texture lends itself well to container candles versus freestanding columns. Hemp allows significant creativity, easily hand rolled or shaped into preferred designs.
As candles burn, custom contours and art remain visible adding artistic elegance. The natural wax also effectively carries subtle fragrances like essential oils for custom aroma experiences. Hemp wax performs admirably in candle applications.
Benefits of Hemp Candles
Candles crafted using hemp wax offer perks including:
- Renewable Sourced – Supports sustainable domestic farming
- Natural Material – No synthetic chemicals used in production
- Clean Burning – Very little soot, ash, or wax drippings
- Lovely Ambiance – Warm golden glow with savory aroma
- Slow Burning – Provides hours of consistent illumination
- Artistic Potential – Hand-shaped or sculpted designs feasible
- Skin Safe – Unscented hemp wax makes nice massage candles
- Eco-Friendly – Biodegrades preventing plastic accumulation
Best Hemp for Candles
For optimal candle-making properties, hemp wax with higher melt points between 130°F and 145°F performs best. Fully hydrogenated configurations containing more saturated fats improve hardness once cooled for malleable yet stable candle vessels. Refined and deodorized hemp provides reliably clean burning wax. Top hemp wax suppliers like Viola and Hemp Alice offer products well-suited for candle manufacturing.
Hemp Wax Candles DIY
Making introductory hemp candles allows for creatively infusing living spaces with glorious light. Follow this simple guide:
Materials:
- Hemp Wax Chips
- Pre-Tabbed Hemp Wicks
- Essential Oils – like lavender, rosemary, tea tree
- Containers – heat-resistant glass
- Double Boiler
- Spoon & Thermometer
Instructions:
- Slowly melt the wax to 185°F – 190°F in a double boiler
- Remove from heat; add essential oils using 2 tsp per pound of wax
- Carefully layer a small amount of wax to anchor the wick keeping centered
- Allow to partially set up for 5 minutes to avoid wick shifting
- Top off the vessel with remaining wax leaving 1⁄4 inch headspace
- Let cure for 48 hours; trim wick then enjoy glowing creation!
Feel free to incorporate other natural items like dried flowers or wood beads by suspending them in wax before cooling. Have fun!
Why Use Hemp for Candles?
Hemp wax offers advantageous attributes for quality candle making:
- Derived from rapidly renewable hemp crops
- Provides a vegan-friendly, non-toxic option
- Has a smooth texture and, a warm golden glow when lit
- Readily blends with beeswax or soy wax for improved stability
- Effectively disperses essential oil aromas
- Unique nutty smell complements custom scents
- Supports sustainable domestic agriculture
- A lower melt point makes working easy for beginners
How to Use Hemp Wax for Candles
Working with versatile hemp follows similar guidelines as other waxes:
- Use a double boiler to gently melt wax between 185°F-200°F
- Add essential oils for scenting; 2 tsp per pound of wax
- Test oil solubility as some may seize wax structure
- Pour wax around 160°F for containers; and 100°F for pillars
- Cool candles gradually to maximize the appearance
- Allow 48 hours cure time before burning
- Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch for a clean burn
Take advantage of malleable qualities hand rolling candles or pressing in botanicals like flowers, herbs, beans, or berries!
Why is Hemp Wax Expensive?
While hemp wax costs moderately higher than mass-produced paraffin wax, hemp wax remains affordably priced for home crafting averaging $7-12 per pound purchased online through major candle supply retailers. Producing wax from the dense, protein-rich hemp seeds requires significant crops yielding a lower volume of oil compared to other seed oils.
The pressing and intensive processing to convert crude hemp oil into wax also contributes to increased costs over directly refined petroleum byproducts like paraffin. However, supporting domestic agriculture and reducing processing transportation emissions further offsets premium pricing. The renewable origination provides significant value for many hemp wax enthusiasts.
Hemp Candle Recipe
Once comfortable using hemp wax, explore fun color patterns with this visually engaging candle:
Ingredients:
- 300 grams Hemp Wax Pastilles
- 100 grams Beeswax Beads
- Plant Based Liquid Dyes – blue, purple, green
- 30 Drops Essential Oils – Lavender, Eucalyptus
- Glass Candle Vessel & Wick
Directions:
- In a double boiler, melt wax blend to 175°F, remove the heat
- Separate into equal amounts in 3 pouring pitchers
- Add 10 drops of complementary essential oils to each
- Stir in liquid dyes – making different colors
- Layer wax colors in a glass container around the wick
- Periodically cool for 10 minutes between thin layers
- Top off the candle; let fully cure for 48 hours
- Trim wick; enjoy artistic swirling colors!
Blend hemp wax with soy wax or beeswax alternating complimentary fragrances for custom creations unlike any store-bought candle!
Environmental Impact of Hemp Wax
As an annually renewable crop, hemp wax offers environmental advantages over petroleum-based paraffin wax including:
- Provides sustainable domestic agriculture opportunities
- Production requires less processing energy than crude oil refining
- Dense roots prevent soil erosion and leaves restore nutrients
- Does not require intensive water, fertilizers, or pesticides
- Co2 absorbing while growing offsets emissions during pressing
- Clean burning with biodegrading composition prevents accumulating waste
The renewability, low input cultivation, and decomposing properties give hemp wax candles a favored status as an eco-friendly alternative. Support small-batch growers while making lovely luminaries!
In conclusion, Hemp wax delivers quality candle-making possibilities as a natural plant-based wax made domestically. The creamy wax allows artistic applications in hand rolling candle designs or suspending botanicals. Hemp container candles make easy novice projects while more advanced recipes allow unlimited creativity.
Consumers seeking renewable lighting options or wanting to support American agriculture find hemp at lean pricing advantages over alternatives, helping offset the moderately higher than paraffin expense. For beautiful, non-toxic candles supporting sustainable communities from seed to flame, choose nutrient-rich hemp wax!