Alcohol, in some cases, is simply the best tool for the job. It extracts a wider range of plant compounds and preserves them properly, which is why it’s used for traditional tinctures, especially with stronger or resinous herbs. But if you need to avoid it, whether that’s due to recovery, sensitivity, or personal choice, there are absolutely other options. It’s a bit like having an allergy. I’m allergic to penicillin, so even though it might be the best treatment in some cases, it’s not an option for me. That just means using an alternative, knowing it may work differently. Same applies here. Glycerine, teas, and vinegar extracts can work really well, especially for gentler herbs, they’re just not always a direct replacement for what alcohol can extract or preserve. So it’s about choosing what works for you, while understanding the trade-offs.

Is Coconut Oil RBD alright to use as my liquid oil in the beginners Lip Balm recipe please?

Following on from the admin’s post about wax types, I thought it might be helpful to talk about additives in candle wax. Most candle wax sold commercially is actually a formulated blend, even when it’s labelled as soy, coconut, or “natural”. Manufacturers add ingredients to improve things like scent throw, hardness, burn quality, and stability. Some common additives used in candle wax include: Hardening additives Stearic acid Palm stearin Carnauba wax Candelilla wax Rice bran wax Binding and performance additives Vybar (polymer fragrance binder) Microcrystalline wax Mono- and diglycerides Fatty acids Petroleum-derived additives Paraffin Microcrystalline wax Mineral oil Stability additives UV inhibitors Antioxidants Dye stabilisers Crystallisation modifiers (often used in soy to control frosting) Because of this, two waxes both labelled “soy” or “coconut” can perform very differently depending on the additive system used. It’s also why the term “all natural wax” can be a bit misleading if the wax contains petroleum additives or synthetic binders. Personally I prefer starting with a pure coconut wax base and choosing any modifiers myself so I know exactly what is going into the candle. There’s no single right way to make candles, but understanding what is actually in wax blends helps makers make more informed choices.

Lately I’ve seen a lot of posts claiming essential oil candles “explode” or are unsafe. Some of this is even coming from AI summaries online, which is making the confusion worse. The claim usually comes from a misunderstanding of flash point. Flash point simply means the temperature where a liquid can produce vapour that could ignite if exposed to a flame. It does not mean the oil will spontaneously combust. In a candle, fragrance or essential oil is mixed into the wax. The candle flame is sustained by wax vapour, not by a pool of pure oil. The wax acts as the fuel and the oil is released gradually as the wax melts. Both fragrance oils and essential oils are flammable liquids, yet both are used safely in candles every day when the candle is formulated correctly. Real candle safety depends on things like: correct wick size proper fragrance load stable containers good testing Not whether the scent comes from an essential oil or a fragrance oil. Unfortunately a lot of misinformation spreads online because people repeat simplified rules without understanding the science behind how candles actually burn. As makers, it’s important we stick to testing, formulation knowledge, and real candle science, not internet myths.

Here is the real story of how botanicals and crystals ended up inside candles, based on the craft and retail history. 1. The New Age shop influence (1980s–1990s) In the late 80s and 90s metaphysical or “New Age” shops started selling decorative intention candles as they were becoming a trend. Before this intention candles were plain and made from beeswax or tallow. But this new trend they were usually: plain coloured pillar candles sometimes anointed with oils occasionally rolled in herbs on the outside The herbs were normally stuck to the outside with oil or wax, not buried inside the candle. Crystals were usually placed beside the candle during rituals. 2. Early decorative candle trends (1990s–2000s) In the decorative candle world, makers began experimenting with: gel candles with shells or beads inside layered sand candles embedded wax shapes These were decorative craft candles, not spiritual tools. Gel candles especially became popular in the late 90s before safety concerns killed most of that trend. 3. The Etsy / Pinterest aesthetic shift (2012–2016) This is when the modern botanical candle trend really started. Around the early 2010s several things happened: Etsy became a huge marketplace for handmade goods Instagram and Pinterest made visual aesthetics more important than function “witchy” branding and spiritual lifestyle products became popular Makers began creating “intention candles” that looked magical for photos. To make them stand out they started adding: dried flowers herbs glitter crystals gold leaf These candles photographed beautifully and sold extremely well. 4. Instagram witches and “witch aesthetic” (2016–2020) By about 2016–2018 the trend exploded because of: Instagram “witch aesthetic” crystal healing trends manifestation culture Etsy shops competing visually The candles became visual ritual objects, often with crystals embedded and botanicals sprinkled on top. Many buyers never burned them. They were: altar decorations gifts shelf pieces