A Buyer’s Guide to Understanding Candle Wax Types
Executive Summary about Wax Candles by Lisa Robbin
Candle wax
While considered a natural wax, these candles burn poorly and have a foul stench associated with them.
Palm wax is likely the longest burning type of natural wax. It is also one of the most difficult to work with, and as such, can be expensive.
Beeswax, highly prized for it’s long, clean burning, dripless design, is also a costly wax, making these types of candles more of a luxury item.
Bayberry, like beeswax, is an expensive wax, and best suited to tarts or tapers, as larger diameter candles do not burn as well.
Paraffin is one of the oldest man-made types of candle wax, and is traditionally the least expensive.
Mineral-oil based candles consist of container type gel candles and free-standing clear wax candles.
Gel candles are also a mineral-oil based product, but are full of bubbles, and earned quite a bad reputation.
By understanding the differences in candle waxes, you can make an educated decision about the kinds of candles to buy for your needs.
What Type of Candle Wax Should I Buy?
Executive Summary about Wax Candles by Beki Dohse
Paraffin wax users seem to have fewer problems finding suitable wicks for their candles. The wax doesn’t have the viscosity of palm wax for example. Viscosity is the hardness of the wax. Some people believe that natural wax candles burn cleaner than paraffin candles. We found in our trials that paraffin candles contributed the most soot, followed by vegetable waxes with paraffin added, soy candles and the cleanest burn from palm wax. If you are making pillar candles and you want the pillar to burn so you can visually see its flame, then don’t use palm wax. A palm wax candle can’t be cupped like a paraffin candle. Soy wax candles have a creamy texture to them, unless of course they have palm wax added to them. A candle only has to be 25% soy wax to be called a soy wax candle. Soy candles that have patterns are not all soy wax. Soy wax is an easier wax to work with than palm wax. Candle carving and water candles are best achieved with paraffin. Candles that are transparent use gel candle waxes. And the easiest candle to make is a beeswax candle, if you are using the sheets of wax.
Check out other guide on Soy Candle
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August 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
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