Every autumn, summer nights give way to cool, crisp evenings. If you’re anything like us, you pull out the cozy blanket and most likely light a few candles; there’s nothing like a warm, comforting light to take the chill out of the air! Candle making is a great way to extend your favorite fragrance formulations to the home as well as the body. In this article, we will be discussing different waxes that are available to today’s candle makers, and the specific uses for each.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is the by-product of the crude oil refinery process. It is refined through the hydrogenation process and is currently the most popular candle making wax. Paraffin wax is a budget-friendly option and offers a long range scent throw as well as easy dyeing that makes it very appealing to candle makers. Paraffin is a great wax to start out with because of its lower cost and ease of use. Here is a summary of some of the benefits of using paraffin wax in candles:
Affordability:
Paraffin wax is the most affordable wax on the market, making it a popular choice for candle makers who are working on a budget.
Wide availability:
Paraffin wax is widely available and can be found in most craft stores and online retailers. This makes it an accessible option for hobbyists and professional candle makers alike.
Easy to use:
Paraffin wax is easy to work with and melts quickly and evenly. It can be easily poured into molds or containers, making it a convenient option for candle makers.
Consistent color and scent:
Paraffin wax is a neutral color and does not have a strong scent, making it easy to add color and fragrance oils to create customized candles with consistent results.
Brighter flame:
Paraffin wax candles have a bright, steady flame that emits a warm, cozy glow. They are ideal for creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in any space.
Versatile:
Paraffin wax can be blended with other waxes, such as soy or beeswax, to create unique candle blends with different properties.
Soy Wax
Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. The oil is then extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated. The hydrogenation process converts some of the fatty acids in the oil from unsaturated to saturated. This process dramatically alters the melting point of the oil, making it a solid at room temperature. The leftover bean husks are commonly used as animal feed.
Soy Wax would be considered a vegan wax, where it does not derive from a living insect or animal. It burns clean, doesn’t have an aroma on its own like beeswax, and won’t leave black soot on the walls or upholstery. Soy wax is less costly than beeswax to produce and is water soluble, which makes cleanup a breeze. Soy is an affordable and beginner-friendly wax. With natural ingredients/products in high demand, soy is familiar to the market and well sought out. While fragrance tends to be more subtle in a soy candle, it still holds scent well and produces less soot than other wax types.
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.
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.
Last but not least, another benefit of soy wax is that it has a natural, creamy color that can be left as is or easily dyed to match any color scheme. Soy wax also has a mild scent that can be further enhanced with the addition of essential oils or fragrance oils.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees and has been used for centuries in various applications, including candle-making. There are very few drawbacks to making and burning beeswax candles; typically, the expense of the wax is what drives candlemakers and buyers to less pricey options. Nevertheless, There are many benefits:
Non-toxic:
Beeswax candles are natural and do not contain harmful chemicals or synthetic fragrances that can pollute the air. They are a safer option for people with allergies or asthma.
Burns longer:
Beeswax candles burn longer than regular candles. They have a higher melting point and denser texture, which means they last much longer than other types of candles.
Brighter flame:
Beeswax candles have a bright, warm flame that emits a natural, honey-like scent. They burn cleanly and do not produce a lot of soot or smoke, making them a great choice for indoor use.
Natural air purifier:
Beeswax candles emit negative ions when they burn, which helps to purify the air by neutralizing pollutants and allergens. This makes them a great choice for people with respiratory issues.
Eco-friendly:
Beeswax is a sustainable and renewable resource. It is biodegradable and does not produce harmful byproducts or toxins when burned, making it an eco-friendly choice.
Aromatherapy benefits:
Beeswax candles can be scented with essential oils, providing the added benefits of aromatherapy. Different essential oils have various therapeutic properties that can help to calm, relax, or invigorate the mind and body.
Palm Wax
There are many conflicting opinions about palm wax and its usage. While many agree that palm wax has marketable benefits, such as its increased hardness and smoothness, others stay away from palm wax due to unfair trade practices associated with its production. Whatever your opinion may be, your buyers will expect a responsibly sourced product that has been fairy produced; be sure to do your research on the company you intend to buy it from to make sure that the product you purchase fits this criteria!
Palm wax is a natural wax derived from palm oil, and it has been gaining popularity in recent years as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax. Here are some of the benefits of using palm wax in candles:
Sustainable:
Palm wax is a sustainable resource as it comes from the oil palm tree, which grows quickly and requires less land to produce the same amount of oil compared to other crops. This makes it a more sustainable option than paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum.
Clean-burning:
Palm wax candles burn cleanly and do not produce harmful byproducts or toxins when burned. They are a healthier option for people with allergies or respiratory issues.
Long-burning:
Palm wax candles burn longer than regular candles. They have a higher melting point and denser texture, which means they last much longer than other types of candles.
Natural appearance:
Palm wax candles have a natural appearance with a unique crystalline structure that creates a beautiful and natural-looking effect. This makes them ideal for creating decorative candles.
