Does Candle Wax Evaporate?

What is wax?

When it comes to wax, there are two types: natural and synthetic. Natural waxes are made from plant sources, while synthetic waxes are made from petroleum products. Both types of wax have a similar chemical structure, consisting of long chains of carbon atoms. This structure gives waxes their distinct properties, such as being water-repellent and heat-resistant. However, it also makes them resistant to evaporation.

Does wax evaporate?

When the wax is exposed to heat, the molecules begin to vibrate, but they don’t break apart into gas molecules as other substances do. This is why you can leave a candle burning for hours and the only thing that will disappear is the wick! So, does wax evaporate? No, at least not under normal conditions. It’s possible to force wax to evaporate using a process called sublimation, but this requires extremely high temperatures. Usually, the melted wax is vaporized by the high heat of the flame from the candle.

What about wax melts?

Wax melts do not evaporate, which is one of the common misconceptions about them. However, they will lose fragrance over time and once there’s no longer any fragrance left in your wax it will need to be replaced. Unlike candles, wax melts do not come in contact with a flame, and do not get hot enough to be vaporized.