Paraffin Dye - Candle Wax Pigment
This dye is mainly used in the candle industry, but can of course be used in almost all waxes!
For dipping: 10 to 15 grams per kg. paraffin
For casting (colouring through and through): 1 to 2 grams per kg.
By adding a dye or fragrance you can personalize a candle and give it a unique character.
Adding a color will change the burning properties. Due to the many raw materials in the color fragrances, it is not possible to indicate exactly what change this causes. It is therefore wise to test a candle first. Look at the composition, the amount of dye and fragrance and the choice of the wick.
Processing color pigment
Mixing ratio at casting, through-dyeing at 90°C:
- Add approx. 0.1% - 0.2% per kg (1 - 2 grams per kg of wash)
- To get the desired color, you can increase or decrease the amount.
- Dark colors may require a higher concentration.
Mixing ratio for dipping at 80ºC:
- dipping once = approx. 1.5% per kg (15 grams per kg of wax).
- dip twice = approx. 1.0% per kg (10 grams per kg of wax).
- to achieve the desired effect, you can increase or decrease the amount.
- dark colors may require a higher concentration.
1. Weigh the required amount of color pigment.
2. Dissolve the pigment in a separate mixing beaker at a ratio of 1 part dye to 10 parts paraffin at a temperature of approx. 90 ˚C.
3. Mix this whole into a homogeneous mass.
4. Pour this concentrate into the rest of the wax and mix again until a homogeneous mass.
5. Check that the correct color has been achieved before starting candle production.
See a video about different candle casting techniques here:
Differences during processing:
When coloring candles, many different factors affect the final result, including:
• method of mixing;
• temperature;
• dosage.
Below is a clear picture of the differences.
From left to right:
Candle 1: mechanically mixed and dipped 2 x at 70 °C
Candle 2: manually mixed and dipped 2 x at 85°C
Candle 3: mechanically mixed and dipped 2 x at 85°C
Candle 4: mixed manually and dipped 2 x at 70 °C
The final color rendering depends on the raw material. This is clearly visible in the image below. On the left, color pigment has been incorporated into candles with a high fat content. The middle image is the color rendering with 100% stearin candles and on the right the colors in pure paraffin.
The type of wax with which the color is dipped is also important. In the candles below, the left candle is dipped in Paraffin Casting Wax, while the right candle is dipped in Paraffin Dip Wax.
