Did you know beeswax candles have lit up homes since ancient Egyptian times? Beeswax remains a premium choice for the best candle wax, and today's candlemakers have more options than ever.
Paraffin wax stands as the most common and least expensive option that burns for about 45 minutes per inch. Beeswax performs better with an impressive 1-hour burn time per inch whereas Coconut wax has become an environmentally responsible alternative.
In this article we are going to examine eight different wax types that will help candlemakers create perfect candles for their needs.
Soy wax is a game-changer in modern candle making because it comes from renewable soybeans. This material creates 90% less soot than traditional paraffin options making it a great choice for those manufactures who care about indoor air quality.
Soy wax's semi-matte, opaque finish creates beautiful candles that stick well to the glass. It also holds fragrances really well, especially with high-quality waxes that can handle more than 10% fragrance load. This natural wax has a lower melting point , which means that soy candles burn longer than traditional ones.
Soy wax brings impressive environmental advantages. US farmers grow the soybeans used to make this wax, which helps maintain a strong green footprint. Unlike paraffin candles, there are no harmful chemicals like toluene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, or naphthalene in soy wax.
Studies showed some interesting health implications: switching from paraffin to soy wax in candles would need about 60 million pounds of soybeans each year. The fact that soy wax breaks down naturally also supports green practices.
The most common uses of soy wax in candle making are:
Softer soy waxes are perfect for container candles. They give smooth finishes and stick well to glass, meanwhile firmer soy wax varieties work better for wax melts because they keep their shape and pop out of moulds easily.
Beeswax stands out as nature's finest gift to candle makers. It's a premium choice that gives the purest and most exceptional burning qualities.
Natural Properties of Beeswax
Beeswax has some amazing qualities that make it special among candle-making materials. Here's something fascinating - bees need to visit over 30 million flowers and eat 10 pounds of honey to make just one pound of beeswax. Worker bees produce this natural substance from their abdomens, and it becomes the golden, sweet-smelling material used in candles.
The way beeswax burns really sets it apart. These candles create a beautiful golden flame and burn for a lot longer than others. Their high melting point means that there will be more use out of each candle.
Sustainability Aspects
Looking from an environmental point of view, beeswax is a shining example of green practices. Bees keep making it naturally while they produce honey. Local beekeepers collect extra wax during honey harvesting, which doesn't hurt the bee colonies.
The green benefits go beyond just making the wax:
Paraffin wax became a game-changer in candle making back in 1830, thanks to its clean and steady burn. This versatile material, a fully refined petroleum byproduct with less than 0.5% oil, remains the top choice for candle makers today.
The wax goes through intense purification processes like hydro finishing and clay filtration to become colourless and odourless. Manufacturers produce different grades based on melting points:
Paraffin wax has an amazing ability to hold fragrances, in fact it needs less fragrance oil to get the same strong scent thrown compared to plant-based candles. The best results come from melting the wax to 185°F (85°C), which helps fragrance oils bond properly with the wax.
Paraffin's clear nature makes it great for bright colours. The wax keeps colours vivid and creates smooth finishes, unlike other waxes that might frost or develop rough tops. This makes it a top pick for creating eye-catching candles.
The wax works well in many candle types. Softer blends pour smoothly and stick well to glass containers. IGI 4625 works great for votives and pillars, though it can only hold 6% fragrance.
Paraffin stays stable throughout production. Candlemakers face fewer issues compared to natural waxes. The wax doesn't need long curing times - scents develop in hours instead of weeks.
Coconut wax stands out as one of the best options for candle-making. Artisans love this natural substance because it comes from cold-pressed coconut meat through hydrogenation. Its exceptional qualities make it a top choice for premium candle crafting.
Several remarkable properties make coconut wax special. For instance, the wax can hold up to 18% fragrance load, which beats most other options out there helping spread scents better throughout rooms.
Another valuable quality of coconut wax is that it leaves a lighter environmental footprint. The trees produce large quantities while needing fewer resources and local farmers harvest coconuts by hand without using pesticides, herbicides, or heavy machinery.
The eco-friendly benefits go beyond farming:
Many crafters mix 70% soy wax with 30% coconut wax. This blend gives:
The Coconut Apricot Ceda-Serica blend adds apricot waxes and FDA food-grade paraffin. This mix boosts stability while keeping the material natural, whereas mixing coconut wax with beeswax creates sweet-smelling candles that keep their health benefits.
Coconut wax melts at 48°C, while soy wax needs 65°C. This lower melting point doesn't hurt its scent thanks to its medium-chain fatty acids.
The wax density makes a big difference. It weighs about 10% less than soy wax, which helps spread fragrance more evenly. This feature combines with its ability to hold more fragrance molecules, giving better scent projection at lower temperatures.
Coconut wax holds both essential oils and perfumes really well. Essential oils work best at 5% concentration, while fragrance oils can go up to 8-10% of total wax weight. This makes coconut wax perfect for both aromatherapy and luxury-scented candles.
Palm wax creates mesmerizing crystalline patterns that make it stand out among candlemakers who want a distinctive esthetic appeal. Natural wax turns ordinary candles into decorative masterpieces through careful temperature control and cooling processes.
The wax naturally forms intricate feathering patterns as it cools. These patterns catch the light beautifully. Molecular alignment creates these effects, and the cooling rate directly shapes crystal size and formation. Precise temperature control is needed to get the best results while a quick cooling creates smaller crystals and slow cooling produces larger, more defined crystalline structures.
Palm wax shows remarkable physical traits:
Palm wax really shines in specific candle types. Container candles work great with its thick nature, though it has some unique quirks. Sometimes the wax leaves traces on container walls creating an enchanting glow when light passes through crystal patterns.
These key elements are required in order to get stunning crystal effects:
Aluminium moulds bring out striking crystal patterns that boost visual appeal. The high melting point means candles burn longer too - that's great news for crafters and buyers alike.
Right now, sustainable palm wax production keeps evolving with some makers discovering ways to use palm oil production waste which could cut environmental impact while keeping the wax's special properties.
Rapeseed wax gives candle makers a great mix of quality and environmental responsibility. European fields are the main source of this hydrogenated vegetable wax, which burns clean and holds fragrance really well.
Rapeseed wax stands out as a top pick for candle-making thanks to its technical features. The wax melts between 140°F to 167°F and burns at steady temperatures. When the temperature control is right, rapeseed wax shows:
This type of wax can be used in many different ways. It works great in container candles at temperatures from 101°F to 122°F and can be used alone or mixed with coconut or soy waxes.
Making perfect rapeseed wax candles means paying attention to the temperature at each step
Gel wax combines mineral oil and polymer resin to create amazing possibilities in creative candle-making. The transparent medium lights up 40% more brightly than regular paraffin options, which makes it perfect for decorative projects.
Gel wax gets its special qualities from its unique makeup. The wax melts at higher temperatures than regular wax, so the temperature needs to be controlled carefully when making candles. Candle makers get the best results by mixing and blending at 203-221°F and pouring at 185-203°F.
This crystal-clear medium works just like solid glass. Light passes right through it and creates beautiful finished candles while the wax's density helps candles burn twice as long as regular paraffin ones.
Making gel wax candles needs careful attention to safety rules. Pick the right containers - heat-resistant glass with thick walls won't break while burning. The container should be 2-4 inches wide for the best results.
Temperature control matters a lot for safety. Keeping a close eye on the melting process is crucial because gel wax burns hotter than regular wax. When adding fragrance, it is important to stick to non-polar oils with flash points above 170°F. Each gel density needs different amounts of fragrance:
The right wick makes all the difference in safety and how well the candle burns. Use wicks made specifically for gel wax - they create enough heat to melt the dense wax properly. Keep wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch above the gel surface for controlled burning.
A double-container setup improves safety and design options. Put the wick in an inner glass container and arrange decorative items between the inner and outer containers. This creates stunning visual effects and gives you better-burning characteristics.
Professional candlemakers create custom wax blends to get better performance and unique characteristics. These specialized combinations are developed and tested to discover possibilities that single-wax candles can't achieve.
The best blends pair complementary wax types to boost overall performance. A common mix uses 70% soy wax with 30% coconut wax, which burns longer and projects a scent better.
Custom blends give great advantages in how they hold fragrance and burn. The Coconut Apricot Wax blend shows excellent hot throw and smooth top finishes without expensive pricing. These mixtures need exact temperature control - usually between 115-120°F to get the best-pouring results.
Different wax types excel at specific candle-making tasks. Beeswax remains the top choice for premium natural candles while paraffin is still a reliable and affordable option, even with environmental concerns.
Coconut wax deserves attention, especially when an excellent scent throw is needed. Palm wax creates beautiful crystalline patterns, but it's environmentally responsible sourcing needs careful thought. Rapeseed wax performs excellently while supporting environmentally responsible farming.
Gel wax opens up amazing possibilities for creative projects. It works best when you want transparency and decorative elements. Custom blends give exact control over candle's properties, but they need thorough testing and precise formulation.
