U.S. patent application number 09/997760 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for scented candles.
Invention is credited to Joyner, Wendy M..
Application Number | 20030104330 09/997760 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25544361 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030104330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joyner, Wendy M. |
June 5, 2003 |
Scented candles
Abstract
The present invention includes a scented candle and method of
making scented candles comprised of an inner core having a higher
concentration of fragrance than the outer shell. The combination of
a lightly scented or unscented exterior wax with a relatively
higher scented inner core produces a scented candle that can have
high concentrations of fragrance but that is not oily or malleable
to the touch and need not be formed in glass jars or other
containers.
Inventors: |
Joyner, Wendy M.; (Seattle,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACK LOWE & GRAHAM
816 SECOND AVE.
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
25544361 |
Appl. No.: |
09/997760 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/288 ;
431/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C11C 5/006 20130101;
C11C 5/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/288 ;
431/325 |
International
Class: |
F23D 003/16; F23D
003/18 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for making a candle comprising: pouring a first wax
into a mold to coat the surface of the mold to create a shell;
allowing the first wax to at least partially solidify; and pouring
a second wax into the center of the outer shell molded of the first
wax, wherein the second wax is relatively softer than the first
wax.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting
a wick into the candle after pouring the first wax.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting
a wick into mold prior to pouring the first wax.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wax is unscented.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wax are both
scented, and the second wax is more highly scented than the first
wax.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wax are both
scented with the same scent.
7. A method for making a scented candle comprising: shaping a
candle core from a first wax, wherein the first wax is highly
scented; allowing the first wax to substantially solidify; and
dipping the candle core into a second wax to create an outer shell,
wherein the second wax is no more than lightly scented.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of inserting
a wick into the inner core after shaping the inner core.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second wax is unscented.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second wax are
both the same color.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second wax are
both scented with the same scent.
12. A candle comprising: an inner core comprised of a first wax; an
outer shell coating at least part of the surface of the inner core,
the outer shell comprised of a second wax that is relatively harder
than the first wax; and a wick substantially within the inner
core;
13. The candle of claim 12, wherein the first wax is scented and
the second wax is unscented.
14. The candle of claim 12, wherein both the first wax and the
second wax are scented, and the first wax contains a higher
concentration of scent than the second wax.
15. The candle of claim 12, wherein the first and second wax are
both scented with the same scent.
16. The candle of claim 12, wherein the candle is shaped and sized
such that it will float in water.
17. The candle of claim 12, wherein the first wax is highly
scented.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a system and method for
making scented candles
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the popularity of scented candles, millions of
consumers have discovered beneficial uses for them. For instance,
scented candles for aromatherapy may provide holistic approaches
for relieving people of emotional and mental stress, grief, and
trauma. Scented candles are also used in health spas to relieve
symptoms of bronchitis, high blood pressure, tension, insomnia,
rheumatoid pain, muscle spasms and headaches.
[0003] Another such use is in the home for parties, spa-like
treatments, baths, and massages. Scented candles are also popular
for use in freshening homes, offices, bathrooms, and cars. These
candles not only provide background lighting but also help promote
a feeling of wellness. Scented candles contain additives taken from
a variety of sources such as essential oils, herbs, spices, citrus,
berries, musk, oatmeal, sea breeze, mint, earth, rose petals, and
other elements. They tend to be soft, malleable, and oily when they
contain the high concentrations of scent that are needed for a
large fragrance throw into the surrounding area. Consequently,
strongly-scented candles are often poured into glass or other
containers so that they may be handled. Because floating scented
candles must be handled and would not float if produced in glass
containers, they typically include less fragrance than other
scented candles. For this reason, several floating candles are
usually necessary to fill an average sized room with fragrance. It
is therefore desirable to make a scented candle, either for
floating or placement on a hard surface, that emits sufficient
fragrance for aromatherapy but that is not oily and malleable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention comprises a scented candle and method
of making scented candles by using two different waxes to produce a
strongly-scented candle that does not have a sticky or malleable
outer surface. In most embodiments, a first highly scented wax is
used for the core of the candle, while a second unscented or
lightly scented wax coats much of the outer surface of the candle
so that it can be handled easily. Alternatively, the exterior wax
shell may also be highly scented. Many other variations are also
possible in which the exterior wax shell is harder than the
interior wax core.
[0005] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
candles can be made in several ways. For example, the hard shell
can be created prior to the core by pouring the first shell wax
into a mold to coat the surface of the mold. After the first wax
has sufficiently solidified, the second wax is poured into the
center of the outer shell. The wick can be inserted prior to or
after pouring. Alternatively, the core can be shaped first, then
dipped or otherwise coated with the harder wax shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawing.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary scented
candle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0008] The scented candle of the present invention includes a wick
and two different waxes, one generally harder than the other.
According to the preferred embodiment, the softer wax is
highly-scented and the harder wax is not highly scented. In
alternate embodiments, however, either wax may be unscented,
lightly scented or highly scented. Likewise, either of the two
waxes may be more strongly scented than the other. Any fragrance
may be used in the scented wax, including, for example, spices,
oils, flowers, herbs, and fruits. Likewise, any color may be used
for either wax. While the same color is used for each wax in the
preferred embodiment, the two waxes may be of different colors,
consistent with this invention.
[0009] The candle shown in FIG. 1 is generally hemispherical, as is
commonly found in floating candles. Any other shape may also be
used, consistent with this invention. For example, molds of a wide
array of shapes are commonly used to produce floating candles.
Alternatively, wax may be poured into trays and then cut with
cookie cutters or other tools to create any possible shape. Still
further, non-floating candles of any size or shape can be molded,
cut, or carved in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] With reference to FIG. 1, the scented candle 20 includes a
relatively hard outer shell 22, a relatively soft inner core 24,
and a wick 24 substantially in the center 28 of the candle 20. The
distinction in physical properties between the wax of the inner
core 24 and outer shell 22 is often a function of the amount of
fragrance used in the wax, though not necessarily so. In general,
the higher concentration of fragrance the softer and stickier the
wax. As used in this description, the term "lightly scented" refers
to a wax that includes a sufficiently low amount of fragrance that
it is not malleable and oily to the touch. "Highly scented" refers
to a wax that has a higher amount of fragrance than the three
percent concentration typically used in scented candles, producing
a candle that is somewhat soft and oily to the touch. The
combination of the unscented or lightly scented exterior with the
highly scented core produces a very aromatic candle that is also
suitable for handling without a container.
[0011] In general, the candle can be made either by creating the
outer shell and then filling it with the highly-scented core or by
creating the core and coating it with the outer shell. The first of
these two preferred methods begins with pouring the unscented or
lightly scented wax into a mold, coating the surface of the mold to
create an outer shell. The lightly scented wax is then allowed to
solidify at least slightly. Then the highly scented wax is poured
into the shell, creating a candle with a hard outer shell and
highly-scented inner core. The wick can be (1) inserted into the
core when still soft; (2) inserted into the hardened core by
drilling a hole and inserting the wick; or (3) placed in the mold
before pouring one or both of the waxes.
[0012] In accordance with an alternative method of producing the
scented candle, the highly scented wax is shaped by pouring it into
a mold, cutting it from a tray of wax, carving it, or using any
other method that will produce a desired shape and size. The molded
inner core is then dipped into generally liquid unscented or
lightly scented wax to produce the hard outer shell. The wick is
inserted in any manner, as described above.
[0013] Yet another alternative involves two molds. The first wax is
poured into a first mold to coat the surface of the mold to create
an outer shell. The second wax is poured into a second mold to
create a candle core from the second wax. Preferably, the first wax
is a relatively harder, less scented wax for coating the outer
surface, while the second wax is a softer, more fragrant wax. The
finished candle is created by joining both the core and the outer
shell together so that the core is received substantially within
the shell.
[0014] The methods that involve molding the outer shell produce a
shinier finish to the candle, while the dipping method will leave a
duller, matte finish. Depending on the desired look, either method
may be preferred over the other.
[0015] With regard to each of the above descriptions of making
candles involving highly scented and lightly scented wax, the
relative concentrations of the waxes can be different or even
opposite that described above, so long as one wax is somewhat
harder than the other.
[0016] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention
should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that
follow.
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