What Wax Do Yankee Candles Use?

Yankee Candle has become one of the most recognizable and beloved candle brands across the United States. Originally established in 1969 by Michael Kittredge, Yankee Candle started as a small business making candles out of melted crayons. Today, the company operates a variety of retail stores, sells products through other major retailers, and runs its own candle-making factory in Massachusetts.

Through nearly 50 years of operations and after being sold to multiple new owners, Yankee Candle has maintained its status as an iconic American brand. Its candles are known for their long-lasting scent and high-quality wax. The company also allows customers to customize their own candles at some retail locations. Overall, Yankee Candle remains successful due to its focus on scent, craftsmanship, and nostalgia.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is a soft, colorless or white solid that is derived from petroleum (also called crude oil) (1). It is made through the purification process of distillation, which separates the mixtures of oils in crude oil into fractions containing various weight hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon fraction used to make paraffin wax contains saturated alkanes of 20 to 40 carbon atoms. Paraffin wax is composed of straight chain normal alkanes, which are entirely saturated compounds made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms (2).

The properties of paraffin wax make it very versatile for commercial and therapeutic uses. It is odorless, tasteless, nontoxic, and has a low melting point. Paraffin wax is also resistant to moisture and most acids and alkalis. It has excellent thermoregulatory properties, meaning it efficiently stores and releases heat energy. Paraffin wax is highly malleable due to its linear hydrocarbon structure, and it provides a waxy feel without staining. These attributes contribute to its popularity in candles, cosmetics, art supplies, and medicine (1).

Why Paraffin Wax?

Yankee Candle uses paraffin wax as their primary candle wax due to several key benefits:

Paraffin wax is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to natural waxes like soy and beeswax. This allows Yankee Candle to produce candles at a lower cost and keep prices affordable for consumers (Source).

Paraffin wax has excellent fragrance throw and scent retention. The wax holds fragrance oils well and provides even, consistent fragrance dispersion as the candle burns (Source). This allows Yankee Candle to create strongly scented candles.

The smooth texture and pliability of paraffin makes it easy to work with compared to natural waxes. Paraffin can be blended with multiple additives to achieve desired performance features. It’s simpler for Yankee Candle to manufacture candles with paraffin (Source).

Downsides of Paraffin

While paraffin wax produces a quality candle wax that’s chemically inert, affordable, and easy to work with for manufacturing, some health concerns have been raised about using products with paraffin wax. This includes questions around air quality and potential toxins released
when paraffin wax candles are burned.

Paraffin wax comes from petroleum. So some argue that burning paraffin wax candles has similar effects as burning fossil fuels, releasing concerning chemicals into the air through off-gassing. According to a study published at Artisane NYC, burning paraffin candles can produce carcinogens like benzene and toluene. Other potentially harmful chemicals like acetone, alkanes, and more may also be emitted as paraffin wax burns.

What Do Customers Think?

Many customers have strong opinions about paraffin wax candles. There are some common perceptions and concerns that often come up in reviews and discussions.

A frequent complaint is about the smell. Some customers feel paraffin candles give off an unpleasant or chemical odor, especially when first lit. This seems to be a divisive issue, as other customers report enjoying the scent. However, the odor is often attributed to the lower quality additives used in paraffin wax.

There are also health concerns about paraffin wax releasing toxins or chemicals into the air when burned. Some testimonials mention getting headaches or breathing issues from paraffin candle smoke. While research on risks is inconclusive, the perception remains.

Environmental impact is another common paraffin wax criticism. Since paraffin is a petroleum product, customers worry about sustainability and prefer natural waxes. There is also waste from the plastic packaging used for most paraffin candles.

Despite these concerns, many customers are still satisfied with paraffin candles, especially from top brands like Yankee Candle. They report excellent performance in terms of burn time, fragrance, and lack of soot. Affordability and accessibility are also key factors in paraffin’s continued popularity among consumers.

Alternative Wax Options

While paraffin wax is the most commonly used candle wax, there are several natural wax alternatives used by some candle makers:

Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees. Beeswax candles burn brighter and longer than paraffin, and are non-toxic and biodegradable. However, beeswax is more expensive and can be prone to discoloration. Some candle makers blend beeswax with other waxes. Sources: https://urbanre-leaf.com/blogs/urban-re-leaf-candle-blog/whats-the-best-candle-wax, https://purscents.co.uk/candle-wax/

Soy wax is made from soybeans and is a renewable and environmentally friendly option. It burns slower and cooler than paraffin. However, soy wax is more expensive and can be prone to frosting. Some candle makers blend soy wax with paraffin or other waxes. Sources: https://greatsouthbaycandles.com/blogs/candle-blog/why-is-it-important-to-know-what-is-in-your-candles, https://purscents.co.uk/candle-wax/

Palm wax comes from palm plants and is vegan and biodegradable. It offers good scent throw and shine. However, harvesting palm oil raises environmental concerns. Many candle makers seek sustainably sourced palm wax. Sources: https://urbanre-leaf.com/blogs/urban-re-leaf-candle-blog/whats-the-best-candle-wax, https://purscents.co.uk/candle-wax/

Why Not Switch?

Despite the issues with paraffin wax, many major candle companies like Yankee Candle have not yet made the switch to more natural wax alternatives. There are a few key reasons for this:

First, it would be very difficult and costly for a large company like Yankee Candle to completely transition their production and supply chain over to new wax materials like soy or beeswax (Source). Paraffin wax is cheap and abundant, while alternatives can be more expensive and complicated to source at scale.

Additionally, there is currently a lack of consumer demand and regulatory incentives pushing companies to make the switch (Source). Many customers are still satisfied with paraffin candles, and federal agencies like the FDA do not mandate or encourage candle makers to use safer, more natural waxes.

So in summary, while paraffin has downsides, major candle companies have not yet deemed it worth the effort and cost to completely transition to alternative waxes. Significant changes in public sentiment or regulation may be necessary before a full switch occurs industry-wide.

Recent Developments

In recent years, there has been growing interest in more natural candle wax alternatives to paraffin. While Yankee Candle still primarily uses paraffin wax, they have started experimenting with some new candle lines using alternative waxes.

In 2019, Yankee Candle launched the Clean Burns candle line which uses a soy-paraffin blend rather than pure paraffin wax. Soy wax is a renewable and biodegradable vegetable-based wax made from soybean oil. By blending soy wax with paraffin, the candles can achieve better scent throw and a smoother burn compared to pure soy candles (1).

Yankee Candle has also released a few candle lines made from palm wax, which comes from palm oil. Palm wax is harder than soy wax so it allows candles to hold their shape and have an even burn. Some specific candle lines using palm wax include the Housewarmer Jar collection and the Buttercream collection (2).

While the majority of Yankee Candles still use paraffin, these new alternative wax candle lines demonstrate that the company is starting to respond to consumer demand for more natural candle options.

(1) https://www.ebay.com/itm/195981262644

(2) https://www.thepresentshop.co.uk/new-products/yankee-candle-m186

The Future of Candle Wax

There has been some debate lately over whether brands like Yankee Candle will shift away from paraffin wax towards more natural waxes like soy or beeswax in the future. According to a recent Reddit discussion, some customers feel that soy wax is inferior for achieving a strong scent throw and clean burn compared to paraffin [1]. However, there is a growing demand for more sustainable and eco-friendly candle options. A market research report predicts steady growth for natural waxes like soy due to increased consumer awareness [2].

While some smaller candle brands have embraced soy and other natural waxes, large manufacturers like Yankee Candle seem reluctant to make the switch. Paraffin wax remains the most cost-effective option for achieving Yankee’s signature scent throw and long burn times. Additionally, the company has heavily invested in paraffin production facilities. Given these factors, a wholesale shift away from paraffin seems unlikely in the near future. However, Yankee may consider offering limited edition soy blends or beeswax candles to appeal to eco-conscious consumers without disrupting their core paraffin production.

Conclusion

In summary, Yankee Candle primarily uses paraffin wax for its candles. Paraffin wax is cost-effective, provides a clean burn and long burn times. However, there are some downsides to paraffin such as the release of toxins when burned and its origins from fossil fuels. Many customers seem satisfied with Yankee Candle’s products, but some express concerns over paraffin and desire more natural wax options. While it can be difficult to change an established production process, some companies like IKEA have switched partially or fully to soy wax. Going forward, market demand and production costs may push more candle makers to replace or blend paraffin with alternative waxes. But for now, Yankee Candle continues utilizing paraffin as its wax of choice for most candles. Consumers need to weigh factors like scent, price and burn quality along with their preferences on wax source and emissions.