The wax is the foundation of any candle. It determines how the candle burns, how long it lasts, how well it holds fragrance, and what it releases into the air of your home. Here is a clear guide to the main types of candle wax and how they compare.
Paraffin wax
Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum refining and has been the dominant candle wax for over a century. It is inexpensive, widely available, and holds fragrance at high concentrations, which is why most mass-market candles use it.
Pros: Cheap, widely available, strong cold throw, easy to work with at scale.
Cons: Derived from a non-renewable petroleum source, produces more soot than plant-based waxes, releases trace VOCs when burned.
Soy wax
Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil and was developed in the 1990s as a cleaner alternative to paraffin. It has grown steadily in popularity and is now the preferred wax for most quality independent candle makers.
Pros: Plant-based and renewable, burns more cleanly than paraffin, longer burn time, releases fragrance more gradually and evenly, biodegradable.
Cons: More expensive than paraffin, can be sensitive to temperature changes during shipping (frosting), slightly lower fragrance load capacity than paraffin.
Beeswax
Beeswax is one of the oldest candle materials in existence. It is a natural by-product of honey production and burns very cleanly, producing a warm, honey-like scent of its own.
Pros: Completely natural, burns very cleanly, long burn time, produces a beautiful warm light.
Cons: Expensive, not vegan, has a strong natural scent that can compete with added fragrances, limited availability.
Rapeseed (colza) wax
Rapeseed wax is a European alternative to soy wax, made from the oil of the rapeseed plant. It is increasingly popular with British and European candle makers as a locally sourced, sustainable alternative to imported soy.
Pros: Plant-based, renewable, locally sourced in the UK and Europe, burns cleanly, good fragrance throw.
Cons: Less widely available than soy, slightly different working properties that require adjustment in formulation.
Coconut wax
Coconut wax is made from cold-pressed coconut oil and is one of the cleanest-burning waxes available. It has an excellent fragrance throw and a beautiful, creamy appearance.
Pros: Very clean burn, excellent fragrance throw, sustainable and renewable, beautiful appearance.
Cons: Expensive, soft texture can make it challenging to work with, often blended with other waxes rather than used alone.
Wax blends
Many candle makers use blends of two or more waxes to combine the best properties of each. A soy and coconut blend, for example, offers the sustainability of soy with the superior fragrance throw of coconut wax.
Which wax is best?
For everyday home use, soy wax or a soy blend offers the best combination of clean burning, long burn time, fragrance performance, and sustainability. It is the choice of most quality independent candle makers in the UK for good reason.
All Victorian Candle Co. candles are made with premium soy wax. Browse our Scented Soy Candles or explore our Best Sellers. Hand-poured in Carlisle, Cumbria.