Guest guest Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 Hello everyone: I am new to this group and have a different type of question (I THINK). I am making soy candles and would like to use essential oils. I have been testing and testing and all of the citrus oils burn off and you can't smell them in the candles, actually you can smell something not quite so nice. I know that their flash point is low and that is the reason, but I am wondering how I can fix this? I do see essential oil candles in citrus scents, so I know it's possible, UNLESS they are mixing FO's with the EO's. Does anybody know how I can fix this or what the MINIMUM flash point for EO's I should look for when making these candles? Any help is greatly appreciated!!! My " calming " blend does call for lemon and geranium, and the only thing you can smell is geranium. Thank you! Kathi On Behalf Of Gayla Roberts Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:31 AM Re: Re: calming blend/anyone? That is definitely a " No Worries " blend, isn't it? I had some geranium from one company and ran out. Ordered from a company I regurlarly deal with. The first had smelled quite flowery. The second was very green. Not bad but very different. Have you had that happen? Gayla Bob and Gayla Roberts Always Enough Ranch Acampo, CA - " Cindy Atkins " <lvdedogs <lvdedogs%40midrivers.com> > < <%40> > Monday, November 16, 2009 10:47 PM Re: Re: calming blend/anyone? > that's one of my favorites too...I like to use that combo in massage oil > - > Gayla Roberts > <%40> > Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:23 AM > Re: Re: calming blend/anyone? > > > > My personal fave is lemon, lavender and geranium in equal parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 Hi Kathi, I used to make a lot of candles using soy wax and essential oils. You are right - Citrus oils make horrible candles. They do not 'throw' the citrus scent as you want them to. So you can try a blend of several citrus EO's and add Lemongrass to it to try to stabilize it but the closest I could come to a citrus scent it using Lemongrass or like I said Citrus EO's blended. Once mixed with Soy Wax Essential oils flash point is diminished. You are lighting the wax coated wick and it will burn the soy wax as fuel, not the essential oils. The soy wax I used melted at 125 degrees so the flame is hot (the wick is hot) but the heat produced is melthing the wax and forming a pool. Soy wax candles should always be a container candle for the best " Throw " of scent is produced by the molten wax where the EO's are mixed - When the proper size wick is used your wax should form a pool within 30 minutes or so and once the pool is 1/4 inch deep the flame should be extinquished. The essential oils will continue to permeate the room until the wax hardens and a few EO's will throw even once cooled. Of course we never recommend the use of candles for diffusing essential oils in households where folks have any type of respiratory problems such as Sinusitis, Asthma, or Emphysema or any other lung condition. There is no such thing as a soot-less candle. Any time a flame is produced there is soot, mind you, soy wax produces less soot, but there is still soot. Getting the proportions right when making candles is a matter of trial and error. You might need to add way more Lemon but remember all of the peel expressed citrus oils are very light and volatile and will quickly evaporate out of any blend when heated - whether a candle or any type of heating devise. Lemon EO burns nasty in candles unless mixed with a variety of other essential oils. Substitute Lemongrass if possible. Hope this helps. Penny Your One Stop Aromatherapy Shop! Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy LLC 100% Pure Essential oils and Supplies http://birchhillhappenings.com/aroma1.htm Why buy a gallon when you only need a few drops? Fast & Friendly Service for 12 years! Check out my new Aromatherapy Recipe Book http://birchhillhappenings.com/recipebook.htm , " Kirschner, Kathi [TIBUS] " <KKirsch1 wrote: > > Hello everyone: > > I am new to this group and have a different type of question (I THINK). > I am making soy candles and would like to use essential oils. I have > been testing and testing and all of the citrus oils burn off and you > can't smell them in the candles, actually you can smell something not > quite so nice. > > > > I know that their flash point is low and that is the reason, but I am > wondering how I can fix this? I do see essential oil candles in citrus > scents, so I know it's possible, UNLESS they are mixing FO's with the > EO's. > > > > Does anybody know how I can fix this or what the MINIMUM flash point for > EO's I should look for when making these candles? Any help is greatly > appreciated!!! My " calming " blend does call for lemon and geranium, and > the only thing you can smell is geranium. > > > Thank you! > > > > Kathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 One added comment. Litsea Cubeba or May Chang has a lovely citrusy smell. Works well in candles. K -- Kathleen Petrides Bead Hussy http://www.BeadHussy.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 Hello: Yes, your answer did help a lot. I had another person suggest Litsea, which has a higher flash point, and I am waiting to receive mine that I just ordered. I did have the brainstorm the other day of adding Lemongrass due to its higher flash point and it did help - but I had also Geranium oil and it takes over since most citrus oils burn right off. I just think the combination of the other citrus oils made it burn badly and smell badly (lemon, grapefruit, orange) and that I need to add the litsea or 10 fold orange, if that will even work. I am testing and more testing! Do you think that using a burner and soy wax melts with the essential oils is much better for the people with Asthma or lung issues? I would think there is no soot then. I do have some of the Eos that I don't want to waste, so I might sell them as melts instead. Thanks for your help, Kat On Behalf Of Penny Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:38 AM Re: EOs in soy candles??? Hi Kathi, I used to make a lot of candles using soy wax and essential oils. You are right - Citrus oils make horrible candles. They do not 'throw' the citrus scent as you want them to. So you can try a blend of several citrus EO's and add Lemongrass to it to try to stabilize it but the closest I could come to a citrus scent it using Lemongrass or like I said Citrus EO's blended. Once mixed with Soy Wax Essential oils flash point is diminished. You are lighting the wax coated wick and it will burn the soy wax as fuel, not the essential oils. The soy wax I used melted at 125 degrees so the flame is hot (the wick is hot) but the heat produced is melthing the wax and forming a pool. Soy wax candles should always be a container candle for the best " Throw " of scent is produced by the molten wax where the EO's are mixed - When the proper size wick is used your wax should form a pool within 30 minutes or so and once the pool is 1/4 inch deep the flame should be extinquished. The essential oils will continue to permeate the room until the wax hardens and a few EO's will throw even once cooled. Of course we never recommend the use of candles for diffusing essential oils in households where folks have any type of respiratory problems such as Sinusitis, Asthma, or Emphysema or any other lung condition. There is no such thing as a soot-less candle. Any time a flame is produced there is soot, mind you, soy wax produces less soot, but there is still soot. Getting the proportions right when making candles is a matter of trial and error. You might need to add way more Lemon but remember all of the peel expressed citrus oils are very light and volatile and will quickly evaporate out of any blend when heated - whether a candle or any type of heating devise. Lemon EO burns nasty in candles unless mixed with a variety of other essential oils. Substitute Lemongrass if possible. Hope this helps. Penny Your One Stop Aromatherapy Shop! Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy LLC 100% Pure Essential oils and Supplies http://birchhillhappenings.com/aroma1.htm Why buy a gallon when you only need a few drops? Fast & Friendly Service for 12 years! Check out my new Aromatherapy Recipe Book http://birchhillhappenings.com/recipebook.htm <%40> , " Kirschner, Kathi [TIBUS] " <KKirsch1 wrote: > > Hello everyone: > > I am new to this group and have a different type of question (I THINK). > I am making soy candles and would like to use essential oils. I have > been testing and testing and all of the citrus oils burn off and you > can't smell them in the candles, actually you can smell something not > quite so nice. > > > > I know that their flash point is low and that is the reason, but I am > wondering how I can fix this? I do see essential oil candles in citrus > scents, so I know it's possible, UNLESS they are mixing FO's with the > EO's. > > > > Does anybody know how I can fix this or what the MINIMUM flash point for > EO's I should look for when making these candles? Any help is greatly > appreciated!!! My " calming " blend does call for lemon and geranium, and > the only thing you can smell is geranium. > > > Thank you! > > > > Kathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 I personally feel that folks with asthma or lung issues need to stay away from any kind of flame (smoking, candles, campfires etc ) so with them, using a electric wax melter type is better than a tea light and definitely better than a candle. The true citrus scents can come through and you won't have to do so much 'testing'! As for essential oils - they are better to be diffused by either passive or maybe even a fan device. Anytime you heat essential oils their chemical makeup could be altered. And folks with Asthma or lung issues should not be using Fragrance Oil products as most of them are petroleum based and those chemicals are very much irritants. Have fun and good luck! Penny Your One Stop Aromatherapy Shop! Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy LLC 100% Pure Essential oils and Supplies http://birchhillhappenings.com/aroma1.htm Why buy a gallon when you only need a few drops? Fast & Friendly Service for 12 years! > Do you think that using a burner and soy wax melts with the essential > oils is much better for the people with Asthma or lung issues? I would > think there is no soot then. I do have some of the Eos that I don't want > to waste, so I might sell them as melts instead. > > > > Thanks for your help, > > Kat > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Makes sense, thank you for the information! On Behalf Of Penny Friday, November 20, 2009 9:14 AM Re: EOs in soy candles??? I personally feel that folks with asthma or lung issues need to stay away from any kind of flame (smoking, candles, campfires etc ) so with them, using a electric wax melter type is better than a tea light and definitely better than a candle. The true citrus scents can come through and you won't have to do so much 'testing'! As for essential oils - they are better to be diffused by either passive or maybe even a fan device. Anytime you heat essential oils their chemical makeup could be altered. And folks with Asthma or lung issues should not be using Fragrance Oil products as most of them are petroleum based and those chemicals are very much irritants. Have fun and good luck! Penny Your One Stop Aromatherapy Shop! Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy LLC 100% Pure Essential oils and Supplies http://birchhillhappenings.com/aroma1.htm Why buy a gallon when you only need a few drops? Fast & Friendly Service for 12 years! > Do you think that using a burner and soy wax melts with the essential > oils is much better for the people with Asthma or lung issues? I would > think there is no soot then. I do have some of the Eos that I don't want > to waste, so I might sell them as melts instead. > > > > Thanks for your help, > > Kat > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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