What Are The Best Quality Candles Made From?

Candles can be made from a variety of waxes, each with their own properties that affect burn time, melting point, scent throw, and overall quality. The main types of wax used in candle making include paraffin, beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, coconut wax, tallow, and gel wax. When evaluating candle quality, it’s important to consider the wax type, wick material, fragrance quality, and additional ingredients. High quality candles tend to use natural waxes like soy, coconut, and beeswax that burn cleanly. They also have excellent fragrance throw from high concentrations of scents, evenly burn from proper wicking, and are free from harmful additives like dyes and artificial fragrances. This article provides an overview of the most common candle-making waxes and what makes them high or low quality.

Paraffin

Paraffin wax is the most common material used to make candles today. It is a byproduct of petroleum refining, made from crude oil.[1] Paraffin wax is highly refined and treated to remove colors, odors, and oils. This makes it ideal for candle making because it has a neutral scent and burns cleanly. Paraffin candles tend to be inexpensive to produce, hold their shape well, and burn consistently.[2] The biggest advantage of paraffin wax is that it creates hard, long-lasting candles. The finished candles have a glossy appearance and smooth texture. However, some people prefer to avoid paraffin candles because the material is derived from petroleum.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees. Beeswax is secreted from glands on the bee’s abdomen and used by bees to build the walls of their honeycomb. Beekeepers will often harvest beeswax from the honeycomb after extracting the honey.

Beeswax has many benefits when used to make candles. According to The Benefits of Beeswax Candles, beeswax candles burn longer than paraffin wax candles. The structure of beeswax allows for a brighter flame and less dripping. Beeswax candles also produce negative ions which help clean the surrounding air. Since beeswax is natural, beeswax candles do not release toxic fumes like some synthetic candle waxes. The natural honey scent is also pleasing. Overall, beeswax produces clean, aromatic light and is a sustainable option.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It offers a natural, eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax candles. Soy wax is biodegradable and made from a renewable resource. It does not release toxins when burned like paraffin wax does. Soy wax also burns longer and cleaner than paraffin candles.

The soybeans used to make soy wax are grown in the United States, supporting local farmers. Soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin, so the wax pools nicely as it burns. The natural texture also allows for scent to be released evenly. One downside is that soy wax may not have as strong of a scent throw as paraffin candles. But overall, soy wax offers an environmentally-conscious option for quality candles.

Palm Wax

Palm wax is a vegetable-based wax made from the fruit of palm trees. According to Alison Boers, palm wax has become popular for candle making because it is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to paraffin wax. Palm wax has a high melting point of around 135 to 143°F, making it an excellent choice for container candles and pillars.

The high melting point gives palm wax candles good burn properties and allows them to retain their shape in warmer environments. Palm wax is also hard and opaque, producing candles with a smooth finish and rich color. Because it’s made from a renewable resource, palm wax is biodegradable and emits less soot than paraffin when burned. Overall, palm wax produces clean-burning, long-lasting candles that are made in an eco-friendly way.

Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is made from coconut oil. It is valued for being a clean burning wax with no petroleum products. Coconut wax contains no paraffin, which makes it an attractive option for people looking for a natural wax alternative. When burned, coconut wax candles produce very little soot or smoke compared to paraffin candles.

The main component of coconut wax is medium-chain triglycerides, which give the wax a high melting point between 76-86°F. This allows coconut wax to hold its shape in warmer environments. Coconut wax also contains natural antioxidants.

One of the key benefits of coconut wax is its ability to hold more fragrance oil than other waxes. The natural texture and structure of coconut wax gives it excellent fragrance throw. This makes coconut wax a popular choice for strongly scented candles.

Coconut wax burns slowly and evenly. The wax pool tends to be shallower compared to paraffin or soy wax. Coconut wax is also harder than other waxes, so it may require trimming the wick to prevent tunneling.

Overall, coconut wax makes excellent quality candles that are non-toxic, sustainable, and provide great hot and cold scent throw. Its natural origins and clean burn make it a top choice for many candle makers and buyers.

Tallow

Tallow candles are made from rendered animal fat, usually from beef or mutton. The fat is processed to extract the tallow, which is then used to produce candles. Some of the benefits of tallow candles include:

Tallow naturally has a high melting point, which allows tallow candles to burn longer than many other wax candles. The tallow provides exceptional burn times, resulting in candles that last 50-70% longer than paraffin candles.

The natural scent of tallow enhances fragrance oils and provides an excellent scent throw. The beef fat holds onto scent molecules as the candle burns, allowing tallow candles to fill a room with more fragrance than other types of candles.

Tallow burns slowly and evenly without creating soot. The beef fat produces a brighter flame and less smoke. Tallow also resists oil saturation in the wick, preventing mushrooming or clogged wicks.

Overall, tallow from animal fat makes exceptionally long-lasting candles with an excellent scent throw and clean, even burn. The rendered beef or mutton fat creates quality candles adored for their performance.

Gel Wax

Gel wax is a type of candle wax that is made from a mineral oil base rather than the traditional paraffin wax or natural waxes like soy and beeswax. Gel wax contains no paraffin at all. Instead, it is made from a blend of mineral oil and polymer resin. This gives gel wax some advantages over traditional waxes:

Vibrant Colors and Scents – The mineral oil base allows gel wax to hold fragrance oils and liquid dyes much better than paraffin or natural waxes. This allows for extremely vibrant colors and strong scents in gel candles.

Smooth Finish – The resin in gel wax gives finished candles a smooth, glossy appearance without frosting. This makes gel great for containers and other candle designs where a smooth finish is preferred.

Longer Burn Time – Gel wax is denser than paraffin wax and therefore lasts longer. A gel candle can burn up to 50% longer than a paraffin candle.

No Sooting or Dripping – Gel wax is known for producing very clean burns without any soot or black smoke. It also does not drip nearly as much as paraffin when the candle burns.

Easy to Color and Pour – Unlike paraffin, gel wax does not require any special handling or procedures to color or pour well. It pours smoothly every time.

While gel wax has become popular for its vibrant colors, strong scents, and smooth finishes, there are some drawbacks. Gel candles require specialized candle making supplies like jars and wicks. The mineral oil base also makes gel wax more expensive than paraffin or soy (source: https://www.candlejunkies.com/choosing-the-right-candle-wax-guide/).

Conclusion

There are many different types of waxes that can be used to make quality candles. Paraffin wax is the most common, as it is inexpensive and easy to work with. However, there has been some concern over the safety of paraffin when burned. Natural waxes like beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, and coconut wax are growing in popularity as eco-friendly and non-toxic alternatives. Each wax has its own benefits and drawbacks in terms of performance, cost, and environmental impact.

The highest quality candles are usually made from beeswax or soy wax. Beeswax produces a bright flame, appealing natural scent, and lasts a long time. The only downside is the high cost. Soy wax is affordable, renewable, and burns cleanly. The drawback is that soy wax is softer and can be prone to frosting.

In summary, while paraffin wax dominates the candle market, there are many quality natural wax options available. Do-it-yourself candle makers should experiment with different waxes to find the right fit for their needs and preferences.

References

The following sources were referenced in this article:

• Cannon Fuel Candles website
• Wikipedia article on paraffin wax
• The Spruce Crafts article on beeswax for candle making
• AromaWeb article on soy wax properties
• The Candle Lab blog post on palm wax
• Kitchen Stewardship article on making candles with coconut oil
• CandleScience guide to tallow for candle making
• Candles from Scratch book by Chandler Lee