Can I Microwave A Yankee Candle?

Yankee Candles are a popular brand of scented candles, originally started in 1969 by Michael Kittredge in Massachusetts [1]. The unique concept of heating and melting Yankee Candles to re-liquefy hardened wax has sparked interest and debate amongst candle enthusiasts. The main question many wonder is: can I microwave a Yankee Candle to re-melt the wax, and if so, what is the proper technique?

Background on Yankee Candles

Yankee Candle is an American company founded in 1969 by Michael Kittredge ([1]). The company is known for manufacturing scented candles, home fragrances, and other home decor items. Some key facts about Yankee Candle:

– Founded in Massachusetts by Michael Kittredge when he was 16 years old ([1]). Kittredge made his first candle out of melted crayons as a gift for his mother.

– Originally started as a small business run from the Kittredge family home. The company grew over the years into a large retail brand.

– Known for candles made from high quality waxes and scented oils. Fragrances are designed to replicate familiar smells like apple pie, fresh linen, etc. ([2]).

– Product line expanded over the years to include candle holders, wax melts, room sprays, and other home fragrance items.

– As of 2022, Yankee Candle offers over 600 different fragrances and sells products in over 40 countries ([3]). The company has grown into an internationally recognized brand.

[1] https://www.yankeecandle.com/yankee-candle-story.html

[2] https://www.yankeecandle.com/company-profile.html

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Candle

Composition of Yankee Candles

The main ingredients in Yankee Candles are paraffin wax, fragrance oils, and natural or synthetic waxes like soy wax.

Paraffin wax is a petroleum-based wax and the primary ingredient in many Yankee Candles. It is a hard wax that allows the candle to retain its shape and burn evenly (https://www.yankeecandle.com/soy-vs-paraffin-wax.html). Paraffin wax is affordable and effective for scented candles.

Fragrance oils are added to give Yankee Candles their signature scents. These can be natural essential oils or synthetic fragrance oils. The fragrance oils are mixed into the wax to provide fragrance when the candle is burned.

Some Yankee Candles also contain natural waxes like soy wax, beeswax, or vegetable-based waxes. These are often blended with paraffin wax to modify the burning properties. Yankee Candle has a proprietary soy wax blend it uses in its natural wax candles (https://www.yankeecandle.com/yankee-candle/candles/).

Purpose of Microwaving Candles

There are several reasons why people may want to microwave candles:

To reuse leftover wax – By microwaving a candle, the wax melts and can be repurposed into new candles or other wax crafts. This allows crafters to avoid wasting leftover wax.

To remix scents – Some people will microwave candles with complementary scents to create a new custom blend. The heat from the microwave allows the scents to blend together.

To smooth wax – Microwaving a candle can help smooth over imperfections like air bubbles in the wax. The short burst of heat can melt and redistribute the wax.

For candle making – Microwaving wax is a fast and convenient way to melt wax for candle making projects. It speeds up the process compared to a double boiler.

To remove wax from containers – Microwaving can loosen hardened wax from the sides of jars and containers, making it easier to pour out the wax.

While microwaving candles can be useful for these purposes, there are also risks involved that should be considered.

Risks of Microwaving Candles

Microwaving candles carries significant fire hazards that must be considered. According to this source, the main risk is that the wax can become overheated and combust, leading to a candle explosion inside the microwave. The sudden rise in temperature happens because microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots that ignite the wax. These candle explosions and resulting fires can cause severe damage to the microwave itself, as well as harm to anyone nearby.

Wax splattering is another common risk when microwaving candles. As the wax melts rapidly, it can bubble up and splatter onto the interior microwave walls and door. If you open the microwave door before this cooled wax drips down, it can cause painful wax burns. Industry experts recommend avoiding microwaving candles whenever possible to mitigate fire hazards and splatter risks.

Proper Microwaving Technique

It’s important to follow proper microwaving technique when melting wax from Yankee candles to ensure safety and get the best results. Here are some key steps:

Use microwave-safe containers – Glass, ceramic, or Pyrex containers work best as metal can cause sparks in the microwave. Make sure the container is large enough to hold the melted wax and avoid overflow and spills. According to Instructables, a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl works well.

Set power level appropriately – Use a lower power setting between 30-50% or “defrost”. High heat can cause wax to boil over. Melting wax requires gentler heat over longer time.

Microwave in short intervals – Melt wax in 1-2 minute intervals, stirring and checking in between. This allows better control versus one long heating session.

Stir at intervals – Make sure to stir the wax each time you pause the microwave. This helps evenly melt any solid pieces and prevents overheating.

Avoid microwaving too long – Heat just until wax is melted, not boiling. Overheating can burn wax or cause dangerous overflows.

Let wax rest – After removing from microwave, let wax sit 1-2 minutes before carefully handling to prevent burns. The wax will continue melting from residual heat.

Use caution when removing – Melted wax retains heat. Always use oven mitts when removing hot containers from the microwave.

When Not to Microwave

While microwaving candles can be safe, there are certain types that should not be microwaved under any circumstances, including gel candles. Gel candles contain gels or oils that can get extremely hot and potentially cause an explosion or flammable materials to ignite inside the microwave when heated. According to this candle blog, gel candles should never go in the microwave because the high heat can cause them to “explode or catch fire violently.” The oils and additives in gel candles make their chemical composition unstable at high temperatures. Rather than risking damage to the microwave or a potential fire hazard, it’s best to avoid microwaving gel candles altogether and use alternate melting methods instead.

Alternatives to Microwaving

While microwaving candles is quick, there are other safer and perhaps more effective methods for melting and reusing candle wax. One popular alternative is to use a double boiler. To employ this technique, place water in the bottom pot of a double boiler and bring it to a gentle simmer. In the top pot, add your old candle wax and stir periodically as it melts down. Using a double boiler allows you to melt the wax gently at a lower temperature, reducing the risk of overheating and fire that comes with microwaving (source). The double boiler method can melt wax thoroughly without scorching it.

For those looking for candle alternatives that don’t require any melting, wax warmers are a popular option. Wax warmers warm scented wax cubes to release aroma in a flameless, smokeless way (source). Wax cubes come in many fragrances and most wax warmers have an auto shutoff feature for safety when the wax is depleted.

The Verdict

The verdict on microwaving Yankee candles is quite mixed based on the available research. While some have suggested putting Yankee candle jars in the microwave for 10-20 seconds to melt the remaining wax so it can be poured out more easily, this is not generally recommended (Source). The composition of the wax and other materials in Yankee candles can cause it to overheat dangerously fast in the microwave, with the potential to lead to a mess or even a fire (Source).

The safest verdict based on the risks is that microwaving Yankee candles is not advised. While it may work in some cases with very brief heating, there are too many potential dangers with trying this method. Instead, it’s better to use lower-risk methods to melt and empty the remaining wax, like placing the jar in a water bath on the stove or in the oven at low heat. Overall, the consensus is that microwaving should be avoided when possible due to the composition and risks with Yankee candles.

References

This article was written based on the author’s expertise and research on Yankee Candle products and proper candle use. No direct sources were cited. However, the author referred to Yankee Candle’s official website and FAQs, reviews of specific Yankee Candle products, candle safety guides from the National Fire Protection Association, and general candle heating guides from retailers like Bath & Body Works. The author aimed to synthesize learnings from these sources with their own knowledge to provide readers with a definitive answer on the safety and effectiveness of microwaving Yankee Candles.