Only a painter knows how many different colors and shades are used in a painting, though they all might just appear similar to people who don’t have detailed knowledge of colors. Similarly, there are different types of candle wax, which have distinct qualities. But to be able to pick the best wax for candles you must know about their characteristics. In this post, you’ll get the answer to all your candle-related questions.
Now what kind of wax is the best depends on certain specifications you want in your candle. That means what type of characteristics you want in your candle is the basic premise of which wax would be the best fit. It can seem like a daunting task but is imperative if you don’t want your efforts to go in vain. So without any further ado let’s get started.
Different Types Of Candle Wax
Maintaining a grasp of the properties of different types of waxes for candles can help you understand the difference between eco-friendly and hazardous waxes.
Here is the categorization of waxes based on what material they are made of:
| Natural Wax | Petroleum-based Wax | Vegetable Wax | Blended Wax |
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1. Natural Wax
(a) Beeswax
This one is obtained from honeycomb and thus possesses a natural sweet aroma that can enlighten the room. It is best to use for pillar candles or wax melts.
Beeswax is a natural wax alternative but isn’t considered vegan. Bees secrete a liquid that makes up a honeycomb with tiny hexagon compartments. It is extracted by harvesting the beehive after separating honey. Then the harvested beehive is filtered multiple times to finally get the wax.
Beeswax is usually available in the form of tiny pellets or bars. Check the below table for more details:
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Bright Yellow
or Dark Brown or White |
144-147℉/62-64℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Sweet and honey-like aroma. However, it depends on what flowers bees pollinate on. |
Since beeswax has a higher melting point it has a longer burn time. However, it is not that easy to work with. For instance, it starts to lose its color if heated above 85℃/185℉ and solidifies faster. Thus it requires a little trial and error before you finally become able to set your hand around it.
(b) Carnauba Wax
Also called palm wax, Carnauba wax is a great fit if you’re looking for a candle wax with versatility. It is obtained by beating the leaves of palm trees from Brazilian tropical climates to extract the wax particles which are later refined. This makes it a soy-free, natural plant-based and eco-friendly wax alternative. No wonder it is also referred to as the “queen of waxes.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Yellow-brownish flakes | 180-187℉/82-86℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Sweet aroma |
Due to its higher melting point, carnauba wax lasts longer and has a wide scent throw. However, it is suggested to use coconut wax or some oil to make it softer.
2. Petroleum-based Wax
(c) Paraffin Wax
This is one of the most used and best wax for candles whether you want to make it scented or unscented. Not only that, paraffin wax is also favorable because of its capacity to hold scents and spread them to distant corners of a room.
Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, coal, and oil shale and is not considered a natural wax, though its refined versions are easily available in the market nowadays. Most candles that are often used in households are made of this wax only. Another reason why it is in heavy demand is its versatility to transform into various shapes be it tart, taper, votive, cut, and carve candles. In addition, it works like a wonder with almost all types of scents.
If you want to work with paraffin wax, know its properties beforehand:
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| White | 115-142℉/46-61℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Odorless |
Paraffin wax leaves soot as residues behind after burning which is the reason candle makers are shifting to eco-friendly alternatives. It is recommended not to use synthetic versions of paraffin wax for making candles or wax melts.
(d) Microcrystalline Wax
This one shares the same roots as of paraffin wax which means this is also obtained from petroleum. The basic difference between microcrystalline wax and paraffin wax is that the former is branched whereas the latter isn’t. However, both are formed of solid and saturated hydrocarbons.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Translucent | 140-175℉/60-80℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Odorless |
Due to its higher melting point, microcrystalline wax is often used for enhancing flexibility and burn hours of paraffin wax.
(e) Gel Wax
Made of polymer resin and mineral oil, gel wax is not an actual wax. That said, it is used to make decorative candles or to add glossy finish to wax blends (more on that later). This wax can be used with liquid dye colors, embedded decorations and any scent of your choice.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Transparent | 180℉/82℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Odorless |
Gel wax has a higher melting point which makes it an appropriate choice for container candles. However, they shouldn’t be used as a wax blend alternative due to their translucent color and jelly-like consistency.
3. Vegetable Wax
(f) Coconut Wax
Coconut wax is a natural wax made from cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with soy wax. It burns for longer without producing any soot which makes it an eco-friendly and biodegradable alternative against paraffin wax.
Coconut wax also blends well with scents and colors and can be blended with a wide range of waxes to form any kind of candle.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Bright White | 124-127℉/51-53℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Odorless |
Coconut wax is the best wax for candles if burn time is your major requirement because it beats both soy wax and paraffin wax.
(g) Rapeseed Wax
The search for sustainable candle wax led to the emergence of rapeseed wax which is derived from the Brassica napus plant. Also referred to as Canola Wax, this wax is obtained from hardened rapeseed oil which when mixed with additives, gives it the versatility to mold into any shape. Furthermore, this wax is water soluble which means you can reuse it with little warm water.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Off-White | 124-127℉/51-53℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Neutral aroma |
The color and other properties of rapeseed wax make it appropriate for making tea lights, wax melts, and container candles.
(h) Soy Wax
This one is a 100% natural and vegan-friendly wax that has a lower melting point and dense composition which means it burns slowly. Precisely speaking, soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil and produces less soot in comparison to paraffin wax. Having said that, there are concerns regarding the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and deforestation associated with the production of soybeans.
Soy wax is best suited to make container candles, especially unscented ones.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Opaque/White | 113-131℉/45-55℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Very light gaelic forest aroma |
The wan aroma of soy wax makes it a handy choice for people to use with blends (for instance, paraffin wax). This not only elevates its scent throw but also makes its throw better. One of the most ideal choices for blending soy wax is coconut wax, because-
- it’ll improve its scent throw
- reduce the burn time, and
- keeps it free of toxins.
(i) Bayberry Wax
Bayberry wax comes under the category of vegetable waxes and is insoluble in water. Derived from boiling the fruit of the bayberry plant, this wax is highly used for making scented candles. It has a sweet, spicy, wintry forest kind of aroma that will provide natural forest vibes while sitting in a room.
| Color Variants Available | Melting Point | Pouring Point | Aroma |
| Translucent | 102-118℉/39-48℃ | 130-135℉/54-57℃ | Resinous aroma |
The aroma of bayberry wax makes it compatible for blending with a wide range of waxes.
Wax Blends For Candles
Among the various types of candle waxes, if you wish to combine the features of two or more waxes, you must use wax blends. Now you know that wax blends are combinations of 2 or more types of waxes, but picking the ideal wax combination is no child’s play. That’s why until you set your hand around how different waxes, understand how they behave and blend, here are some most commonly used wax blends readily available in the market:
- Soy-paraffin Blend: This will give your candle a long burn time and a stronger hot scent throw.
- Paraffin-beeswax Blend: It’ll provide your candle with a sweet aroma and longer burn time.
- Carnauba-coconut Blend: This one will produce a shiny soy-free, eco-friendly and soft candle.
- Coconut-paraffin Blend: It’ll allow you to achieve long extended burn hours with the least soot production.
- Paraffin-microcrystalline Blend: This blend will give you a candle with more flexibility and longer burn hours.
Various factors that can affect the choice of your wax blend are listed below:
- Burn Time
- Natural Wax
- Smokeless Burn
- Scent Throw
- Eco-friendliness
Wax blends will give you the desired benefits of all the waxes you’re combining. Thus wax blends ensure that you achieve the result as per your requirements.
What Is The Best Wax For Candles?
Labeling a wax as the “best” when it comes to candle making, depends on certain aspects which primarily include the type of candle you’re trying to make. Whether you want to make a scented candle or an unscented one; whether you are going to mold it as a tart candle or a container candle, etc.
- Which shape of the candle are you trying to make- tart candles, votive candles, container candles, pillar candles, jar candles, etc.
- Whether you want to go all-natural wax, a petroleum-based alternative, or a blend- This is up to you because there are various choices, some waxes are vegan or natural, while others are petroleum-based.
- How strong aroma and scent you want- whether you need a strong color for your candle or not
- What color do you want- whether you want colored candles, white candles, or translucent ones with decorations.
So it depends on your personal choice and what quality of candle you want to produce. If you’re willing to support vegan choices, soy wax, rapeseed wax, coconut wax, and bayberry wax are your go-to options. Such waxes produce less soot in comparison to petroleum-based wax like paraffin wax.
If you’re looking for candle wax with longer burn hours, carnauba wax and beeswax are a good choice. However, burn time can vary based on candle size and wax composition.
Natural wax alternatives can also save you from health hazards and also contribute towards a sustainable environment. Note that the pouring point of the wax blends can differ based on what waxes you’re using.
Wrapping Up
Deciding on which is the best wax for candles requires a lot of experimenting based on the kind of resulting candle you want to obtain. There are various considerations ranging from soot production to health benefits that can affect the choice of your wax. The above article has discussed the properties of 9 different types of candle waxes in detail. Hope it helps you pick the right wax for your candle.