Picking the right candle wax for your business can seem like a large task. Before you decide which one you want to use, or which is best for your business, you need to know what types of wax there are and what they do. This article is going to discuss those types so that you have the information you need to make the right choice.
The main types of candle wax are:
- Paraffin Wax
- Beeswax
- Soy Wax
- Palm Wax
- Coconut Wax
- Rapeseed Wax
- Wax Blends
The type of market you are targeting will determine which is the best candle wax to use for your business. The most popular wax is Paraffin wax however factors such as scent and style and your target customer will determine which is best for your business.
Keep reading. From here I am going to give you what each of the above waxes do. This is going to be the information that will guide you in picking which wax or waxes that is best for your business.
Could Paraffin Wax Be the Best for My Business?
When it comes to the most used wax, it is this one! It is the most used amongst candle makers. There are several advantages with paraffin wax that makes it the number one go to use to create candles.
One of its main advantages is that it holds a lot of fragrance. This means it will cast out more fragrance across a larger area span of your home.
Another advantage is that paraffin wax has different grades in oil content and melting points. This allows you to create a variety of different shapes and sizes for your candles. It is great for creating animal shapes.

Paraffin can also be poured into glass and tin containers and is inexpensive.
Something to also consider paraffin wax, however, is that it is not eco-friendly. So, if eco-friendly is something you look for in a wax, then this one is probably not what you want, even with all of its advantages for making candles. It will really depend on what is more important to you.
A few other things to think about with paraffin wax, maybe not being the right fit for you is that it is Made from petroleum, which is a known carcinogen, it is fast-burning, which means that the candle will not burn as long as some others, and it is hard to clean up.
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Is Beeswax Going to Be the Wax I need?
Beeswax is just that! It comes from bees and their honeycomb hives. This gives it a sweet scent naturally that can be a downfall when it is used with some other scents. You have to be careful to pick what scents to use and use a trial-and-error system, or maybe you could reach out with other candle makers who use it.
Beeswax is a hard wax which makes it great for shaping puller candles. It is also eco-friendly because it is smokeless and burns soot-free. It has a golden color that goes along with the honey scent. Furthermore, it is slow-burning and easy to find.
A few things to consider is that it is more expensive than soy or paraffin wax and doesn’t hold its scent as well as other waxes. Due to its golden color, it makes it hard to add color to it.
Will Soy Wax Produce the Candle that I Am Wanting to Produce?
Soy wax is dense, has a small crystal structure, is soft, and pliable. What this means is that soy wax has a higher melting point, and it burns slower.
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly was, soy could work for you. It emits less soot and less toxins since it is not made with crude oil. It is natural, renewable and biodegradable and a smokeless burn. Soy is more affordable than other natural candle waxes and widely available, easy to color and easy to clean up. It is great for making container candles.
Soy releases a subtle scent that is not overwhelming and lasts longer.
Is Palm Wax the Best for My Candles?
Palm wax is another one of those new waxes. It is plant-based from palms. Due to its hard texture, it is great for making pillars and votive candles.
It creates a feathering and crystal-like pattern on the candle’s surface. The pattern shows up more in the colored candles. Palm wax goes really well with different scents and colors. It is smoke and soot-free and is slow-burning. Two things that make it less attractive are its cost, and it is difficult to find. Both of these are caused by it being a new type of wax.
Coconut Wax, Could This Be The Wax I Am Looking For?
In the name alone you can decipher that coconut wax comes from actual coconuts! It is a pretty new type of wax. It holds its fragrance and holds its color really well.
Likewise, it is a great substitute for paraffin wax for those candle makers that is looking for an eco-friendlier wax. Furthermore, it is an all-natural, plant-based wax. It doesn’t produce a lot of soot and gives a clean burn. Coconut wax also makes a great wax to use to blend with other waxes as well. It is slow-burning for longer-lasting candles and is easy to clean up.
A few things to think about is that because it is a new wax it is hard to find and makes it expensive. It is also currently not available at different melting points.
Will Rapeseed Wax Be the One That Makes My Candles the Best?

Rapeseed is another new type of wax. It is also known as canola wax. It comes from a yellow flower that is produced from mustard-like plants and cabbage!
Rapeseed wax has a slow burn and a long area scent reach.
Unfortunately, though, rapeseed is not common in the United States, but it is really popular in Europe.
Picking the Right Wax for Your Business
Only you can answer the question of what is the best candle wax for your business. It is about your preference and what type of candle you want to create. What wax is better or the right fit for your brand are questions that only you can answer.
At the end of the day, you may decide to use multiple waxes for different candles. You may even decide to mix them.
When it comes to selecting the best wax, you will need to consider a few factors. For instance, other than picking a natural wax for a smokeless burn, if you are making a DIY pillar candle you will want a wax that is good for making pillars. A few other factors to consider are the scent throw, blend, and the life of the candle.
Let’s take a minute to discuss the type of candles you are making. This will assist you in making the right decision on what wax to use.
Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are candles that are not created in a container, they stand up by themselves. The best waxes used to create pillar candles are paraffin wax, beeswax, palm wax, and wax blends.
Container Candles
Container candles are created inside a glass jar, a metal tin or other type of container. You have pretty much free rein with wax for making container candles. You can use soy wax, a soy-paraffin blend, paraffin, palm wax, and beeswax.
Votive Candles
Votive candles are designed to sit in small, glass containers. Because they are not freestanding, you can use a variety of waxes like soy wax, palm wax, beeswax, wax blends, and paraffin wax.
Tealight Candles
Tealights candles are smaller than votives. They sit inside small, cylindrical metal or clear plastic containers. You can make tealights using most waxes. You can use soy wax, palm wax, beeswax, paraffin wax, and soy/paraffin blends.
Taper Candles
Tapered candles are long, narrow and sit in candlesticks. The best waxes to use are paraffin wax and beeswax.
Tarts
Tarts are candles without wicks that can be melted in a potpourri or tart burner. You can use both paraffin wax and any of the natural waxes to make tarts.
Gel Candles
Gel candles are soft and gelatin-like and are made inside a container. They’re not made with wax, but instead made with a mineral-oil based gel.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which candle wax will last the longest?
Soy and Beeswax will last longer, but wax is not the only factor that causes the candle to burn longer. You can find some soy-based candles that will tell you that they burn for 50 hours. Soy does tend to burn 50% longer than paraffin.
The other factors that can determine how long a candle will burn is how much fragrance is added, the wick, and the container the candle is in.
Which was is the best for holding its scent the longest?
Paraffin wax is going to give you the longest scent burn, but soy would give you a cleaner burn and is the closest to keeping its scent as long as paraffin.
Looking to start your own candle making business, check out my startup documents here
Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.

Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Candle Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online candle business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a candle business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Candle Business Boss: I want to help candle business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.
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