I noticed this first when I boiled excess wax off the candlestick. Now I do it after polishing it (not often). This candlestick is very pale right after it's been polished and for some reason, boiling it in a stainless steel pot for a couple of minutes gives it a nice, golden yellow glow, almost resembling a gilding. Why does it happen? In this picture, the base of the candlestick in the front has been boiled, the stem in the back hasn't:
What kind of water are you using? Tap water? Any salts in the water would create an electrical current and you'd essentially have a battery with SS for the anode and Brass for the cathode (or vice versa). My guess is some kind of a forced patination. Clean and rinse the pot thoroughly. Try it with distilled water. See if you get the same result.
Both times there have been very small traces of vegetable oil and spices from shrimp soup in the pot, it's a coincidence actually but I didn't think it would have such a durable effect. I don't mind the golden effect, I actually like it, just trying to understand the reaction behind it.
If the candle stix is weighted putting it in hot water may melt the resin used to weight it (if stix is old) and the resin is kind of a yellowish. Would be sticky though. Just a S.W.A.G.
It's not sticky and doesn't come off when wiped. It's certainly a type of patina, a difference in tone.
