Dosing additives with liquid flow meters for scented candles

"I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
Don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree"

I’m listening to Mariah Carey when writing this blog as Christmas is just a couple of days ahead of us. Beside the Christmas carols, I’m a huge fan of scented candles. It makes my Christmas vibe complete ;)

During this time of the year, you’ll find a huge assortment of candles in the stores with exotic names as ‘Christmas magic’, ‘Frosted Blackberry & Cedar wood’ and ‘The Perfect Tree’. Candles with nice aromas like fir, cinnamon, cloves and pine cone… I love them!

But how do you get this nice scent into a candle? It appears, it is all about adding the right amount of additives into the process. This is exactly one of the processes we at Bronkhorst can help you with!

Let’s find out how this is done:

The candles industry

In the 1820’s the French Chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids. This discovery led to the development of stearin wax. A hard, durable and clean burning wax that remains popular today. This was the beginning of the candles industry, a booming one.

When the light bulb was introduced in 1879, the demand for candles began to decline somewhat. In the late 20^th century the popularity of candles was rising again, partly due to scented candles which were popular as gifts. Even today, the market is growing. Spa & Massage centres are using scented candles for a soothing effect. Similarly, restaurants and fine dines are increasingly using scented candles to create a beautiful and aromatic ambiance for the customers.

CORI-FILL method

The process of adding fragrances

Candle manufactures work closely with fragrance companies to develop scented formulations that are not only pleasant but will also burn safely and properly. The fragrance materials are high-quality; fragrances that are also used in many perfumes, bath soaps, lotions and shampoos. The addition of fragrance to a candle should be carefully monitored to ensure the candle burns cleanly and safely.

During the candle manufacturing process, colours, fragrances and additives are normally mixed together in hot liquid state. Precise dosing of these additives leads to even more operational efficiency and the minimization of unnecessary waste. In some process lines fragrances are added manually by process operators. As with all manual processes this may lead to multiple risks; spillage and under- and overdosing of these expensive chemicals.

What would be an appropriate way to dose these liquid fragrances?

A solution which comes in mind is using a pump to dose the liquid additive. However, this is not a very accurate way of dosing, at least not for this application. Combining a pump with a Coriolis mass flow meter or an ultrasonic volumetric flow meter will give you the opportunity to control the pump and therefore a more accurate way of dosing is possible.

How can liquid flow meters help you in the process?

All Bronkhorst Coriolis instruments are equipped with the CORI-FILL dosing technology. This dosing technology is an easy-to-use setup for accurately dosing additives like fragrances. If you combine your mass flow meters with a pump or a suitable valve, you can accurately dose the liquid additive into the container, jar or mould of the candle for an accurate and highly reproducible process. This can be done
in a continuously or batch wise process. You can integrate this as an add-on in already existing processes and production lines.

Download the CORI-FILL brochure

CORI-FILL dosing technology

Check out our video explaining the CORI-FILL technology of ultra fast and precise batch dosing

Beside a rather ‘simple’ flow meter/pump combination, we can also help you with more complex solutions, integrating mass flow measurement and control equipment into boxes, modules or cabinets, designed in collaboration with our customers. A liquid dosing module like this can be used for ratio control, dosing, filling, mixing and blending. Check out our flow meter/pump combinations. (link: https://www.bronkhorst.com/int/products/liquid-flow/flow-meter-pump-combinations/)

Getting that delightful scent during your Christmas dinner?

The candles industry

The process of adding fragrances

What would be an appropriate way to dose these liquid fragrances?

How can liquid flow meters help you in the process?

Would you like more information about liquid flow meters?

Fast batch dosing in filling lines