Types of Candle Waxes

So, you’ve decided to take your love of candle making from a hobby into a full-fledged business. Great! One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is choosing your candle wax. It sounds like a simple enough decision, but it’s a choice that must be well thought out and planned. It’s important to determine what wax best suits your business needs and consumer demands. I’ve included a link to some of my favorite candle wax companies that sell each type of wax discussed!

The most common type of wax used for candle making is called paraffin wax. It’s very easy to come across and most often the least expensive wax to buy. A great quality about this wax is its ability to hold a large percentage of fragrance or essential oil. That’s why candles that are made with large amounts of paraffin wax (such as Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works) have very strong scents, or throws. A throw is a term used to describe a candle’s scent tolerance. A hot throw is how potent the candle is when lit and a cold throw is how strong or weak the candle smells not lit. One con of paraffin wax is that it contains petroleum which houses toxins and chemicals. When lit, paraffin candles can give off these toxins which contributes to black candle soot along the container. This can be a little dangerous because these chemicals contain carcinogens that are cancer causing agents. 

Another candle wax that is very popular is soy wax. It’s the wax I use for my candle business and recommend for you as a candle maker to try! I love using soy wax because of its texture, natural look and its overall healthier properties. I use American Soy Organics: Freedom Soy Wax Blend because it checks off all the boxes that are most important to me and helps define my candle business. This soy wax is toxin-free, renewable and helps with full adhesion. Wax that is completely free of chemicals can cure with frost or irregular looking tops. What’s great about this soy wax is that it helps eliminate that less than perfect candle top, and delivers a smooth candle surface. It’s common for soy waxes to be melted at a lower temperature than paraffin wax due to its natural properties. So a little more patience and timing is key when working with a chemical-free soy wax!

Paraffin and soy waxes are super common waxes for candle making, but a fast emerging wax is beeswax. Known for its 100% pure and chemical free properties, beeswax is also one of the densest candle wax. This causes beeswax candles to burn at a slow rate which allows you to burn them longer. Beeswax has a high melt point and most recipes are toxin free which is a great eco-friendly choice. 

Not as well known as other candle waxes, Coconut wax is an amazing choice for homemade candles. Coconut candle wax is made from actual coconut and is usually blended with other waxes for better consistency. Its properties allow candles to have both strong hot and cold throws. Coconut wax has a higher melting point but doesn’t require a long cool off period which can save time when producing large candle batches. Another positive is the high fragrance oil tolerance coconut wax can hold which can be up to 12%. Overall a great candle wax to work with!

There are candle waxes that are blended, which means they are made up of various waxes mixed to create a new one. The most common blended waxes include soy, paraffin and coconut blends. A great benefit of blended candle waxes include combining the properties of various waxes to create your own custom wax!