Candle Making Wax

A candle is simply a combination of a wick and wax. Choosing the candle making wax you want to use is the first step in making a candle.

Historically, the waxes used occurred naturally or were produced from readily available materials such as animal fats. Today we have a much broader array of choices.

Paraffin Candle Wax

Most candles are made from paraffin wax, which is refined from petroleum.

Paraffin candle wax is widely available and remains relatively inexpensive despite the rising price of oil. Even though the amount of oil used to produce paraffin is miniscule compared to the amount refined every day for other purposes, many people wish to avoid paraffin wax and return to a more natural sources of candle wax.

Beeswax

Beeswax is one of the oldest natural sources of candle making wax. It is relatively soft, burns cleanly and slowly, and gives off a subtle, pleasant fragrance. In its natural state, it is usually a very pale yellow.

The downside of beeswax is its expense, but many candle makers of feel it is well worth. I have to say that I'm very partial to beeswax candles myself, but budgetary constraints keep me from using as often as I'd like.

Bayberry Candle Wax

Bayberry is another natural candle wax. Bayberry candle wax is made from the berries of the bayberry shrub. Its use dates to colonial times. I consider this a special occasion wax because it's so expensive (it can take over 10 pounds of bayberry's to make 1 pound of wax) but do enjoy making a few bayberry candles around the holidays.

If you do make a candle with bayberry wax I suggest you refrain from adding any coloring or fragrance - enjoy it in its natural state.

Soy Candle Wax

More and more candle makers are choosing soy wax for the candles. Soybeans are the renewable resource so soy wax is considered eco-friendly. It is produced by hydrogenating soybean oil so it is solid at room temperature and can be used to make a candle. Soy candle wax is a good choice, and one you may want to try out.

Palm Oil Candle Wax

Candle wax made from palm oil is a less common option. Although it is theoretically renewable, there are some ecological concerns about it because landowners in some countries have cleared old-growth rain forests to plant palm foundations. Because of this I recommend avoiding palm oil candle wax unless a reliable third party, such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), certifies that it comes from a sustainable source.

Gel Candle Wax

A newer type of candle making wax is gel wax. It is made from a combination of mineral oil and a gelling agent. It has a rubbery texture and is often used in candle jars or glasses (one of the first times I saw it was at a wedding reception where the table candles would gel candles using champagne flutes).

Although you can make some interesting candles with gel wax, I'm a little uncomfortable with it because it usually won't reach its melting point in a double boiler. It has to be melted over direct heat and so it presents a definite fire hazard.

If you do choose to use it, be extremely careful and don't take your eye off it for a moment as it melts.

There are other waxes that can be used, some of which I mention on other pages. Most of these are either used as an additive to give a candle a specific characteristic (such as hardness) or are used for decorative purposes.

For Beginners:

Unless you have strong reservations about using a petroleum product at all, I suggest you begin with a paraffin wax. It is widely available, relatively inexpensive, easy to work with, accepts additives such as fragrances and coloring and can be used to produce a wide variety of candles.

After you have some experience with this wax I definitely go and suggest experimenting with other types of candle making wax.

And of course remember to have fun!

Learn to make beautiful candles at home. Check out:

Home Candle Making Made Easy