Top 5: Best Candle Wax Type?
Best Candle Wax?
The rising popularity of scented candles have given birth to numerous innovative new candle brands; all of which have their own unique manufacturing processes and standards of quality. Have you given much thought to which type of wax your favorite candle is made of? Polling suggest that most consumers (of candles) prioritize price, scent and color when making a purchasing decision; however, it is my “expert” opinion that wax type may be the single best indicator of a candle’s quality. Wax is the fuel and has substantial influence over the toxicity, scent throw, burn time, and overall performance characteristics of your candle. YouTopia Candle Co. has compiled the top 5 most popular candle wax types (in no particular order); each of which have distinct properties that give it advantages over the others. This article is intended for both the consumer and maker of candles; an educated candle community has the potential to bring joy to all who love candles.
1. Soy Wax
Natural, made from soybean oil. This candle wax is considered healthy, mid-tier and cost effective. Soy Wax has been widely adopted because of its slow and clean burning characteristics; ultimately yielding a longer lasting candle. Known best for being an eco-friendly, sustainable, and renewable option. Some drawbacks of Soy Wax include its tendency to contract based on temperature as well as its inability to play well with a wide variety of fragrance oils.
2. Paraffin Wax
Petroleum based, a by-product of the petroleum distillation and purification process. This candle wax is very common and relatively inexpensive. Paraffin Wax has been widely used because of its versatility, cost-effectiveness and its ability to hold a high fragrance load. Unfortunately, research has shown that Paraffin Wax is not the most eco-friendly, sustainable, clean burning or healthiest option on the market.
3. Beeswax
Natural, derived from bees during the honey making process. This candle wax is considered healthy, premium and more expensive than most of its contemporaries. Beeswax has been widely adopted because of its subtle natural scent, slow clean burn and air purifying properties. Recognized for being an eco-friendly, sustainable, and renewable option. If we had to point out one drawback of using Beeswax, it would be that it doesn’t hold as high of a fragrance load as some of the other candle waxes on this list.
4. Coconut Wax
Natural, made from coconut oil. This candle wax is considered healthy, luxurious and more expensive than all of its contemporaries. Coconut Wax has been widely adopted because of its superior fragrance throw, slow clean burn, and ability to blend well with other waxes. Applauded for being an eco-friendly, sustainable, and renewable option. If we had to point out one drawback of using Coconut Wax, it would be its softness and need to be blended with another stiffer wax. Fortunately, there are several premium coconut wax blends targeting the luxury scented candle market.
5. Blends
Hence the name, blends are a mixture of candle waxes that have been formulated to achieve specific aesthetic and performance characteristics. What does all this technical jargon mean? Blends are designed to combine and enhance the most desirable attributes of candle wax; these attributes are generally high fragrance load, strong scent throw, slow even burn, good container adhesion, and a smooth & creamy appearance. Some of the most popular wax blends are Coco Apricot Creme Wax, Coconut Soy Wax, and Virgin Coconut Soy Wax.
Conclusion
Which candle wax type is best for you? While we can’t make that decision for you, we have provided you with some useful information that will enable you to make an informed purchasing decision. Ultimately you must decide which wax type is most compatible with your personal preferences and the performance characteristics your looking for in a candle. As an aside, we have chosen to offer our valued customers a luxurious Coco Apricot Creme Wax blend. Visit our Online Store if you wish to join the family and support an ethical luxury candle brand that promotes health & wellness.
Key Vocabulary: scent throw, burn time, fragrance load, container adhesion
Additional Resources: Characteristics of A Luxury Candle?
