Wax lips
Encyclopedia
Wax lips are the common name of a candy product made of colored and flavored wax
, molded to resemble a pair of over-sized red lips. The lips have a bite plate in the back; when the plate is held between the teeth, the wax lips cover the wearer's own lips, to comic effect. Invented by the American Candy Company
in the early 20th century, they became a popular novelty in the United States for many decades, especially during the Halloween
season. Their popularity among children can be attributed mainly to the comedy of wearing the lips; although they were intended to be used as a sort of chewing gum after the novelty of the gag wore off, the lips were often simply discarded rather than eaten.
The original design of wax lips is proprietary. The patent was obtained by Concord Confections, Ltd. in 2002, and that company was in turn acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries
in 2004. The lips are now produced under the Wack-O-Wax brand name. Other designs include the wax fangs design, which depicts open lips with a mouthful of bloody vampire
teeth, black wax moustaches, and lips with protruding buck teeth.
Although their popularity waned during the late 20th century, Concord Confections continue to produce wax lips in limited quantities.
Wax
thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents...
, molded to resemble a pair of over-sized red lips. The lips have a bite plate in the back; when the plate is held between the teeth, the wax lips cover the wearer's own lips, to comic effect. Invented by the American Candy Company
American Candy Company
The American Candy Company is a confectioner specializing in old-fashioned hard candies. They are best known as the inventor of wax lips, though their wax candy division was sold to Concord Confections in 2002...
in the early 20th century, they became a popular novelty in the United States for many decades, especially during the Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
season. Their popularity among children can be attributed mainly to the comedy of wearing the lips; although they were intended to be used as a sort of chewing gum after the novelty of the gag wore off, the lips were often simply discarded rather than eaten.
The original design of wax lips is proprietary. The patent was obtained by Concord Confections, Ltd. in 2002, and that company was in turn acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll Industries is a manufacturer of confectionery in the United States. Its best-known products have been Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops....
in 2004. The lips are now produced under the Wack-O-Wax brand name. Other designs include the wax fangs design, which depicts open lips with a mouthful of bloody vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
teeth, black wax moustaches, and lips with protruding buck teeth.
Although their popularity waned during the late 20th century, Concord Confections continue to produce wax lips in limited quantities.