Types of Wax

Fun fact: There are many different kinds of waxes that you can use to make candles!

Before starting to learn about candle making, I thought all candles were made of the same thing: whatever wax was used in store bought candles. I didn't give any thought to the possibility of toxins being released, or of the environmental impact candles might have. Here, I will provide you with a list of different types of waxes to use, and benefits and challenges with each of them. 

Paraffin Wax

This is the wax that the vast majority of store bought candles are made out of. There are actually reasons that it is commonly used. First of all, it is relatively easy to come by and inexpensive, which allows large companies to be able to mass produce paraffin candles with ease and little cost. It is more rigid than other types of wax, which means that it is a perfect fit for taper candles as well as pillar candles. It gives a nice even burn. The downside of paraffin wax is that it is the final byproduct of oil refining. Which means it is petroleum based. Then it undergoes much more refining and bleaching to become the wax that we know commonly today. Another downside to paraffin wax, is that it is really not good for you to be around while it is burning.  This is because during the refining and manufacturing process, several components are added to it, some of which are known carcinogens. Its bad news bears. 

Soy Wax

Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. This means that is is 100% natural and is vegan friendly. Hurray! Granted, if you add chemically fragrance oil to it, then your candle itself is no longer 100% natural, so keep that in mind. Soy wax is softer than paraffin, and not so good if you are trying to make pillar candles. Soy wax is fantastic for container candles though, and is also very good for wax melts because of its lower melting point. Depending on a lot of factors (such as brand, or what temperature you add fragrance oil) you can get some really great hot and cold throw for your fragrances. The primary downside to soy wax is that it is soft and therefore not very versatile, and sometimes frosting can be a pain if you are trying to use glass as a container. 

Palm Wax

To be honest, I am still learning about palm wax. I have seen it in the craft store, but have yet to fully understand its value. Based on my research though, here is what I have found. Palm wax is a completely natural and renewable substance. It is made by hydrogenating palm oils. It has becoming more of a trend recently, as consumer focus has changed to being more interested in environmental impact as well as how candles can affect health. Palm wax can be used for both container candles as well as pillars, since it has a much higher melting point than soy wax. Palm wax is also sometimes blended with other wax, such as soy, as a means of making the other wax more versatile, to enable it to become more like the palm wax.

Bees Wax

Bees wax has been used for centuries. It is the most tried and true method for candles. It is great since it is essentially a renewable resource, being that it is produced during the production of honey. Unfortunately, it is not vegan friendly since it is indeed made from bees. Bees wax makes wonderful candles of all kinds, including taper and rolled. It has its own mild and beautiful fragrance when burned, and it burns very cleanly while being non toxic. It comes in many forms including pellets, blocks, and slabs. It is very versatile. Unfortunately, beeswax is also one of the most expensive kinds of wax you can buy. But its worth it. 

Gel Wax

Gel wax is cool because you can make see through candles and other things with it. Unfortunately, it is not actually wax at all. It is made of mineral oil and a polymer resin. So, while you can make some really cool things with it, it make me a little uneasy burning gel candles. Allegedly though, they are safe to burn.