How Long Will Floating Candles Float?

Floating candles have become popular decorative and ambient lighting options. Unlike regular candles, floating candles are designed to float on water, producing a tranquil flickering effect as the flame dances on the water’s surface. According to La bougie Flottante, floating candles experienced a resurgence in popularity due to their visual appeal and versatility [1]. Several factors impact how long floating candles will float before becoming saturated with water and sinking, including candle size, wax type, water temperature, proper wick length, still versus moving water, and burn time.

What Are Floating Candles?

Floating candles are specialty candles designed to float on water. They have a design that includes a core wick, wax, and outer shell that enables the candles to float (https://www.etsy.com/market/floating_candles). The outer shell is typically made of paraffin wax and acts as a vessel to hold the inner candle. The shell has a lower density than water, allowing the candle to float.

Common types of floating candles include:
– Pillar floating candles – Long cylinders with a wick in the center.
– Votive floating candles – Small, circular candles with a centered wick.
– Tea light floating candles – Small, round candles with no wick.

– Oval floating candles – Oblong, egg shapes with a wick.

Most floating candles are white or cream colored, but colors like blue, pink, and yellow are also available. Their shapes and sizes vary, from small tea lights to large pillars over 12 inches tall (https://www.amazon.com/White-Floating-Candles-inch-HiGLOW/dp/B012MNHYK6).

Float Time Depends on Candle Size

Larger floating candles tend to float longer than smaller candles. This is because of the relationship between surface area and buoyancy. As a floating candle burns, it melts away wax and becomes smaller and lighter. A larger candle starts with more wax mass and surface area to buoy its weight. The greater surface area gives it more lift to remain floating on the water for an extended period.

According to research, larger pillar or votive candles would not float well despite displacing water, because they tend to be top heavy and tip into the water. Smaller floating candles are designed to remain upright and stable on the water as they burn. Their wide base and small size helps them float longer before becoming too small and light to stay buoyant.

Wax Type Matters

The type of wax used to make floating candles can significantly impact how long they float before sinking. This is because waxes have different densities, which determines their buoyancy.

Beeswax has a higher density than other common candle waxes. Its density ranges from 0.95-0.97 g/cm3. The high density of beeswax makes candles less buoyant, so they tend to sink faster than candles made from other waxes.

Soy wax is less dense than beeswax, with a density around 0.92 g/cm3. The lower density makes soy wax candles more buoyant. They will typically float longer compared to beeswax candles of the same size.

Paraffin wax has the lowest density of the common candle waxes. It ranges from 0.88-0.94 g/cm3 depending on the type of paraffin. This makes paraffin candles the most buoyant. Paraffin floating candles will float the longest out of the three wax types.

So when making your own floating candles or purchasing them, keep wax density and buoyancy in mind. Paraffin and soy waxes will float longer, while beeswax will sink faster due to its higher density.

Water Temperature Affects Float Time

Warmer water temperatures lead to longer float times for floating candles. The higher heat makes the wax more fluid and decreases its viscosity, allowing it to spread out on the water’s surface for extended periods before sinking. Colder water has the opposite effect, causing the wax to become more rigid and sink faster (The burning candle – rising water experiment). Experiments show floating candles can last over an hour in bath temperature water, while only floating 15-20 minutes in ice water.

The ideal water temperature for maximum floating time is typically 80-90°F. At this warm but not hot temperature, the wax achieves an optimal viscosity to remain floating. The flexibility allows the wax to spread thinly across the surface tension of the water instead of clumping and sinking rapidly.

Frigid water below 50°F will make floating candles sink in less than 5 minutes in most cases. The cold causes the wax to harden quickly rather than spread out. This demonstrates the principle of how temperature impacts the density and buoyancy of wax in water.

Proper Wick Length Important

The length and thickness of the wick can impact how long a floating candle will float. Wicks that are too short or too long will alter the rate at which the candle burns. This is because the wick controls the size and shape of the flame. An improperly sized wick can make the candle burn unevenly.

For maximum float time, the wick needs to promote an even, consistent burn across the top of the candle. When the wick is the optimal length and thickness, it will support a flame that melts just the top layer of wax into a nice even pool. This allows the candle to burn slowly and evenly, which maximizes the float time.

Making sure your floating candles have wicks of the proper length and thickness is crucial for ensuring they will float for as long as possible before the candle becomes too small and light to remain floating upright.

Still vs. Moving Water

Whether floating candles are placed in still water or moving water can impact how long they float. As explained by The Wax Chandler (https://thewaxchandler.com/candle-making/do-tealight-candles-float-in-water/), currents and movement in water can push and jostle floating candles, causing them to tip over or become unstable. This can lead to faster melting and a shorter float time. In contrast, still water allows candles to remain upright and undisturbed, maximizing their potential float time.

Placing floating candles in completely still water, such as a small bowl, gives them the best chance of floating for an extended period without disruption. Moving water from fountains, ponds, or other sources creates currents that make it more difficult for candles to achieve maximum float times. For the longest floating effect, opt for minimal water movement.

Burn Time vs. Float Time

Floating candles have both a burn time and a float time. The burn time refers to how long the candle’s flame stays lit before it goes out. The float time is how long the candle can remain floating in water before it becomes too small and light to stay afloat.

There are a few key factors that impact both burn time and float time for floating candles:

• Candle size – Larger candles like 3″ diameter floating candles will have a longer burn and float time than smaller candles like 2″ diameter. Bigger candles have more wax volume so they can burn longer and remain floating longer before becoming too small (Source: https://quickcandles.com/blogs/blog/floating-candles-ideas).
• Wax type – Natural waxes like soy wax or beeswax will typically allow for a longer burn time than paraffin wax. However, paraffin may allow for a longer float time as it solidifies and floats more easily on water (Source: https://storables.com/articles/how-long-do-floating-candles-last/).
• Wick length – A longer wick promotes a stronger flame and more wax melting at once, decreasing burn time. But it can increase float time as more wax melts off the candle. A shorter wick does the opposite (Source: https://www.craftserver.com/topic/39868-burn-time-for-floating-candles/).

In general, factors that increase burn time like natural wax and smaller wicks can decrease float time. Finding the right balance is key for optimal floating candle performance.

Extending Float Time

There are a few tips and tricks you can use to make your floating candles last longer on the water’s surface:

Proper storage is important. Keep unused floating candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Exposure to high temperatures can soften the wax and make it easier for the candle to become waterlogged and sink faster once lit. Storing candles properly helps preserve the wax and wick.

The temperature of the water itself also plays a role. Warmer water tends to break down wax more quickly. For maximum float time, use water between 60-72°F. Colder water helps floating candles last longer before becoming saturated.

Be sure to trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent rapid melting and uneven burning. This helps maintain the candle’s shape and bouyancy. Avoid long wicks which can accelerate melting.

Still water allows for better float time compared to moving water which can create waves and disturbance leading to faster saturation. Place floating candles in calm, undisturbed water for best results.

In summary, proper storage, ideal water temperature, trimmed wicks, and still water conditions can all help extend the float time of floating candles.

Summary

In summary, there are a variety of factors that determine how long floating candles will float, with the main ones being candle size, wax type, water temperature, wick length, and stillness of the water. Larger candles made from hardy waxes like soy and beeswax will generally float longer than smaller paraffin candles. Warmer water temperatures can accelerate melting and shorten float time. Finding the right wick length to promote an even burn without being oversized will maximize burn and float efficiency. Setting floating candles in completely still water rather than a fountain or pool will make them last longer as well. With all of these tips in mind, floating candles can provide hours of magical ambiance to any occasion if used properly. Take care to monitor them for safety, but otherwise relax and enjoy their tranquil beauty as they drift across the water’s surface.