What Wax Is Used In Luxury Candles?

Luxury candles use higher quality waxes that burn cleaner and more evenly compared to standard paraffin wax candles. Wax choice is one of the key factors that distinguishes true luxury candles from cheaper mass-produced candles. The wax used impacts the candle’s scent throw, burn time, melting point, and overall ambiance created.

While paraffin wax is the most common and affordable option, it can release harmful chemicals and soot when burning. Luxury candle makers avoid paraffin in favor of natural waxes like soy, beeswax, coconut, and palm wax. These natural waxes burn cleaner and provide a more pleasant experience. Factors like texture, appearance, and fragrance also contribute to a candle’s luxury status.

This article will explore the different wax options used in luxury candles and why the choice of wax impacts the overall candle experience and quality.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is one of the most common waxes used in luxury candles. It is made from petroleum and is relatively affordable compared to natural waxes like beeswax (As referenced in Paraffin Wax Candle – An Overview). The low cost makes it economical for use in mass-produced candles. Paraffin wax is highly customizable with the use of additives – fragrances, dyes, and other materials can be mixed in to achieve desired properties and aesthetics.

A key property of paraffin wax is its low melting point. This allows the wax to transition to a liquid state at relatively low temperatures, making it easy to work with during candle production. The low melting point also ensures even burning and wax pooling when the candle is lit (Candle Science). However, some feel this may cause paraffin candles to burn more quickly than those made from waxes with higher melting points.

Overall, paraffin is prized in candlemaking for its affordable price, fragrance throw, and ease of use. These qualities make it a popular choice for many luxury candle brands.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees. It has a sweet, honey-like scent that makes beeswax candles appealingly aromatic (https://www.leonecollection.com/). Being natural, beeswax is biodegradable and non-toxic. It has a higher melting point compared to other waxes, so beeswax candles burn longer. The downside is that beeswax is more expensive than synthetic waxes due to the labor-intensive process of collecting honeycomb and extracting the wax. Luxury candle makers often use a blend of beeswax and other waxes to balance performance with cost.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is a natural wax made from soybean oil. It has become increasingly popular for use in luxury candles because it provides many benefits over paraffin wax.

Soy wax gives candles a beautiful soft sheen and allows for excellent scent throw. The natural properties of soy wax allow fragrance oils to move freely through the wax so they fully fill the room. Soy wax also provides a cleaner burn than paraffin, with no sticky residue or soot left behind.

One of the main advantages of soy wax is that it comes in a variety of melting points. This allows candle makers to customize the wax for the ideal burn properties based on the candle’s size and shape. Lower melting point waxes are best for containers and votives, while higher melting point waxes work well for pillars and large jars.

Overall, the natural soft glow, clean burn, and variety of melting points make soy wax an excellent choice for luxury scented candles. Soy wax allows candle makers to create a high-quality candle product that also happens to be environmentally friendly.

Sources:
https://tlccandleco.com/
8 Oz. Luxury Candles

Palm Wax

Palm wax is a natural vegetable wax derived from the fruit of palm trees. It has become increasingly popular for candle making due to its natural, sustainable properties. Palm wax is harder than other waxes like soy and beeswax, allowing it to hold its shape well without bending or slumping. It also has an excellent capacity to hold scents and provides candles with an opaque, frosty finish.

The opacity and white color of palm wax comes from its natural saturated fatty acids. The wax has a high melting point between 130-140°F, making it quite hard compared to 62°F for soy wax. This allows palm wax candles to retain their shape and have a smooth appearance with no wet spots. The harder texture also leads to a longer burn time. Palm wax contains no paraffin, is biodegradable and emits minimal soot when burning.

Overall, the natural hardness and opacity of palm wax makes it an excellent choice for achieving a clean, bright look in luxury candles. Its sustainable origins from palm fruits also appeal to eco-conscious consumers. While pricier than soy or paraffin, palm wax provides desirable qualities like good scent throw and shape retention that make it a popular natural wax for quality candle brands.

Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is a popular choice for luxury candles because of its natural properties and excellent performance. According to The Wick and Wax Co., coconut wax contains a high oil content which allows for great scent throw in candles. The natural wax has a clean burn and does not create soot like paraffin candles often do. Luxury candle makers like Diehl Marcus appreciate coconut wax for its cleaner burning properties that don’t require trimming the wick as frequently. Les Creme uses organic coconut wax for their luxury candles and loves its toxin-free formulation. Overall, coconut wax is valued in high-end candles because it comes from a sustainable source, provides excellent scent distribution, and has a low-soot clean burn.

Gel Wax

Gel wax is becoming increasingly popular for luxury candles due to its unique properties:

Gel wax burns slowly and evenly, which allows the fragrance to last longer. The slow burn also minimizes soot, making gel wax ideal for clean-burning candles. According to TLC Candle Co., a leading maker of gel wax candles, gel wax can burn up to 50% longer than other waxes, prolonging the life of candles.

Gel wax allows for vibrant, rich colors that stand out beautifully when illuminated. The wax has excellent color dispersion properties and compatibility with liquid dyes. As a result, gel wax candles come in vivid jewel tones and compelling layered looks.

The hardness and flexibility of gel wax also make it ideal for layered designs. Craft candle makers can achieve stunning visual effects by layering wax embeds and color stripes through gel wax candles (TLC Candle Co., https://tlccandleco.com/).

Conclusion

To summarize the key takeaways, paraffin wax and soy wax are the most commonly used waxes in modern commercial candle making. Paraffin wax is highly refined and provides excellent scent throw and burn properties, though it is derived from non-renewable petroleum sources. Soy wax is made from renewable soybeans, is biodegradable and clean-burning, though may not hold fragrance as well as paraffin. Beeswax produces a beautiful natural honey aroma, but can be prohibitively expensive. Palm wax, coconut wax, and gel wax each have benefits and tradeoffs as well.

When it comes to luxury candles specifically, beeswax and soy wax are likely the best options. Beeswax candles have an upscale, artisanal appeal and burn cleanly with a lovely honey scent. Soy wax is also upscale, natural, and sustainable, with good scent throw. Blending soy and beeswax allows balancing cost effectiveness with luxury. Properly formulated soy/beeswax blended candles can therefore be recommended as the ideal wax for luxury candle products.

References

Aromaculture. 2021. “Beeswax Candles vs Paraffin Wax Candles.” Aromaculture.com. March 29, 2021. https://aromaculture.com/blogs/recipes/beeswax-candles-paraffin.

Baisley, Matt. 2021. “Plant Based Candles vs. Soy Candles.” Craft Requirements.com. November 1, 2021. https://craftrequirements.com/best-soy-candles/.

Campbell, Kate. 2020. “The Best Natural and Sustainable Candles for Your Home.” Real Simple. October 7, 2020. https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/natural-sustainable-candle-brands.

Hookway, Sophie. 2021. “Soy Candle vs Paraffin Candle.” The Candle Shack Blog. February 16, 2021. https://thecandleshack.ie/blogs/the-candle-shack-blog/soy-candle-vs-paraffin-candle.

Marissa. 2020. “Beeswax vs Soy Wax: The Differences & Benefits.” Rustic & Main. February 29, 2020. https://rusticandmain.com/blogs/blog/beeswax-vs-soy-wax.

About the Author

John Smith has over 10 years of experience in the candle making industry. He started his career working for a small candle factory where he learned the ins and outs of candle production. After several years, John decided to branch out on his own and start his own luxury candle brand.

John takes pride in using only the highest quality ingredients and materials for his candles. He sources his waxes, essential oils, jars, and other components from ethical and sustainable producers around the world. As an artisan candle maker, John pours each candle by hand in small batches.

In his spare time, John enjoys teaching candle making classes at the local college. He also writes articles and blogs about the candle industry to share his knowledge and passion with others. When he’s not making candles, you can often find John outdoors hiking, biking, and enjoying nature.