Seeking natural candle wax alternatives supporting global communities, palm wax offers an intriguing choice with impressive capabilities as a quality candle fuel. Derived from the waxy palm fruit oil of sustainably harvested oil palms, palm wax provides a vegan-friendly, eco-conscious candle ingredient. The wax has minimal odor letting custom scents take prominence while allowing bold colors.
Palm candles create cheerful glow alongside essential oil aromas courtesy of smooth burn properties and generous hot throw. Creative makers sculpt intricate candles benefitting from pliable texture. As a traceable agricultural product, palm wax aligns with ethical priorities without sacrificing performance. Read on to discover more about versatile palms!
What is Palm Wax?
Palm wax is extracted from the pulp and kernels of oil palm tree fruits undergoing processing to separate liquids from solids. By hydrogenating and treating the oils pressed from cultivated palm crops, liquid fats convert into solid waxes perfect for candles.
Palm wax consists primarily of palmitic and oleic fatty acids in varying ratios distinguishing oil palm wax from coconut wax containing more lauric acid. Palm provides an eco-friendly rigid candle body that facilitates beautiful designs.
Where Does Palm Wax Come From?
Palm wax sources from palm tree plantations across the equatorial regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. Productive oil palm trees produce high vegetable oil yields on smaller acreages compared to other oil seed crops. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Colombia, and Nigeria rank among the largest producers supplying the majority of global palm oil exports.
Established large-scale palm farms continue combating illicit deforestation opting for certified sustainable practices. Conscientious sourcing ensures renewable crops benefit developing rural communities that process versatile palm fruits for consumer goods like candle wax.
How is Palm Wax Made?
Converting raw palm oil into wax involves:
- Pressing – Crushing fruit fiber and kernels extracting crude red palm oil
- Clarifying/Filtration – Treating pressed oil removes impurities
- Fractionation – Controlled cooling separates oils by melting points
- Hydrogenation – Oils react with hydrogen converting to solids
- Deodorizing – High heat removes odors and volatile compounds
- Fortification – Further treating refines texture and burn properties
- Cooling/Flaking – Pouring wax then cooling forms flakes for candles
Monitoring production from plantation to pour, conscientious makers choose certified eco-friendly palm.
What are Palm Oil Candles?
Palm candles utilize cotton wicks embedded into refined palm wax provided by sustainable sources. Produced without utilizing petrochemicals, palm wax offers conscientious consumers clean burning lighting supporting rural farmers through equitable trade.
The versatile wax makes superb quality candles emitting a pleasing glow from vibrant pigments. Palms effectively throws fragrance for dazzling aromas using minimal oils. From simple containers to elaborate carvings, palm wax facilitates creative endeavors benefitting artisans halfway across the globe!
Is Palm Wax Good for Candles?
Palms creates excellent candles! The high melting point wax produces rigid constructs retaining intricate artistic details. The creamy wax also has a low frost temperature resisting sweat. Palm wax offers brightness adding luminous warmth wherever needed most.
Customization abounds with palm-taking dyes and essential oils generously without muting vibrancy. Palm wax functions admirably solo or blended when making candle magic.
Benefits of Palm Candles
Crafting palm candles provides upsides like:
- Vegan & Sustainable – Supports ecological stewardship
- Superb Scent Throw – Efficiently emanates fragrance notes
- Vibrant Colors – Inviting bright hues increase cheerfulness
- Great Surface Finish – Smooth and glossy candles please visually
- Artistic Potential – Carve detailed candles without sacrificing designs
- Custom Experience – Layer colors and scents promoting wellbeing
- Clean Burning – Emits almost no smoke releasing purity instead
- Ethical Choice – Ability to directly support rural farmers through purchases
Best Palm for Candles
Seeking refined, hydrogenated palm wax free from impurities makes the best candles. The molecular saturation provides hardness once cooled keeping intricate artistic detailing visible. Pure white palm wax offers a blank canvas for colors versus crude red palm oil’s characteristic deep orange hue.
Peak-performing palm has a melting point of over 125°F for pillar stability with an oil content of around 56% retaining texture. Reputable suppliers like Cargill, Carmel Group, and EcoSoya pride ethical sourcing for consistent, high quality palm wax.
Palm Candles DIY
The pleasing natural glow palm wax gives makes getting started crafting easy. Follow this tutorial:
Materials:
- 1 lb Palm Wax Chips
- Fragrance Oils – Florals or Fresh Citrus
- Dye Blocks – Blue & Yellow
- Glass Jar & Paper Cored Wick
Instructions:
- Dice dyes into shavings using grated; combine
- In a double boiler, melt wax once the dyes are fully incorporated
- Remove from heat; add 18 drops fragrance oil; stir 5 minutes
- Affix the wick to the bottom of jar using a hot glue gun if no tab
- Carefully fill the vessel fully with 165°F wax
- Allow palm wax to completely cool undisturbed
- Trim wick; bask in the beautiful light you created!
Why is Palm Wax Used for Candles?
Palm wax provides favorable attributes for candle making including:
- Made from annually renewable crops; sustainable
- Natural material free from petrochemicals
- Warm luminous glow when lit captains peaceful ambiance
- Excellent carrier of essential oil aromas
- Durable once set while soft enough for sculpting when warmed
- Refined for pure white blank palette accepting colors cleanly
How to Use Palm Wax for Candles
Creating palm candles follows similar guidelines as other waxes:
- Gently melt wax between 185°F – 200°F in a double boiler
- Stir in liquid dyes sparingly; colors appear darker cooled
- Cool wax to around 175°F before adding essential oils
- Pour into candle vessels at 150°F for the best finish
- Let candles cure for 48 hours before lighting
- Palm wax containers prefer paper tabbed or cored wicks
Take advantage of workable warmth for hand-shaping personalized vessels or embossed textures on carved candles!
Why is Palm Wax Expensive?
While palm costs moderately higher than mass-produced paraffin wax derived from petroleum, palm wax for crafting is still affordable averaging $3 per pound through online retailers specializing in candle supplies. The pressing and refining processes required to convert crude palm oil into solid wax for candle fuel add more intensive labor and quality control oversight substantiating slightly elevated pricing.
However, supporting equitable agriculture through candlemaking seems reasonable to many patrons. Vesting in human networks uplifting one another balances modest financial differences.
Palm Candle Recipe
Once comfortable using palm wax, challenge creativity with swirling colors in this robust candle:
Ingredients:
- 550 grams Palm Wax Pastilles
- Plant Based Dye Blocks – Red, Purple, Orange
- 40 Drops Essential Oil – Lemongrass Ginger
- Large Glass Jar & 2 Wicks
Directions:
- Dice dyes into shavings; combine with wax in a double boiler
- Melt wax completely; mix until achieving consistent color
- Remove from heat; add essential oil; stir; cool slightly
- Affix pair of tabbed wicks spaced apart in jar bottom
- Pour 165°F wax into a vessel; allow to fully set 48+ hours
- Trim wicks; illuminate globally inspired fragrance!
Think expansively while crafting to manifest more light around the world through mindful candlemaking.
Environmental Impact
As an annually renewable crop supporting rural communities, palm wax offers environmental advantages over petroleum-based paraffin wax including:
- Provides income for global small farmers through sustainable practices
- Farms intermix with forests improving regional ecosystems
- Production requires less intensive energy inputs than crude oil refining
- Carbon-neutral palm groves combat deforesting for illicit plantations
- Managed decomposition replenishes nourishing nutrients in soil
- Clean burning wax emits almost no contaminants
Tracing ethical sourcing prioritizing ecological balance and community uplifting ensures candlemaking supports restorative justice through renewable palm.
In conclusion with remarkable performance nearly on par with paraffin candles combined with renewable and sustainable equatorial sourcing, palm delivers impressive candle-making qualities with socially conscious roots.
The natural material emits delightful light alongside essential oil scents without heavy processing. Creative crafters will delight in shapes retaining precision. Palm container candles make easy novice projects while more advanced recipes allow limitless artistic flair.
Conscientious consumers also rest easier knowing production through the burning of palm candles actively helps preserve rainforests and support marginalized indigenous farmers. Although costs exceed petroleum waxes, the small bump seems reasonable for stunning candles upholding communities. For beautiful, clean-burning candles from plantation to flame, turn to versatile palm wax!