Creative individuals can make soaps or candles with whichever ingredients, colors, and scents they prefer. Identifying the differences between natural and chemical supplies helps you choose the right ones for your project. Here are some ways in which apothecary products differ from synthetic pharmacy items:
Waxes
Soy wax, beeswax, and coconut wax are natural waxes used for creating apothecary-style candles. When they burn, these waxes produce minimal soot, making them healthier for indoor air quality. Such waxes melt slowly and uniformly, allowing your candles to last longer. They also hold added aromas for extended periods so that you can enjoy your candle’s fragrances for longer. If you want to give a personal touch to your candles, mix these waxes with botanicals and oils to create custom scents and appearances.
Paraffin wax is a common synthetic wax that is made from petroleum. It is often used in manufacturing candles in large numbers. When you burn candles that contain paraffin wax, they emit more smoke, which can negatively affect the air within your home. The process of manufacturing paraffin wax adds pollution to the air, making this product less friendly to the environment.
Fragrance Oils
Essential oils are apothecary products that add natural fragrance to candles and soaps, offering users therapeutic and aromatic benefits. If you make soaps or candles for sale or as a hobby, use herbal oils, such as peppermint, lavender, clove, pine, and eucalyptus. Organic essential oils offer a healthier alternative for scenting soap and candles with mild, non-irritating smells.
Synthetic fragrance oils have strong perfumes, allowing them to last longer in candles and soaps. If you have allergies to artificial fragrances, you can choose essential oils that have similar aromas. Chemical fragrances may evaporate and lose their strength over time, changing their essence and effectiveness.
Colorants
Natural colorants from plant sources and minerals add earthy hues to candles and soaps. When making soap, use mica colors in gold, silver, bronze, blue, or green for beautiful products. Bentonite, French, and Moroccan clay help create different shades when mixed with soap bases. Many natural dyes are gentle on the skin and provide additional skincare benefits due to their herbal properties. Plant-sourced products may be safer and easier to handle, and they blend well in soap and candle mixtures.
You can find synthetic colorants as liquid dyes and pigments. While artificial colorants offer a wide range of bright and consistent tones, they may lack the natural appearance of their botanical counterparts. When making candles, such colors stain work surfaces or migrate within the product over time, resulting in poor results.
Additives
Adding dry flowers and leaves to your candles makes them more attractive and unique. To moisturize the skin, you can include shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera, or goat milk in your soaps. Incorporating seeds from chia, celery, fenugreek, and cumin plants into soap adds an exfoliating element that helps remove dead skin cells and promote softer skin.
Some soaps contain artificial preservatives to help them last longer and maintain their quality. Manufacturers add photo-resistant chemicals to candles to protect them from fading or discoloring when exposed to sunlight. Preservatives and stabilizers in pharmacy candle waxes make them easier to handle and help them burn for longer periods.
Packaging
Apothecary-style packaging for candles and soaps focuses on keeping things simple and elegant. Candles come in glass jars resembling old apothecary bottles, while soap is wrapped in eco-friendly materials like kraft paper or linen pouches. If you prefer authentic, handmade products, look for minimal labels that list the natural ingredients.
Synthetic product labels display useful information about the goods, including detailed product descriptions and usage instructions. Items can be stored in jars made of different kinds of plastic and glass with modern designs that are adapted to seasonal promotions. The packaging may include elements like logos, product names, taglines, and promotional messages to market the supplies to a broad range of potential customers.
Buy Quality Apothecary Products
For great-looking, natural soaps and candles, choose high-quality supplies from reputable sellers. Natural ingredients and sustainable botanicals nourish the body and contribute to environmental health. Purchasing supplies in bulk allows you to experiment with fragrances, ingredients, and packaging to match your preferences and customer expectations. Contact an apothecary supply wholesaler today to learn more about their products.
