Candle Wax Manufacturing Process - By Kerax wax Ltd

We invited Kerax wax Ltd to explain the process of candle wax manufacturing and here's what they said.

‘Hello candle-making enthusiasts!

My name is Rachelle and I work at Kerax, a family-run wax manufacturer based in Chorley, Lancashire.

We have over 50 years of experience in making candle wax. We met Jane earlier in the year and have lots of ideas for upcoming collaborations. Firstly, we wanted to introduce ourselves in a guest post and offer The Candle Coach fans an opportunity to try our wax for free. We'll share more about that later on...

In this post, we'll discuss the variety of candle waxes we offer, our manufacturing processes, and how candle-making began.

A brief candle history

Let's start at the beginning, candle-making is an ancient craft that dates to the Egyptians and the Romans. During the Middle Ages, candles were made from beeswax and were considered a luxury item, primarily used in religious ceremonies. Many of these places kept their own bees for a steady supply of wax. In the 19th century, paraffin wax became the most popular candle wax due to its lower cost and ease of use. Today, candle-making is a popular hobby and growing industry, with a variety of waxes, scents, and designs available.

What is candle wax made from?

At Kerax, we manufacture wax from both paraffin and natural sources. Many customers are opting for sustainable plant-based waxes such as soy, coconut, olive, and rapeseed oils for their candle-making.

What is the manufacturing process?

Now for the science! Vegetable candle wax can be manufactured through a process called hydrogenation, which involves the conversion of vegetable oils into solid wax by adding hydrogen atoms. Here are the basic steps involved in this process:

Selection of vegetable oils: Vegetable oils such as soybean, coconut, and rapeseed oil are commonly used as raw materials for vegetable wax production.
Processing the vegetable oil: The vegetable oil is first cleaned and refined to remove impurities and then subjected to a process called hydrogenation. In this process, hydrogen gas is bubbled through the oil at high pressure and temperature, which causes the unsaturated fatty acids in the oil to become saturated.
Cooling and filtering: The hydrogenated oil is then cooled and filtered to remove any remaining impurities.
Blending & pastillating: The resulting vegetable wax is blended with natural candle-making additives and sent to our pastillator machine. This machine disperses small beads of liquid wax onto a cooled conveyor which creates our wax pastilles.
Quality control: The finished pastilles are inspected for quality and consistency before being packaged and shipped all over the world.

Why choose Kerax waxes for candle making?

At Kerax, we're committed to providing our customers with high-quality, easy-to-use wax products. We offer a variety of candle waxes, including paraffin and natural plant-based waxes, to suit different preferences and needs. Our manufacturing processes ensure that our waxes are of the highest quality and consistency. We also offer samples to help you discover your perfect wax. Whether you're a professional candle maker or a hobbyist, our waxes will help you create beautiful, long-lasting candles.

In conclusion, candle-making is an ancient craft that has evolved to become a popular hobby and a huge industry. At Kerax, we're proud to continue this tradition by providing our customers with high-quality, easy-to-use wax products.

At Kerax, we understand that creating the perfect candle requires the right wax. That's why we have expanded our range of formulations to include a variety of candle waxes, from traditional paraffin to sustainable plant-based waxes like soy, coconut, olive, and rapeseed blends.

Visit our website at www.kerax.com to view our range, email us at candlewax@kerax.co.uk

Thanks so much for reading, if you have any further enquiries get in touch and we'll be happy to help.’