Massage Candles

When buying a vela de masaje there are three figures that matter and that are almost never compared: what wax it has, how much oil it produces and how many sessions it gives. With those three you choose well.

Massage Candles | Massage Oils | Massage Oils & Candles | Home & Atmosphere

What wax does it contain and what does it imply?

The wax determines the temperature of the oil and also what it leaves on the skin.

cera de soja melts at around 45 degrees, produces a light oil and is the most common base. The cera de coco melts somewhat lower and gives a silkier oil, with better aroma diffusion. manteca de karité o de cacao provides a dense and very nutritious oil, ideal for dry skin, although it takes longer to absorb. And cera de abeja raises the melting point and is used in a small proportion to give body.

What a massage candle never contains is paraffin, which melts above 60 degrees and would burn. That is why a decorative candle is not useful for this under any circumstances.

How much it actually yields

A 100-gram candle produces approximately 100 milliliters of oil over its lifetime, and a back massage consumes between 15 and 30.

The bill pays for itself: three to five complete sessions per 100 grams, or considerably more if used for specific areas. The 50 gram formats are for testing, and the 150 or 200 formats are for regular use.

This calculation allows you to compare prices honestly, because the cost per session changes much more than the sticker price.

The wick and the puddle

The wick determines how much surface area is melted, and from there comes out how much oil you have available.

A cotton wick is the usual one and needs a flame of between ten and fifteen minutes to form a useful liquid puddle. A wooden wick, in addition to crackling, distributes the heat more widely and usually melts the entire surface sooner.

This is where the most common problem in the category appears: if you blow out the candle before the puddle reaches the edges of the container, the wax on the sides never melts and the candle begins to dig a tunnel. This tunnel greatly reduces the oil available in each session and there is no easy fix.

The first time you turn it on, leave it on until the surface is melted from edge to edge. That first session marks how you will behave for the rest of your life.

The container

It is the detail that decides whether the oil is poured well or ends up on the sheet.

Metal containers conduct heat and get hot from the outside, so you have to hold them by the base. Ceramic ones and thick glass ones insulate better. And the pouring spout, which seems like a whim, is what separates a precise pour from a mess.

If your candle does not have a spout, a small spoon solves the problem and also gives more control over the quantity.

##Temperature checking

Even if the melting point is low, testing is not optional. Turn off the flame, wait a few seconds and test a drop on the inside of your wrist before applying to any other area.

Always extinguish with the lid or a candle snuffer instead of blowing, because blowing splashes wax and displaces the wick.

Trim the wick to about five millimeters before each use: a long wick produces soot and a flame that is too high.

Aroma and sensitivity

Typical fragrance loading is between 4 and 8 percent. Above that, the aroma saturates in a closed room and increases the likelihood of a reaction on sensitive skin.

If your skin is reactive, test a small amount on your forearm the day before. And keep in mind that any oil-based products, including wax melts, are not compatible with latex condoms.

The rest of the category

The comparison between candles and oils is in Massage Oils & Candles, the loose oils in Massage Oils, the complete session guide in Massage Oils & Candles, the plant-based options in Natural & Organic and the accompanying atmosphere in Home & Atmosphere.

Waxes, compared

The wax determines the temperature of the oil, the feel it leaves and how much the bottle performs. It is the first column to look at.

Wax	Melting point	Touch when cooling	Performance	Note
Soybeans	45 to 50 degrees	Silky, absorbs	High	The most common
Coconut	40 to 45 degrees	Very soft	High	Melts before, drips warm
Shea and butter	45 to 50 degrees	Nutritious, denser	Medium	Leave movie
Bee with oils	50 to 55 degrees	Firm	Medium	Check temperature
Paraffin	Above 55 degrees	Fatty	Low	Not suitable for massage

A massage candle never contains paraffin. If the label doesn't say what wax it contains, that's the first sign to leave it on the shelf. Scented variants are at Massage Candles.

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Frequently asked questions

Does the oil in a massage candle burn?

It shouldn't. Soy and coconut waxes melt between 40 and 50 degrees, close to body temperature. Even so, you turn off the flame, wait a moment, and taste the first drop on your forearm.

How many sessions does a candle give?

One of 100 grams gives between four and six complete back massages. Performance depends more on the size of the melted wax puddle than on the total weight of the can.

How long do you have to wait after turning it on?

Between ten and fifteen minutes, until the puddle reaches the edge of the container. Pouring early leaves a tunnel in the center that reduces the performance of all subsequent sessions.