Whipped cream candles catch the eye with their gourmand look and creamy texture. Easy to customise by adding dyes or glitter, whipped wax gives your creations that little something extra. We’ve written this article to help you get your whipped wax right first time because, just as in patisserie, success comes down to respecting the quantities.
Now that we’ve seen how to make a moulded candle the easy way, let’s turn to the whipped wax trend. Although these creations are hugely popular, we strongly advise against selling them. The regulations governing creations that resemble foodstuffs are very strict. They state that the shape, smell, colour, appearance, packaging, labelling, volume or size must not pose risks to people’s safety or health, such as choking, poisoning, perforation or obstruction of the digestive tract.
Which wax is best for making whipped wax?
Wax is the very foundation of your whipped topping, so your choice directly affects the final texture. The right wax gives you a soft, creamy whipped wax that is easy to work with.
Soy wax: the secret to successful whipped wax
We particularly recommend C3 soy wax for container candles. Its low melting point makes the texture easier to control and gives you the creamy whipped effect you’re after. Other plant-based waxes can also work, such as 4130 soy wax for container candles or olive wax for moulded candles and wax melts, both valued for their relatively low melting point.
The more wax you work with, the better your chances of a whipped wax that whips up properly and holds its structure.
Other suitable waxes
If you don’t have one of the 3 waxes recommended above, it’s perfectly possible to make your whipped wax with other plant-based waxes. Here are a few examples you can use:
- Kerax coconut wax for container candles: melting point between 50°C and 58°C
- Cargill rapeseed/coconut wax for container candles: melting point between 20°C and 55°C
- Rapeseed wax for container candles: melting point between 52°C and 56°C
- Kerax coconut/soy wax for container candles: melting point around 50°C
How do you make whipped wax for candles?
Getting a firm, creamy whipped wax isn’t always easy on your first attempts. The tips below will give you the best possible chance of getting it right the very first time.
Ingredients and tools you’ll need
- Hand whisk
- Electric whisk (optional)
- Silicone spatula
- Two mixing bowls
- Beaker
- Wick trimmer
- Thermometer
- Piping nozzle
- Piping bag
How do you get a firm texture?
- Start by choosing a container wax with a low melting point, such as C3 soy wax. Once the wax has melted, add the fragrance oil at 75°C and stir for 2 minutes.
- Next, pour your mixture into the first bowl. Fill the second bowl with cold water; you can even add ice cubes. This temperature contrast speeds up cooling and helps the wax set.
- As soon as you see a thin, opaque film forming on the surface, gently whisk the wax with a hand whisk. When the wax turns white while still slightly fluid, you can switch to an electric whisk if you have one, or carry on by hand.
- Then alternate between whisking and cooling until you get a creamy, stable whipped wax that is firm enough to pipe. Alternating like this is essential for building a texture that holds. You can start piping as soon as the whipped wax has thickened enough to hold its shape without running.
How do you get your piping right?
Piping is often the second most dreaded step when making whipped wax. As in patisserie, it can seem tricky, but with the right technique it all becomes much easier.
- Stand your piping bag, with the nozzle already fitted, in a beaker to create a wide, stable opening. As soon as your whipped wax is ready, fill the bag straight away to stop it hardening any further.
- Using a silicone spatula, carefully transfer the whipped wax into the piping bag, then pipe it onto your candles or into your containers.
Step-by-step video: our whipped wax recipe
Follow Dilara’s tips closely to nail your gourmand whipped cream candle on the very first try!
Conclusion
It is important to remember that any product that is not a foodstuff, but which a consumer, especially a child, could reasonably mistake for food because of its shape, smell, colour, appearance, packaging, labelling, volume or size, must under no circumstances pose risks to safety or health, such as choking, poisoning, perforation or obstruction of the digestive tract.
We also recommend not letting the wax rise above the rim of the container, in order to comply with AFNOR standards on fire risk prevention. Now that you have everything you need to succeed, you can explore other creative projects such as making massage candles with soy wax, perfect for unwinding on your own or as a couple.
