The wax in your candle is more than just a vehicle for fragrance—it fundamentally affects how your candle burns, how strong the scent throw is, how long it lasts, and what impact it has on both your indoor air quality and the environment. As a professional chandler (candle maker), I've worked extensively with every major wax type and can offer insights into what makes each one unique. This guide will help you understand the differences so you can make informed choices.
Soy Wax: The Popular Choice
Soy wax has dominated the premium candle market for the past decade, and for good reason. Made from hydrogenated soybean oil, it offers an excellent balance of performance, value, and eco-friendliness.
Characteristics
- Burn quality: Clean-burning with minimal soot when wicks are properly maintained
- Scent throw: Good hot throw, though sometimes lighter than paraffin
- Burn time: Burns 30-50% longer than paraffin due to lower melting point
- Appearance: Creamy, opaque finish; may develop frosting (white crystalline patterns)
- Working temperature: Low melting point (46-52°C)
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Renewable and biodegradable
- Burns cleanly with less soot
- Easy cleanup with soap and water
- Longer burn time than paraffin
- Widely available and cost-effective
Considerations
- May develop frosting or wet spots (cosmetic only)
- Softer wax can struggle in warm climates
- Some soy farming raises environmental concerns
- Quality varies significantly between suppliers
Coconut Wax: The Luxury Option
Coconut wax has emerged as a premium alternative, prized for its exceptional scent throw and creamy appearance. It's made from the meat of coconuts and is often blended with other waxes for optimal performance.
Characteristics
- Burn quality: Very clean burn with excellent flame stability
- Scent throw: Superior hot throw; holds fragrance exceptionally well
- Burn time: Comparable to soy wax
- Appearance: Beautiful creamy, smooth finish
- Working temperature: Very low melting point; often blended for stability
Why It's Often Blended
Pure coconut wax is extremely soft—too soft to hold shape in many climates. Most "coconut wax" candles are actually coconut-soy blends, combining coconut's superior scent throw with soy's structural stability. This isn't deceptive; it's practical engineering for better performance.
Key Takeaway
Coconut wax candles typically cost more due to higher raw material costs, but the superior scent performance often justifies the premium for fragrance enthusiasts.
Beeswax: The Natural Classic
Beeswax is the original candle-making material, used for centuries before alternatives were developed. It remains popular for its natural properties and unique characteristics.
Characteristics
- Burn quality: Very clean burn; produces negative ions that may purify air
- Scent throw: Natural honey scent; doesn't hold added fragrances as well
- Burn time: Longest burn time of all natural waxes
- Appearance: Golden colour; develops beautiful "bloom" over time
- Working temperature: Higher melting point (62-65°C)
Unique Properties
Beeswax is hypoallergenic and naturally aromatic, making it ideal for those sensitive to added fragrances. The "bloom" that develops on beeswax—a whitish coating—is completely natural and can be buffed away or left for an antique appearance.
Considerations
- Not vegan; requires ethical sourcing for bee welfare
- More expensive than plant-based waxes
- Limited for heavily scented candles
- Natural colour may not suit all aesthetics
Paraffin Wax: The Traditional Standard
Paraffin remains the most widely used candle wax globally, particularly in mass-produced candles. Understanding its properties helps explain why premium brands have largely moved away from it.
Characteristics
- Burn quality: Burns well but produces more soot than plant-based waxes
- Scent throw: Excellent fragrance binding and release
- Burn time: Shorter than natural alternatives
- Appearance: Smooth, versatile finish; takes colour well
- Working temperature: Variable melting points available
Why It's Falling Out of Favour
Paraffin is a petroleum by-product, making it non-renewable and raising concerns about sustainability. Studies have shown paraffin candles release more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and soot than plant-based alternatives. While occasional paraffin candle use is generally considered safe, health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers increasingly prefer natural waxes.
Other Wax Types
Rapeseed Wax
Popular in Europe, rapeseed (canola) wax is gaining Australian availability. It's renewable, burns cleanly, and often grown more locally than soy, reducing transportation emissions. Performance is comparable to soy wax.
Palm Wax
Palm wax creates beautiful crystalline patterns but is controversial due to palm oil's association with deforestation. Only consider palm wax from RSPO-certified sustainable sources.
Gel Wax
Technically not a wax but a mineral oil-based compound, gel candles are transparent and can contain decorative embedments. They're not considered eco-friendly and have different burning requirements.
Wax Blends: The Best of Both Worlds
Many premium candles use carefully formulated wax blends to optimise performance. Common combinations include:
- Coconut-Soy: Superior scent throw with structural stability
- Soy-Beeswax: Cleaner burn with extended burn time
- Coconut-Apricot: Luxury blend for high-end candles
Blending allows chandlers to engineer wax for specific performance characteristics rather than accepting the limitations of any single wax type.
Comparison Chart
Wax Type Comparison
| Factor | Soy | Coconut | Beeswax | Paraffin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scent Throw | Good | Excellent | Fair | Excellent |
| Burn Time | Long | Long | Longest | Short |
| Clean Burn | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Fair |
| Eco-Friendly | Good | Good | Good* | Poor |
| Price | Moderate | High | High | Low |
*Beeswax requires ethical sourcing and is not vegan
Choosing the Right Wax for Your Needs
Consider these factors when selecting candles based on wax type:
- For strong fragrance: Coconut or coconut-blend candles
- For longest burn time: Beeswax or soy candles
- For allergies/sensitivities: Pure beeswax candles
- For environmental concerns: Soy or coconut from sustainable sources
- For best value: Quality soy candles offer excellent price-performance
- For vegan requirements: Soy, coconut, or rapeseed wax
Conclusion
Understanding wax types empowers you to choose candles that align with your priorities, whether that's fragrance strength, burn time, environmental impact, or budget. While soy remains the most popular premium choice for its balanced performance, coconut wax offers superior scent throw for those willing to pay more, and beeswax provides unique natural benefits. The key is knowing what trade-offs each wax type involves and selecting accordingly. As a general rule, avoiding paraffin in favour of any plant-based wax is a step up in both quality and environmental responsibility.