Expert: Samantha - 6/23/2003

Question
 I am using Astorlite 223 for my container candles and have also used Astorlite 300 container wax. When making a colorless candle and adding fragrance, I seem to get a seperation on the bottom of the jar. The lower section will be a yellowish color where the remainder of the wax is a snowy white. I notice this when using a fragrance such as "sugar cookie" or "Coconut" that may contain vanilla fragrance.

I had read somwhere that a vanilla fragrance can discolor your candles and you need to add a color stablizer. Someone recommended using vybar but I wasn't sure if adding this additive was right since I am using a blended wax already.

What would cause this seperation? I am pouring at the right temperatures and stiring quite a bit? Can you help me out?  

Answer
Hi, Judy!

We've got a couple things to look at here.

The first thing is that not just vanilla fragrance oil, but any oil with a darker color can cause your wax to turn an off-white or even brownish color, depending on how dark it is. If I wantedd to, I could never get a white candle out of the pomegranate scent I use. There is a such thing called vanilla stabilizer that I am about to get for my soaps. This keeps your soaps from turning brown, as I have found out happens when you use a vanilla scent. I have only found it a Wholesale Supplies Plus, though.

A thought on why your wax is two different colors is perhaps you didn't mix throughly enough. I think most people stir scent in for about 2 minutes to mix it. Vanilla can be harder to do, so sometimes they even warm up the fragrance a bit to make it easier.

Vybar is used to help your candle wax hold more scent. It shouldn't be used with a blended wax, though, as if you use too much, it can "lock" in the scent, so that you can't smell it at all.

Try warming up your fragrance, or see if the vanilla stabilizer can be used for candles, too.

Good Luck!
Samantha