Guide to Candle Wax Types
When making DIY aromatherapy candles, selecting the right wax is a crucial step that significantly impacts the candle's burn quality, scent throw, appearance, and environmental footprint. The world of candle waxes is diverse, with each type offering unique properties and benefits. Understanding these differences empowers you to choose the perfect wax for your crafting projects. Here is a Guide to Candle Wax Types used in handmade aromatherapy candles.
Soy Wax
Derived from hydrogenated soybean oil, Soy Wax is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable resource. It's a top choice for many candle makers due to its excellent performance. Candles made with soy wax are less prone to pulling away from the container (cavities) and cracking. It holds color beautifully, providing an even pigment distribution.
A major advantage of soy wax is its clean burn; it doesn't release toxins or known carcinogens into the air. Furthermore, it burns slower and cooler than paraffin, offering a 30-50% longer burn time, which makes your candles last longer.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural substance secreted by honeybees. It's available in its natural yellow form (often called honeycomb wax) and a bleached, white version. Generally more expensive than other waxes, it boasts a subtle, natural honey aroma.
Beeswax is known for increasing the hardness and density of a candle blend. It is often mixed with softer waxes like soy to extend the burning time and add a lovely natural fragrance to the candle.
Coconut Wax
Extracted from coconut oil, this wax is prized for its exceptionally smooth and creamy texture. It has a very subtle, sweet coconut scent that doesn't interfere with fragrance oils. Coconut wax creates candles with a beautifully smooth, flat surface after burning.
It is renowned for its excellent scent throw, holding and releasing fragrances superbly. Burning cleanly with minimal soot, it's an ideal choice for creating high-quality, luxurious aromatherapy candles.
Ice Wax (Palm Wax)
Ice Wax, a type of palm wax, is celebrated for its stunning, unique crystalline patterns that resemble ice crystals or feathers. It comes in two main forms: large crystal and small crystal, both creating a beautiful, decorative "ice flower" effect on the candle's surface.
This wax is primarily chosen for its high visual appeal and is commonly used for making artistic candles like "painting" candles or candles in acrylic molds where the beautiful texture is the highlight.
Jelly Wax
Jelly Wax is a mineral-oil-based wax known for its transparency and gel-like consistency. It comes in two forms: Hard Jelly Wax, which is crystal clear and rigid like glass, and Soft Jelly Wax, which is more pliable and gelatinous.
Its main advantage is the unique visual effects it creates. You can embed objects like shells, stones, or decorative elements within the transparent gel, making it perfect for container candles and creative, ornamental designs.
#Candles #SoyWax #Beeswax #CandleMaking #DIYcandles #WaxTypes #AromatherapyCandles #CandleScience #EcoFriendly #SmallBusiness