Choosing the Right Candle Wax For Making Candles (2024)

FAQs

Which candle wax holds the most fragrance? ›

If you decide that you want a clean-burning candle that will give you the strongest scent throw you can get, you might choose paraffin. If you want a wax that is clean-burning, comes from a renewable source, has a great scent throw, and burns longer, soy might be the way to go.

Due to its crystal structure paraffin wax has a higher melting point. This means it requires more heat to burn affecting the life of your candles. Whereas with soy wax candles the melting point is lower, allowing for a longer burn time. Soy candles have a stronger scent throw than paraffin wax candles.

Yankee candles are made from paraffin wax, as well as essential oils for fragrance and cotton for the wicks.

Adding salt serves the same purpose as putting the candle in the freezer—it slows down the rate at which the wax melts, giving you a longer, more economical burn. When you use salt in addition to the freezing method, you're doing all that can be done to squeeze extra time out of a candle.

Let the entire wax surface melt

You should always leave your candle burning for at least two hours. This is so that you allow enough wax to melt that it can produce a stronger scent. If you want your scented candle to fill a room quickly, then your best bet is a candle topper.

Problem #1: Bath & Body Works Candles Use Paraffin Wax

Specifically, the candles use a blend of paraffin wax, soy wax, and palm oil. Paraffin is a petroleum-based product, and when burned, it releases toxic chemicals into the air like benzene and toluene.

The first step is understanding the wax. This is where soy reigns supreme. Paraffin wax tends to be cheaper, and burns at a much faster rate than soy wax. In comparing two candles of the same size, a paraffin candle will usually have a lifespan of 35 to 40 hours whereas a soy candle can burn for 50 to nearly 80 hours.

Between the two, coconut is the softer wax. This makes it easier to work with allowing for a stronger overall blend of fragrance. This softness also gives coconut wax a cleaner burn, coming from the fewer ingredients list. On the other hand, soy wax is just a little stiffer which gives it many similar properties.

Candle Life: Because beeswax is a much denser material than soy wax, beeswax candles should burn for a longer amount of time than soy candles. Mixing soy wax with paraffin to make the material denser doesn't help, since paraffin burns quickly, too.

It has a superior scent throw which means you can produce long lasting and strongly scented candles using this wax. You can also enjoy your candles longer because coconut wax burns slower than other wax and it can blend perfectly with other natural, harder waxes.

What is the cleanest burning candle wax? ›

Beeswax is the oldest known material used for candles, and remains one of the cleanest options. Beeswax is natural, free of toxins, and makes fall candles that provide slow burn. It's considered the cleanest burning candle wax, as it acts as a natural air purifier.

Paraffin candles: Derived from petroleum, paraffin wax makes for cheap and effective candles. The downside is that paraffin releases highly toxic volatile organic compounds when burned, including the known carcinogens, benzene, and toluene.

Mahogany Teakwood High-Intensity Candle

Not only did these two give off strong scents, but they smelled the best, too. Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works candles gave off very heavy, in-your-face scents, whereas Le Labo and Byredo released complex, luxurious scents you'd expect in a fancy hotel.

If you burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time, carbon will collect on the wick, and your wick will begin to "mushroom." This can cause the wick to become unstable, the flame to get too large, your candle to smoke, and soot to be released into the air and around your candle container.

The best quality candles will have a wick that is the right size and construction for the candle. You can tell your candle has a good wick if it burns cleanly, evenly, and creates a pool of liquid wax all the way across the surface of the candle within 2 to 4 hours.

Little or No Scent Throw: Scent is less than expected when candle is burning. Possible Causes: Too small amount of fragrance oil used, poor quality of fragrance oil, adding fragrance at too low or too high temperature, not letting your candles cure after pouring, type of wax used, improper wick or wick sizing issue.

If you can no longer smell your candle, it does not mean the scent has disappeared; more than likely your brain had enough and switched off so you no longer notice the scent. After burning your candle for 2 hours, try stepping outside for about 15 minutes to clear your scent palate and come back in.

Wax melts absorb heat slower than traditional candles and therefore are able to release aromas without burning the oils. This gives the wax the ability to continue releasing the fragrance without the scent evaporating quickly. When you burn a candle, the opposite happens.

Soy wax, which is simple to melt down and mix with essential oils, is a popular option for making candles. Derived from soybean oil, it's a cleaner alternative to paraffin wax and has a longer burn time too.

What wax are Jo Malone candles made of? ›

Jo Malone candles are made with a blend of natural waxes, including beeswax, coconut wax, and soy wax. This combination of waxes helps to create a smooth, even burn while infusing the air with Jo Malone's signature fragrance. Beeswax is known for its ability to hold scent, making it an ideal choice for candles.

Beeswax candles are the slowest burning candle wax and 100% non toxic.

These same studies show that when soy and paraffin candles are burnt they release formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and acetone, carcinogens that can lead to cancer and other health problems.

Great idea. It's perfect for increasing the shelf life of your Soy wax candle, as well as softening the wax to help with adhesion (wonderful during the cooler months). Some even believe it increase cold/hot throw but that's for you to experiment with.

Now let's see what are the benefits of adding some coconut oil to your soy wax. One of the biggest advantage of using coconut oil is that it can eliminate wet spots and reduce frosting. Wet spots can sometimes be seen on the side of your glass container when the wax can't adhere to the surface properly.

Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.

You can add soy to beeswax, not the other way around...if you make beeswax candles. This way they burn a bit better, but no scents added! It is hard to overpower the beeswax scent, and why would you want to? I love mixing the two.

Beeswax traditionally burns hotter than soy or coconut wax so mixing it with a softer oil, such as coconut, will help reduce the burn temp. If you are pouring beeswax candles into containers you will have to make sure the container will withstand the higher heat.

Why is beeswax candle better? ›

Beeswax has the highest melting point of any wax meaning the candles burn for longer than paraffin. They are the tidier candle in that they don't release any soot and they tend to drip less. They also emit a much more ambient light, making for a cosy atmosphere.

Many soy waxes are pretty soft already. Will adding coconut oil make the wax even softer? According to the chatter on the web, it can make your wax even softer, which is why you don't want to use any more than 1/2 teaspoon per pound.

Luxury candles tend to use higher-end alternatives to paraffin, such as coconut wax, beeswax, and soy wax. For example, our candles are made with natural soy wax, which burns less quickly than paraffin and allows you to savor the ambience and aroma up to 50% longer.

Candle Life: Because beeswax is a much denser material than soy wax, beeswax candles should burn for a longer amount of time than soy candles. Mixing soy wax with paraffin to make the material denser doesn't help, since paraffin burns quickly, too.

Gigi Honee Wax is one of the most popular waxes used by beauty professionals. The whole Gigi line has a lot of options to choose from. From soft and hard waxes, to therapeutic waxes, you can tailor your usage to each client's individual needs.

Soy wax candles can still produce small amounts of soot when lit, but coconut wax candles are the cleanest burning option of all. Coconut wax is non-toxic and it eliminates all soot particles from being released when lit. So for the healthiest scented candle possible, choose a coconut wax option.

Vanilla just so happens to be America's most popular flavor, so it makes sense as to why this scent is so high up on the list.

I like to use a blend of both soy wax and beeswax and don't add additional color. The more beeswax you use, the more honey-colored the candle will be. Beeswax also gives off a sweet honey aroma, so the more you use, the less added fragrance you will need.

Brazilian waxes are one of the most popular options when it comes to primping ya pubes. Unlike the French version, when you go Brazilian they take the hair off the top and sides of the bikini line, but also all the way under and around the back, too.

What type of wax lasts the longest? ›

Nothing leaves a longer-lasting glass-like shine than high-grade carnauba wax. Of all the different types of carnauba waxes, this is the best car wax for the longest lasting finish and shine of a vehicle's exterior.