Where Do Candle Makers Get Wax From?

Candle making is an ancient craft that has been used for thousands of years to provide light and fragrance. The main ingredient in candle making is wax, which acts as the fuel source and gives structure to the candle. Wax has played a crucial role throughout the history of candle making and continues to be essential for modern candle manufacturing. Without wax, there would be no candles.

Wax is what allows candles to burn, providing a slow, even flame as it liquefies and vaporizes. The type of wax impacts important candle qualities like burn time, melting point, color, and scent throw. Choosing the right wax helps candle makers calibrate their candles for desired purposes. Whether for lighting, ambiance, religious ceremonies, or aromatherapy, wax gives candles their unique versatility.

While methods and materials have evolved, wax remains the defining component of candle making. As we explore the different types of wax used today, the important role of wax in candle making history remains clear.

Beeswax

Beeswax is the original and purest form of wax used for candle making. It comes directly from bee hives, where worker honeybees secrete wax to build the honeycomb structure that houses the colony’s young and stores honey and pollen.

Worker bees consume honey to produce beeswax from eight wax-producing glands on the inner sides of their abdomens. The wax is excreted in thin sheets called scales. These wax scales are then used by the bees to build the honeycombs. The beekeeper will remove the wax from the honeycomb during the honey harvesting process.

Beeswax has a natural yellowish color and honey-like aroma. It has a high melting point range of 62 to 64 °C (144 to 147 °F). Beeswax contains beneficial ingredients including vitamin A, fatty acids, and moisturizing properties that can nourish skin. Its natural scent is subtle and appealing.

Candle makers will often use pure beeswax to create premium candles. Beeswax candles burn longer than other wax candles, with a brighter flame. However, pure beeswax candles can be expensive compared to paraffin or other wax blends. Beeswax produces minimal smoke when burned, with a sweeter honey-like scent compared to petroleum-based waxes.

Overall, beeswax delivers exceptional performance for candle making with natural antibacterial and skin nourishing properties. Obtaining the raw beeswax directly from beekeepers provides candle makers this high-quality ingredient.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is one of the most common types of waxes used for candle making. According to Petronaftco, paraffin wax originates from crude oil and is a byproduct of petroleum refinement. It is extracted during the crude oil refining process. Paraffin wax has a crystalline structure which allows it to burn slowly and evenly as the fuel source for candles.

Paraffin wax is odorless and colorless in its pure form, making it versatile for dyeing and scenting. It has a relatively low melting point of around 130 to 150°F, which makes it easy to work with for candle making. The low cost and wide availability of paraffin wax also make it one of the most budget-friendly options for large scale candle production.

Some key properties that make paraffin wax well-suited for candles are its high oil content, which helps the wax burn steadily, and the lack of natural odors that would compete with scented candles. The Mekong Chemical company describes paraffin wax as coming from crude oil and being white, odorless, and cubic in appearance.

Soy Wax

Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil and is a popular alternative to paraffin wax for candle making. Unlike paraffin, soy wax is made from a renewable resource. Soybeans are grown in the United States or Canada and processed into soy wax in a plant located in Iowa (url link here). Soy wax was introduced to the candle making industry in 1992, and has since become one of the most common waxes used by hobbyists and large-scale candle manufacturers alike.

Soy wax burns clean with no petroleum smell. Its low melting point allows for easy blending with fragrance and color. Soy wax candles have excellent scent throw. The natural ability of soy wax to hold fragrance oil makes it ideal for highly scented candles. Soy wax adheres well to container walls which helps prevent leakage and allows for full burn of the entire wax pool (url link here). Its hard, yet flexible texture, makes it easy to work with during production processes.

Being all-natural, soy wax is biodegradable and eco-friendly. Candles made from soy wax burn longer and cleaner than paraffin (exact_sources[1]). Soybean crops also absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, helping reduce greenhouse gases. The hydrogenation process converts the soybean oil into different consistencies of wax, allowing manufacturers to customize the melting point, color, and hardness (exact_sources[2]).

Palm Wax

Palm wax comes from the leaves and fruit of palm trees. Palm wax originates from harvesting palm oil which comes from the fruits of palm trees like oil palm, coconut palm, and date palm. The main source of palm wax is the oil palm tree, which is native to parts of Africa but commercially grown in Malaysia and Indonesia. When the oil is extracted from palm fruits, the waxy residue left over is known as palm wax.

Palm wax is often marketed as a natural and sustainable alternative to paraffin wax. However, large-scale palm oil production has raised environmental concerns about deforestation and habitat loss. Using palm wax from sustainable sources is important for eco-conscious candle makers.

Compared to other natural waxes, palm wax is quite hard and has a high melting point. It helps candles burn longer and reduces frosting. Palm wax makes durable candles since it contracts less than soy or beeswax when cooling. The natural ivory color of palm wax also lets candle colors shine through vibrantly. Overall, palm wax produces excellent quality candles with even burn and fragrance retention when blended with other waxes.

[From Sincerely Candle Co.] (https://hi-in.facebook.com/sincerelycandleco/)

Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is extracted from the oil of coconuts. It comes from the copra, or dried internal kernel, of the coconut. The copra is pressed to extract the coconut oil, which is then hydrogenated to make it a solid at room temperature for use in candles.

Coconut wax was introduced to the candle making industry in recent years as an alternative to paraffin, soy, and beeswax. It is considered a sustainable and renewable resource since coconuts are abundantly grown in tropical regions around the world. Coconut wax contains no paraffin and is biodegradable.

Compared to other waxes, coconut wax candles burn cleaner and cooler. The wax melts at a lower temperature, which reduces issues with sooting. Coconut wax typically has no scent of its own, which makes it ideal for candles intended to give off a specific fragrance. It also blends well with other waxes. Candle makers often mix coconut wax with beeswax or paraffin to modify the burn properties or viscosity.

Overall, the use of coconut oil to produce wax for candles provides candle makers with another natural resource option besides traditional waxes. It burns cleanly and allows added fragrance to come through.

Bayberry Wax

Bayberry wax is obtained from the fruit of the bayberry shrub (Myrica pensylvanica and Myrica cerifera), which is native to coastal areas of North America. The waxy coating on the bayberries serves to protect the berries and regulate moisture loss. To extract the wax, the berries are boiled in water and the melted wax rises to the surface, where it is then skimmed off and strained. The wax hardens into brittle, olive-green cakes with a pleasant, spicy aroma. This aromatic quality makes bayberry wax a popular ingredient in scented candles.

Bayberry wax played an important role in colonial America. As early as 1638, bayberry candles were being manufactured and exported to England from the New England colonies. Candlemaking was primarily women’s work, and the annual autumn harvesting and boiling of bayberries was a communal activity. The difficulty of extracting the wax by hand meant that bayberry candles were expensive and considered luxury goods. Over time, bayberry candles came to be associated with Christmas in New England. The famous poem “The Christmas Bayberry Candle” by Clara Endicott Sears helped popularize the tradition of lighting bayberry candles at Christmas.

Today, bayberry wax is still valued by artisanal candle makers and collectors. However, due to habitat loss, bayberry shrubs are now considered rare, and the wax is harvested in small quantities. Synthetic blends are more common in commercial bayberry-scented candles. Nonetheless, bayberry wax remains an iconic part of New England’s history and culture.

Carnauba Wax

Carnauba wax comes from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm, which is grown only in northeastern Brazil.¹ To produce carnauba wax, the leaves are dried, beaten to loosen the wax, then the wax is refined and filtered.² Carnauba wax is valued for its high melting point, hardness, and glossiness. It is used in products like automobile waxes, surfboard wax, instrument polishes, and furniture polishes. Carnauba wax is generally considered a sustainable and eco-friendly wax because harvesting the leaves does not kill the palm trees.

Candelilla Wax

Candelilla wax comes from the candelilla shrub (Euphorbia antisyphilitica), a small, desert-grown plant native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The wax is extracted by boiling the stems and leaves of the shrub in water, allowing the wax to rise to the surface where it hardens and can be skimmed off. This natural wax has been traditionally used for candle making in Mexico for centuries
(https://www.amazon.com/Candelilla-Wax-Natural-Vegan-Cosmetic/dp/B0937FHVP6).

Commercially, candelilla wax is harvested wild in Mexico and exported around the world for use in cosmetics, food additives, and candle making. It is valued for its hard, brittle properties and high melting point. Compared to beeswax, candelilla wax is more brittle and has less tackiness, making it a popular vegan alternative. It also produces a bright, clean burn with little smoke or odor. The wax is naturally yellow-brown in color. While not as fragrant as beeswax, some producers will add violet and other floral essential oils to candelilla wax candles to provide a light floral scent while burning.

Conclusion

In summary, candle makers source wax from a variety of places depending on the properties they desire. Beeswax comes directly from bee hives and has a sweet honey aroma. It is expensive but makes high quality candles. Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct that is inexpensive and easy to work with, but not as natural. Soy wax is made from soybeans, is eco-friendly and clean burning, though can be more difficult to work with. Palm wax comes from palm trees, is hard and opaque, and good for pillars. Coconut wax comes from coconuts, burns cleanly, and holds fragrance well. Bayberry wax comes from bayberry shrubs, has a faint bayberry scent, and is expensive. Carnauba wax comes from palm leaves, is very hard, and requires blending. Candelilla wax comes from a desert shrub, is vegan, and hardens nicely. Candle makers must balance factors like cost, scent throw, appearance, and environmental impact when selecting the optimal wax for their needs.