Let's talk about wax, baby!

There are many different types of wax available for scented candles and many different opinions about which wax is best, healthiest, worst or even bad for you.

Beeswax has been used in candle making for thousands of years and coconut, soy, vegetable blends and petroleum/paraffin are much more recently introduced to candle making. Each wax has different properties and therefore has pluses and minuses for its use.

Which is the best candle wax?

This is the million dollar question and I wish I could give you an answer but it really does depend on what you want. Soy wax is the "trendy" wax of the moment and is considered to give you the longest burn time. However the burn time is greatly affected by where you burn your candle, the fragrance oils that have been used including the amount of oil, the temperature of the room, the container it's in and even the wick. The latter being more important than many realise.

The candle with the best scent throw?

For me, scent throw is probably one of the most important things in a candle, as it is the fragrances floating around the room that I love. Paraffin wax is currently considered to give the best scent throw and giving a strong fragrance. For this reason most luxury and high street brand candles still use paraffin. It is also extremely easy to work with. Newer waxes such as soy, coconut and rapeseed waxes are all getting better and better. I am currently producing candles using a coconut and rapeseed wax and it is my now go to wax and is equaling the paraffin wax I have in it's scent throw. It is a little trickier to work with and get the fragrances to settle with the wax, melt point is very low and it has to be watched closely but I currently feel it is one of the best waxes around. It can also be classed as totally vegan and additive free. Most soy waxes even have additives or something else in the blend.

I've heard candle wax is toxic?

Carcinogenic, allergens, chemical releases have all been branded around for candles. A good paraffin candle is made with food grade paraffin but I still wouldn't suggest you eat it. The fragrances are more likely to give a reaction. That being said, there are some waxes that release small amounts of chemicals and volatile organic compounds into the air, paraffin wax being the main culprit for this. These shouldn't be a cause for concern as the amounts are small but there are now many other options for people who wish to avoid this.

The "natural" waxes such as soy, rapeseed, coconut and beeswax all burn cleanly and won't pollute the air you breathe. Beeswax has even had claims that it can actually improve the air quality and good for asthma sufferers but I can't give any opinion on those claims. Anything that burns will produce small amount of carbon and wicks can be more of a problem. Always ensure the candle you choose has a clean burn, preferably cotton. Wooden wicks are in fashion at the moment but are not my personal choice, they burn hotter, can smoke more and there are more bad wooden wicks available than the one or two good ones around. The fragrances added to the waxes are far more likely to cause someone to feel unwell, if you or a pet become unwell after accidentally ingesting candle wax or whilst a candle is burning please seek medical attention and each fragranced candle should come with details about the fragrances used.

So let's compare the waxes!

Soy

- first used in 1996 and is often blended with other waxes including paraffin or palm to try to improve it's scent throw as this is the area that let's soy wax dow. However for some a more subtle scent is a bonus. Soy is considered more environmentally friendly than paraffin wax being natural, biodegradable and renewable. It burns slower and cleaner. It is also cheaper than many other types of wax.

Coconut

- Coconut or a blend of coconut and rapeseed as I mentioned before being my new wax of choice is the newest wax to the market. This really is the eco friendly choice. Coconut wax burns slowly, has excellent hot AND cold scent throw. This means having an unlit candle in the room is like having a bowl of potpourri in the room. It is creamy and the most luxurious. Coconut wax is the clear winner in the eco friendly stakes as even harvesting the crop is an organic process ( unlike soy) and it is very sustainable.

Paraffin

The old timer. Still used a lot as it holds scent and colour well. It is a mineral wax and is a by product of crude oil. This is the wax most used in the high street candle brands. Still a great choice if you're after that strong scent throw.

Beeswax

This is the original candle! This isn't usually scented as it actually has a natural sweet slightly honey smell. If it is used with fragrances it is often mixed with another wax to help firm it and hold the scent. I have a batch of beeswax candles coming soon. Beeswax is considered the healthy choice as it is smokeless and spotless and can actually help purify the air. It is naturally made by bees in their honey production. Definitely one that's stood the test of time.

Rapeseed

This is the new kid. It hold fragrance wonderfully, great scent throw and burn time. As I said, the wax I'm currently working with is a mix of rapeseed and coconut, The best of both worlds. Luxurious and in my opinion has given all the answers to the reasons that paraffin has hung around so long. It is sustainable, renewable and is usually locally sourced so can have a greener footprint. This is the one to watch!

So that the run down on the waxes.. I don't think many people actually think about the type of wax when they buy a candle. However we are becoming more health conscious and aware of the sustainability and environmental factors. So the choice is yours.

Enjoy your candles!