Wax Play Facts   by Lady V

What I’ve found is there is loads of misinformation out there. I am not going to just tell you what is good or bad but give you the facts as to why, giving you much information as I can, letting you make informed decisions, based on facts and scientific references, not just because someone who claims to know what they’re talking about says so. I’ve seen too many ‘experts’ say words like “beeswax” “florescent color” “food color” Makes me shiver at all the different misinformation out there. So I decided to shut up and put up fact based information with references.

I have a few pet peeves in fact. So here is fact based information on the subject.

First myth waxplay is not just for the kinky, or BDSM players. Second wax play is not just for bottoms – subs – slaves, why should they have all the fun and sensations? See that’s the biggest myth of them all, that wax play is torture, or worse yet painful. Quite opposite actually, even though it’s quite popular in BDSM, who can blame us, it’s a pleasurable sensation.

Hot wax is used in the bedroom just as much as massage oil, quickly becoming more and more popular, something a couple can do as a relaxing massage, intimate date night fun that leads to a great evening.

Okay on with the facts I hear you saying

Type of waxes
Waxes are often classified according to their origin

Animal
Beeswax
Lanolin
Lanocerin
Shellac
Ozokerite

Vegetable
Carnauba
Candellila
Jojoba
uricourl

Mineral
Montan
Paraffin
Microcrytalline
Intermediate

Noting the list above most people presume that Paraffin wax is an un-natural wax, it falls in with mineral, plant wax would fall under this same catorgery. I also wish to note that Soy & Bayberry Wax falls under Mineral/Microcrytalline catorgery.

The best wax to use for wax play is Mineral wax, they have the best ph balance and melting point for wax play.

Melting point

Many say it’s not possible to calculate melting point. hmm glad some candle makers are able to. You cannot however calculate to an exact degree, but it’s done as an average and within that average you’ll be able get a good idea what temperature you can expect.

Below is how I calculate each batch melting point, takes time but well worth it.

1. Place 1/4 ounce of melted wax into a tall tube, weighing it to insure exact measurement. Make sure that the wax is all the way down the tube, none on the sides as this will alter the results. You will need 5 tubes to be able to arrive at an average.

2. With rubber bands, attach the tube to a thermometer and align the bulb of the thermometer with the bottom of the tube.

3. Make a water bath with warm tap water.

4. Place the thermometer/tube assembly in the water bath so that the surface level of the wax is beneath the surface level of the water bath.

5. Stirring frequently with wooden stick to insure even heating, carefully heat the water bath with your heat source.

6. Note the temperature at which the wax melts.

7. Repeat the procedure four more times and average the results.

8. If all 5 test were similar in melting point then average them out and you’ve got the melting point, if any of the test was off more than 4 degrees you’ll have to restart your test.

Now to the main topic at hand, which wax is the best wax to use

Melting point, hardness, drip factor, and allergies all plays a vital role in selection.

In weighing all the above factors above it really narrows down the wax considerable. If ignoring the last (allergy) then I would have selected soy wax but too many are allergic to it so that brings us to paraffin. That’s the end of the easy selection. Now we have to weigh the way the wax was processed, the impurities, the added chemicals etc.

Paraffin wax is processed differently for different purposes; first the impurities are removed to bring it to a nice translucent shade, so the more translucent your ‘raw’ wax is the more pure it is.

Next it’s processed to either raise the melting point or lower it; again this is done by the manufactures.

Most wax play candle makers buy the lowest melting point wax available which is 125-135 degrees.

Some do not note the clarity of the wax, and are unable to sell it without color because its has a creamy white sticky texture to it. This wax is has not been purified and should be avoided.

Many others do buy 125-135 degree translucent wax adding only color to make a great assortment of colors to select from. This wax is fine, as long as it’s less than 140 degrees it is still safe to play with, although the higher temperatures tend to lose that warm feeling and enter into the hot feeling and great care not to burn someone or get burned falls upon the persons playing with wax.

Very few will take the translucent 125 degree wax and continue to process it, in order to lower the temperature, in doing so they can lower the temperature down to about 110 degrees. This is the idea wax to select, as you cannot get lower temperatures without losing its substance that makes it wax, instead it will end up being more liquid and rubbery unable to hold its own form.

Wicks
Flat Wicks: A flat plaited or knitted wick, usually made from 3 bunches of fiber are very consistent in their burning and curl in the flame for a self trimming effect.

Square Wicks: Braided or knitted wick also curl in the flame, but are more rounded and a bit more robust then flat wicks. Mostly used for beeswax and when pigment colors are used.

Cored Wicks: Braided or knitted wicks use a core material to keep the wick straight up while burning.

Material used in making the wick
100% cotton
Cotton / Paper combinations
Zinc
Tin
Paper
Lead

Ideal wick would be 100% cotton flat braid wick, as cotton doesn’t drip and the flat braid does a self trimming thing to maintain the candle burn and smokeless.

Additives

There is more additives then even I could have imagined, below is just a few of them.

Lustre Crystals: Enhances the beauty of the candle
Clear Crystals: Makes it a harder wax longer burn rate
Stearic Acid: Prevents candles from losing their shape.
Vybar 103: helps eliminate bubbles, produces pastel shades.
Vybar 260: Used to create ‘no topping off’ candles
Color inhibitor: Contains a UV absorber preventing color fading.
Gloss poly: clear polyethylene improves strength and gloss
Palm TP Stearic: Increases easy mold release
UV inhibitor: Used to maintain color in the shelf life.
Scents – Fragrances: Makes a wonderful smelling candle (also clogs the wick causing it to ’spit’ very hot spurts and can cause a major burn)

(None of the above additives is good for wax play!)

Color is an additive but will have to be addressed separately, as there are many different colors available as well, and they will have their own effect.

Have you ever heard the argument “color adds to the heat of the candle” “color doesn’t add to the heat of the candle” Which one is true? BOTH!

Pigment dyes: is used because it resists color bleeding. The down fall is that it does not dissolve, they color the wax by dispersion, being suspended in the wax and clogs the wick.

Neon colors: What can I say about them to express how bad they are? What about they contain metals to give them they’re appearance? I know let me show you this: “are sold for use in the making of candles and maybe hazardous if misused. Do not ingest, and avoid prolonged skin contact. Keep away from kids and pets” *quote is from ref

Oil based blocks: Being oil based is perfect, but being in solid form is because they add a hardener and will slightly alter the temperature of your candle depending on amount of color used, the darker/deeper the color the more it is altered.

Crayons: This is one I wasn’t sure of until I looked up what crayola used as a color ref. They use paraffin wax and pigment, again we fall to the safety standard that pigment doesn’t dissolve in the wax and will clog up the wick causing hot spots near the wick.

Pigment dyes: is used because it resists color bleeding. The down fall is that it does not dissolve ref, they color the wax by dispersion, being suspended in the wax and clogs the wick.

Oil based liquid color: Completely dissolves in your wax and doesn’t alter the wax melting point.

Just for those thinking about trying food coloring, oil and water doesn’t mix.

Does wax cool as it’s dripped or poured

This is a huge debate and I too was saying yes, as we all have held up a candle and noticed its much cooler then when its closer to the body. Now the facts:

It boils down to the amount of wax being poured and the temperature of the air, wax and distance. Let’s say you have a candle and you are dripping it on someone about 5 feet above them. Yes those droplets will be much cooler. Now take a ladle of wax same distance same temp no it will not alter the temperature from that distance. Make sure you use a candy thermometer and maintain proper temp.

Crock pots for wax play

Many use a small pot over a hot plate to heat up their wax, some pots are able to maintain a specific temperature, those however those pots are not only small not able to melt the mass amounts most of us want. If you get a larger pot it will not maintain degrees below 140, raising your wax well above you’re desired level. You’ll have to turn it off and on and keep a watchful eye on your thermometer. Make sure your thermometer is low within the pot without touching the bottom. The top of the wax will be solid but very pliable.

Flash Point
Wax does not boil as water does and leaving it on a heat source will continue to raise the temperature no matter what the melting point is. Wax does not steam, or give off any outward sign that it’s reaching its flash point, your only resource to keep it from doing so is to watch the thermometer and never leave it unattended. Wax flash points will vary from type of wax and its melting point. Regarding paraffin wax its standard melting point is between 390 – 480 degrees,now these standards are for wax 135 -185 melting point. I myself have experienced a flash point (meaning my wax burst into huge flames) at a little below 300.

Sensitive Skin
Can something ‘feel hotter than it actually is? And will it burn you even if it’s not hot?’

The quick answer is yes. But this isn’t about quick answers it’s about fact based information. I noticed that when I played with some people they reacted much different than others at the same temperature. My observations told me that being dehydrated or some medications will play a role in your skins reaction. During my research I discovered there are several things that can cause you to be more sensitive and easy burned. Something you’ve eaten, causing your body to have an allergy reaction.

Vitamin deficiencies
Diabetes
Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Nerve Damage
Medication
Dehydration

That is why each and every time you play you have to test the heat of the candle before you begin. That means not just top tested to insure low temp, but bottom tested to insure all is well.

Using Lotions / Oils etc

Many people use different substances to create a barrier between the bottom and the wax. There is nothing wrong with this other then pay close attention as to what you’re using.

Lotions are mainly oil based and will be low melting, but they have other ingredients in them that when topped with wax causes an ‘air lock’ that can actually irritate the skin, if not exposed to air.

Crisco not knowing the facts on it I looked up its melting point wondering will it raise or lower the heat of your wax. According to Crisco it has a melting point of 117 – 119, so if you’re using a 125 degree wax it will be a good base, if you’re using Erotic Sensations wax play candles it will raise the heat level.

Cooking oils (Liquid): As a whole they are all excellent low melting point options.

Mineral oil: Aka Baby oil, is another excellent low melting point option

So there you have it the facts just the facts and nothing but the facts. Hope this article has been some assistance to you in separating the facts from myths and added you along your wicked wild ways into wax play.

This was written by Lady V – waxplay candle maker

About the Author

I have been teaching / demostrating wax play for several years, doing waxplay for more for more years then I care to date myself with.
Erotic Sensations
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