What Kind Of Wax Does Better Homes And Gardens Use In Their Candles?

Better Homes and Gardens has a popular line of candles sold exclusively at Walmart. They offer a wide variety of fragrance options and designs to fit any home decor. The wax used in a candle is an important factor that determines the quality, performance, and characteristics of the candle. The choice of wax impacts the aroma, burn time, melting point, texture, and more. This article will examine the different types of candle wax and discuss what kind Better Homes and Gardens uses in their candle collection.

The wax is a major component of any candle. It provides the fuel source that keeps the candle burning. It also anchors the fragrance and allows the candle to release its scent when lit. The wax chosen affects the look and feel of the candle as well. Therefore, selecting the right wax is an essential consideration for candle brands like Better Homes and Gardens when developing their products.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is the most common type of wax used for candle making. It is derived from petroleum and is a byproduct of oil refining. Some key advantages of paraffin wax are that it is inexpensive and widely available. Paraffin wax also has a high melting point which allows it to retain its shape as a candle burns. There are some disadvantages to paraffin wax as well. Since it is petroleum-based, there are environmental concerns over its use. Paraffin wax also tends to release more soot as it burns compared to natural waxes.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. Soybeans are a renewable, sustainable crop, making soy wax an eco-friendly option. Soy wax burns cleanly, emitting very little soot or smoke. Compared to paraffin wax, soy wax has a lower melting point and is softer. This makes soy wax candles prone to issues like frosting, sweating, bending, and collapsing. Soy wax also has a lighter scent throw than paraffin due to the lower melting point. The softer wax absorbs scent oils more readily instead of releasing the aroma into the air when burned. While soy wax has some disadvantages compared to paraffin, its renewable nature and clean burn make it a popular choice for environmentally-conscious candle makers and consumers.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees. It is produced by worker bees, who secrete wax scales from eight wax-producing glands on the inner sides of their abdominal segments. These wax scales fuse together into the honeycomb. Bees must consume about 8 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of wax.

Beeswax has many advantages as a candle wax. It is 100% natural, renewable, and biodegradable. Since beeswax comes directly from plants via bees, it is considered vegan. Beeswax candles have a lovely honey aroma and burn brighter and cleaner than other waxes. The natural scent varies depending on the flowers and plants in the geographic area where the bees gathered nectar.

However, beeswax can be more expensive than other candle waxes. It is in limited supply compared to synthetic waxes. The availability and price of beeswax fluctuates naturally each year depending on climate conditions and honey harvests. Beeswax candles also burn more quickly than harder waxes, so they may not last as long. The natural variability in beeswax can affect burning time and melt point.

Palm Wax

Palm wax is a vegetable-based wax made from palm oil. It has become popular in recent years as a sustainable alternative to paraffin wax. Palm wax is appreciated for its natural hardness and opacity.

The high melting point of palm wax makes it an excellent choice for container candles and votives. The wax hardens nicely to form a smooth surface, retaining intricate designs. The opacity of palm wax allows for rich, vibrant colors.

However, palm wax does have some drawbacks. The supply of palm oil is limited, so palm wax can be more expensive than other vegetable waxes. There are also controversies surrounding palm oil production and its impacts on the environment, like deforestation and loss of wildlife habitat. This has led some candle makers to avoid palm wax.

Overall, palm wax produces quality candles but its environmental concerns may discourage some manufacturers from using it. The limited supply also makes it less cost effective than other waxes.

Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is made from coconut oil. It has a high melting point and is quite hard, making it a good choice for pillars and containers. Coconut wax candles burn slowly and cleanly.

The advantages of coconut wax include its hardness and ability to hold its shape well. Coconut wax also provides a slow, even burn. Since it’s made from a renewable resource, coconut wax is also considered an eco-friendly option.

The main disadvantage of coconut wax is its limited ability to hold fragrance. Essential oils tend to fade more quickly in coconut wax compared to other waxes.

Gel Wax

Gel wax is a mixture of paraffin wax and polymers. It provides the clean burning and transparency of soy or beeswax, but with the cost savings of paraffin. The added polymers help gel wax hold its shape and burn evenly without brittle edges or frosting.

The advantages of gel wax are its clean burn and transparency. The polymers allow gel wax to harden into a smooth, crystal clear solid that provides a clean melt pool with very little soot or residue. This gives candles made from gel wax a clean burning experience without the opacity of cheaper paraffin wax.

The main disadvantage of gel wax is its higher cost compared to standard paraffin. While it’s less expensive than natural waxes, the polymer additives make gel wax more costly than basic paraffin. For some candle makers, the improved burn quality is worth the extra expense. But those focused strictly on affordability may want to stick with paraffin.

What BHG Uses

Better Homes and Gardens candles primarily use paraffin wax and soy wax blends in their candle lines. Specific product lines like the 3-wick candles and mason jar candles use a soy-paraffin blend, while the tumbler candles use 100% paraffin wax.

BHG chooses these wax blends for optimal performance. The paraffin helps the wax melt evenly and soy makes the wax burn cleaner. As BHG said in an interview, “We tested countless wax formulations over the years and found that a soy-paraffin blend gives us the best results in scent throw, clean burn, and visual appeal.”

For seasonal candles like the holiday line, BHG uses more soy wax to make the candles “extra clean burning.” As they shared, “Soy wax has a lower melting point so it pools nicely and allows more fragrance to be released when lit during the holidays.”

While beeswax and other natural waxes appeal to some customers, BHG chooses paraffin and soy for cost and performance reasons. Their goal is affordable candles that smell great and burn evenly.

How to Choose Candle Wax

When selecting the right candle wax for your needs, there are a few key factors to consider:

Performance – The type of wax impacts how the candle burns and melts. Paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, is commonly used for its affordability and hot, even burn. Soy and other natural waxes burn cooler and can be prone to frosting or mottling as they melt. Gel wax resists dripping. You’ll want to match the wax to the candle’s purpose and desired effect.

Sustainability – Paraffin is the least eco-friendly option, while soy, beeswax, and other natural waxes are renewable and biodegradable. Palm wax raises environmental concerns about palm oil production. Many crafters prioritize sustainability.

Price – Paraffin is inexpensive. Soy and beeswax cost more as natural, nonpetroleum products. The price per pound increases further for specialty waxes like soy-beeswax blends. Cost considerations may guide DIYers and small businesses.

For container candles, use paraffin or soy wax with a low melting point to fully liquefy. Pillar and taper candles need wax with a higher melting point. Gel wax works well for jar candles with embeds or dimensional designs. 100% beeswax performs best for candles used in aromatherapy. Evaluate your project and budget to select the ideal candle wax.

Conclusion

Summary of key points: While Better Homes and Gardens offers candles made from different types of wax, paraffin wax is the most common and affordable option used in their candles. Paraffin wax has benefits like high melting point and good scent throw. Other waxes like soy, coconut and beeswax have benefits too but can be more expensive or have drawbacks like poor scent throw.

Takeaway for consumers: When selecting a candle, consider the performance and fragrance qualities that are most important to your needs. Paraffin candles often provide great fragrance but produce more soot. Soy wax is environmentally friendly but can be costly. Beeswax and coconut wax are natural options but may not have as strong of a scent. Test different candle waxes to find your preference between clean burn, scent intensity and price. The ideal wax will provide you the performance, fragrance and value you desire in a candle.