Candles are made of different waxes (similar to the composition of soap), they are complex mixtures of organic compounds. Different waxes have different chemical and physical properties. When choosing certain wax materials for candles, we should understand their differences in properties, and the appropriate melting point, burning, and fragrance expansion should be the key figures.
| wax/ features | source | melting point | hardness | cost |
| Paraffin | petroleum | 58°C | *** | * |
| Soybean wax | soybean | 52°C | * | ***** |
| Stearic acid | plant | 70℃ | *** | ** |
| Ceresin wax | ozokerite | 90 ℃ | ** | **** |
| Coconut wax | coconut oil | 45℃ | * | ****** |
| Palm wax | palm oil | 85℃ | **** | *** |
| Beeswax | honeybee | 65℃ | **** | ******* |
Paraffin
CAS: 8002-74-2. Paraffin wax is a hydrocarbon mixture extracted from petroleum. According to the degree of refining, there are three types: fully refined, semi-refined, and crude. Refined is the best and most candles use this one.
Paraffin is comparatively hard and has a high melting point. It can well maintain the color and fragrance of candles. Undoubtedly, as the base wax, it is used most, which is rich in production and cheap in price, and can be used for container candles, shape candles, and pillar candles.
However, it is not considered to be the most ECO wax, because it is a by-product of petroleum. Another disadvantage is that it will produce smoke. And since medium-chain chlorinated paraffin(MCCPs) is prohibited in North America, paraffin candle is not used in that area.
Soybean wax
CAS: 8016-74-0. Soybean wax is hydrogenated from soybean oil, it has a lower melting point than others wax. And as a base wax, it is considered to be more excellent than paraffin since it’s more ECO. Burn clean and slow, with excellent scent throw.
But it is too soft to make 100% soy candles, and not for making pillar candles. It must be used with other harder waxes to work better in hotter weather.
Stearic acid
CAS: 57-11-4. Stearic acid is a kind of fatty acid that widely exists in nature, almost all oils contain stearic acid in varying amounts. The addition of stearic acid in the candle can increase the hardness and whiteness, and it has small shrinkage, the best crystallization, not easy to separate the candle cup. In addition, the price of mainstream paraffin is expensive than stearic acid, so it can also reduce the final cost.
As a secondary wax, the addition level is 2% – 20%. If too much is added, the burning will not be bright enough and very slowly. But this issue can be solved by adjusting the wick.
Ceresin wax
CAS: 8001-75-0. Ceresin is a wax derived from ozokerite by purifying. It is firm and smooth, high melting point, high viscosity, good permeability、ductility、adhesion、and toughness, and is not fragile at low temperatures.
It can fuse with various waxes, improve the melting point, flatten the candle surface, effectively prevent product embrittlement, and prevent oil separation and precipitation(this means it solves the problem of fragrance oil seepage).
It is more used as an improver of wax, addition can be up to 5%. Only when the base wax is added with ceresin, can it have ideal glazing performance, good solvent retention, and appropriate consistency.
Coconut wax
CAS: 67701-28-4. It is extracted from the natural plant coconut oil, with a dense and soft texture, low melting point and long burning time. The candle made of coconut wax is mild, and the wax oil is low in temperature, so it can be directly smeared on the skin for massage, which it is good for skin care.
Coconut wax is expensive, often as an additive of the wax mixture to provide a more delicate appearance, help candles burn at a more stable speed and temperature, and produce less soot. 100% coconut candles are generally used as massage wax.
Palm wax
CAS: 8021-56-5. Palm wax is extracted from palm oil and is considered a sustainable choice. It is smokeless, tasteless and non-toxic when burned. With its high hardness and melting point, it is often mixed with other waxes to increase candle performance.
Palm wax has different textures, when contacting with air it will create crystal, making your candle glamorous. This is the perfect material to make pillow candle. The only bad thing is that it has a large shrinkage.
Beeswax
CAS: 8012-89-3. It is a natural wax produced by bees. The texture is firm and sticky, the melting point is the highest among all waxes. The candle made of it burns brighter, longer, clean, and does not bend.
Beeswax is especially suitable for making pillow wax. It can be 100% natural without adding other waxes, but requires a thicker wick. It can also be added to soybean wax to increase hardness, and because of the high price, difficult to color, difficult to hold fragrance, it is generally used as an additive.
