Wax Types and their uses
The main types of wax used for candles include paraffin, soy, beeswax, and coconut wax, as well as blended waxes. Paraffin is the most common, while soy and coconut wax are popular for their renewable and clean-burning properties. Beeswax is a natural wax with a distinct aroma and golden color.
Here’s a more detailed look:
- Paraffin Wax:.Derived from petroleum, paraffin is a widely used, relatively inexpensive wax known for its opacity, lack of odor, and consistent burn. It’s a good choice for pillar and taper candles
- . Paraffin wax is a popular choice for candles due to its affordability, scent retention, and ability to hold bright colors. However, it’s also associated with some environmental and potential health concerns.
- Here’s a more detailed look:
- Pros:
- Cost-effective:Paraffin wax is generally less expensive than other candle waxes like soy or beeswax.
- Strong scent throw:It’s known for its ability to hold and release fragrance well, providing a strong scent when burning.
- Color retention:Paraffin wax can hold vibrant colors, making it suitable for decorative candles.
- Consistent burn:It provides a smooth and even burn, which is ideal for both container and pillar candles.
- Versatile:It can be blended with other waxes and used in various candle types like votives, pillars, and wax melts.
- Cons:
- Non-renewable:.Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct, making it non-renewable and contributing to carbon emissions.
- Soot production:.It can produce more soot when burned compared to some other waxes like soy, potentially affecting indoor air quality.
- Potential health concerns:.Some studies suggest that burning paraffin candles might release harmful chemicals, though the levels are generally considered low.
- Natural color:.Some paraffin waxes can have an off-putting, slightly transparent color.
- Soy Wax:.A vegetable wax made from soybeans, soy wax is known for being renewable, slower burning, and cleaner burning than paraffin. It’s a popular choice for container candles.
What are the benefits?
- Soy’s greatest advantage is that it is completely renewable. While the global reserves of oil shrink and paraffin prices increase, the only limit to the soy supply is how much we choose to grow. The soy that you buy from CandleScience today was likely in the ground less than a year ago. And chances are that same field is growing more soy for the candles to be made in the future.
- In addition to sustainability, a well-made soy candle will burn cleanly and slowly, much to the delight of your customers. While the performance and beauty of soy candles speak for themselves, soy wax is truly a marketer’s dream. If you are making soy candles, you can market them as eco-friendly, renewable, American grown, sustainable, carbon-neutral; the list goes on and on.
- Beeswax:.A natural wax produced by honeybees, beeswax is valued for its slow burn, golden color, and natural aroma. It’s a good option for those seeking a natural wax with a pleasant scent, but it can be more expensive.
- Yes, beeswax is a good choice for candle making. It offers several benefits, including a bright, warm light, a natural honey scent, and a longer burn time compared to some other waxes. Beeswax also burns cleanly and may even release negative ions, which some studies suggest can help purify the air.
Pros:
- Natural and Sustainable: Beeswax is a natural byproduct of honey production and is considered a sustainable resource, especially when sourced locally.
- Clean Burning: Beeswax candles burn cleanly, producing minimal soot and smoke.
- Longer Burn Time: Due to its higher melting point, beeswax candles typically burn longer than candles made from other waxes like paraffin or soy.
- Bright Light: Beeswax candles emit a warm, bright light that is similar to the spectrum of sunlight.
- Natural Scent: Beeswax has a natural honey scent that can be appealing to many.
- Air Purifying Properties: Some studies suggest that beeswax candles can release negative ions, potentially helping to purify the air.
- Hardness and Texture: Beeswax is a hard wax, which can make it ideal for making pillar candles or for blending with other waxes to improve their texture and burn quality.
- Cons:
- Cost:Beeswax can be more expensive than other candle waxes like paraffin or soy.
- Scenting Challenges:Beeswax can be more challenging to scent than some other waxes, as the scent may not hold as well.
- Texture and Workability:Beeswax can be stiff and challenging to work with, especially for beginners.
- Not for Everyone:The natural honey scent of beeswax may not be appealing to everyone.
- Coconut Wax:.A relatively new option, coconut wax is known for its clean-burning properties and excellent scent throw. It’s a good choice for those looking for a sustainable and fragrant candle.
- Coconut wax is a good option for candle making. It’s a natural, plant-based wax derived from coconuts, known for its excellent scent throw and slow burning properties. Coconut wax also burns cleanly, releasing minimal to no soot or harmful chemicals, and is considered an eco-friendly choice.
- Scent Throw:Coconut wax is excellent at holding and releasing fragrance, making it ideal for candles with strong and long-lasting scents.
- Clean Burning:It burns cleanly, producing minimal soot and releasing fewer toxins than some other waxes like paraffin.
- Long Burn Time:Coconut wax has a moderate burn time, longer than paraffin but not as long as some other waxes like soy, according to Country Bumpkin Candle Company.
- Eco-Friendly:It is a renewable and biodegradable resource, making it a sustainable choice for environmentally conscious candle makers.
- Wax Blends:Coconut wax can be blended with other waxes, such as soy wax or beeswax, to enhance its properties. Adding beeswax can help harden coconut wax, making the candles more durable.
- Odorless:Coconut wax is naturally odorless, so the scent of your candles will come from the fragrance oils you add
- Blended Waxes:.Many candle makers combine different waxes to create unique properties. For example, a soy-paraffin blend can offer a balance of burn time and scent throw.
- Benefits of Blended Waxes:
- Enhanced Burn Quality:Blending waxes can improve burn time, reduce frosting (a white crystalline appearance on the candle surface), and minimize issues like sinkholes or uneven surfaces.
- Improved Fragrance Throw:Certain blends, like soy and paraffin, are known to retain and release fragrance more effectively than individual waxes.
- Customization:Blends allow candle makers to tailor the wax to specific needs, such as achieving a particular scent throw, burn time, or visual appearance.
- Ease of Use:Some blends, like soy and paraffin, offer a smooth texture and consistent melting point, making them easier to work with, especially for beginners.
Popular Blends
- Soy and Paraffin: This is a popular blend, combining the slow-burning and cold-throw properties of soy with the smooth finish and hot throw (fragrance release when the candle is burning) of paraffin.
- Soy and Coconut: This blend is known for minimizing frosting and rough tops.
- Other Blends: Combinations of soy, beeswax, and paraffin, or other natural and synthetic waxes, can be used to create custom blends with desired properties.