Are you new to the world of candle making and not sure which wax to choose? Or maybe you're an experienced candle maker looking to expand your horizons? No matter your level of experience, choosing the right wax is crucial to the success of your candles. In this article, we'll explore the most popular types of candle making waxes, their advantages, disadvantages, and the best applications for each.
Soy Wax
In 1991, Michael Richards developed an alternative wax for candle making because beeswax was too expensive and he didn’t like paraffin’s impact on the environment.
He blended hydrogenated vegetable oils together to create the earliest version of vegetable wax, thus creating the modern era of soy wax.
- Advantages: Made from natural, renewable resources; burns cleaner than paraffin wax; longer burn time; easy to work with.
- Disadvantages: Can be more expensive than paraffin wax; may require more fragrance oil for a stronger scent throw; can be softer and more prone to melting in warmer temperatures.
- Best for: Container candles, tealights, tarts, and wax melts.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a product made from the honeycomb of the honeybee and other bees. The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color. Beeswax is used for high cholesterol, pain, fungal skin infections, and other conditions.
- Advantages: Naturally fragrant; burns longer and brighter than other waxes; hypoallergenic; produces negative ions that can purify the air.
- Disadvantages: Can be expensive; can be difficult to work with; limited availability.
- Best for: Pillar candles, taper candles, and votive candles.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a white or colorless soft, solid wax. It's made from saturated hydrocarbons. It's often used in skin-softening salon and spa treatments on the hands, cuticles, and feet because it's colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It can also be used to provide pain relief to sore joints and muscles.
- Advantages: Cheaper than most other waxes; produces a strong scent throw; easy to work with; comes in a variety of melting points.
- Disadvantages: Derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource; burns dirtier than other waxes; can produce soot.
- Best for: Pillar candles, votive candles, and container candles.
Palm Wax
The main ingredient in palm wax is palm oil, which is obtained from palm oil trees. The oil of the palm tree is a natural renewable resource. It has a higher yield and is more resilient than any other oilseed crop. No artificial fertilizers or chemical treatments are required for its cultivation.
- Advantages: Made from natural, renewable resources; burns cleaner than paraffin wax; produces a unique crystalline texture; good scent throw.
- Disadvantages: Can be more expensive than paraffin wax; can be difficult to work with; may require more fragrance oil for a stronger scent throw.
- Best for: Pillar candles, votive candles, and container candles.
Beeswax and Soy Wax Blends
- Advantages: Combines the best features of both beeswax and soy wax; longer burn time than soy wax alone; easy to work with.
- Disadvantages: More expensive than soy wax alone; may require more fragrance oil for a stronger scent throw.
- Best for: Container candles, tealights, tarts, and wax melts.
