Wax and candle compositions

Abstract

There is described a candle comprising at least two distinct phases characterised in that at least one of the phases comprises between 0.0001% w / w and 99% w / w of an active volatile material. The active volatile material is selected from an insecticide, an insect repellent, an insect attractant, a fragrance, a deodorising and an anti-bacterial agent, or any combination thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention generally relates to the dispensing of volatile material, e.g. a fragrance, from a candle product. More specifically this invention relates to a free-standing candle comprising an outer, volatile material containing shell, an inner core and wick. [0002] A typical candle is formed of a solid, or semi-solid, body of wax such as paraffin wax or beeswax that contains an axially embedded combustible wick. When the wick of the candle is lit the heat that is generated melts the solid wax. The resulting liquid wax rises up the wick through capillary action and is combusted. More recently transparent and translucent candles have been developed in which the body of the candle comprises a solvent blended with a polymeric material to form a gel. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,055 describes a gel candle composition comprising an ester-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide blended with a solvent. In this case the heat generated when the wick is l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0035] The unusually high concentration of perfume base in the outer shell is sufficient to ensure a suitable release of fragrance to the surrounding atmosphere when the candle is unlit. Further, concentrating the perfume base in the thin outer shell facilitates migration to the surface of the candle body. When the wick of the candle is lit the heat generated is sufficient to melt the inner core, forming a molten pool within the shell. If perfume base is incorporated in to the inner core then some will evaporate from the molten pool to freshen the surrounding atmosphere, though much will be drawn up the wick and combusted as previously described. The perfume base incorporated in the outer shell is distant from the wick and is therefore less likely to be combusted. The heat generated by the flame and heat transfer from the molten pool is sufficient to warm the outer shell and enhance evaporation of perfume base therefrom, thereby providing a significant release of fragrance to the surrounding atmosphere.

[0040] In a yet further alternative the inner core may be perfume free. Such a perfume free inner core candle may be advantageous in that it will have a superior burn performance over a perfumed core candle, especially when this contains a high dosage of fragrance. This would make the candle as well cheaper without sacrificing fragrancing performance.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional fragrance candles have drawbacks because of cost and other considerations.

Further, the migration of incorporated fragrance through the solid wax body of an unlit candle is relatively slow and the level of fragrance released is lower than desired.

Increasing the amount of fragrance incorporated into the candle to a level sufficient to freshen the surrounding atmosphere makes the candle tacky or oily and deprives the candle of sufficient structural properties to enable it to resist damage and stand freely.

However, such candles still suffer from the disadvantage that approximately 50% by weight of the fragrance oil is still present in the inner core and this may be lost by, e.g. combustion.

Furthermore, attempts to incorporate a high fragrance loading into a wax candle may have a deleterious effect on the burn performance of the candle.

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