Feeling lost when it comes to the different types of waxes and their uses? We’re here to share all the essential information you need for making your own scented candles at home.
Wax is the main component of your candle, and choosing the right one is absolutely crucial for the success of your creations. Each type has its own unique properties that are important to understand.
These guides will help you understand how each one works, while also helping you avoid common issues during the candle-making process or when cleaning up wax spills. If you’re looking for the specifics and uses of a particular product, we invite you to check the product pages for our Cargill, Kerax and other waxes.
Our guides on waxes
The different types of candle waxes
3 categories of waxes and 1 of additives are available on Terre de Bougies. They are very different and have more or less interest depending on your creative desires.
Vegetable waxes from raw materials of natural origin
We offer a selection of high quality, environmentally friendly vegetable waxes. Vegetable waxes are made using natural oils such as soy, rapeseed, palm or coconut.
- Soy wax ensures excellent scent diffusion no matter what creation you envision. In our opinion, it is the best wax for making cast candles. It is also interesting for molded candles, but also scented fondants.
- Rapeseed wax has a long lifespan suitable for all types of creation, but is more used for molded candles and melts. Its low melting point has many advantages, although it is more difficult to work with to obtain good results.
- Olive wax is made from olive oil. It is the ideal wax for making scented melts and moulded candles with a shiny finish.
- Coconut wax is a vegetable wax obtained by hydrogenating coconut oil. Composed of approximately 90% saturated fatty acids, it has a smooth surface and a characteristic bright white colour. Used in candle making, it improves combustion by ensuring that the material melts evenly.
- Palm wax is an interesting alternative for making long-burning molded candles. When unmolding, the wax comes cleanly from the mold. Stearin comes from fatty mixtures and is obtained by fractionating the solid components of processed palm oil.
- Made from sunflower oil, sunflower wax is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins.
Mineral waxes like paraffin
At the top of the list of mineral waxes, we find the famous paraffin. Derived from petroleum, it has long been used for the manufacture of scented candles because it is the latter which has the best fragrance restitution characteristics.
Easy to work with for everyone (to the great benefit of beginners), it is often found in industrial candles, but its origin raises questions for the health of individuals and the environment.
Animal waxes like beeswax
Beeswax is the animal and natural wax par excellence. Resulting from bee secretions, beeswax makes it possible to make natural, unscented molded candles as well as votive candles. It is also widely used in the manufacture of cosmetics and as an additive in soaps or scented candles by improving the olfactory rendering and shine of the wax. Its unique scent will also beautify your unscented candle.
Additives improve the properties of your mixtures
Among the wax additives, we find vegetable stearin or even stabilizers .
Stearin is a palm-based fatty acid that can be used alone or in addition to soy wax, for example. Thanks to it, you can color your creations easily or considerably increase the lifespan of your candle thanks to the increase in the melting point due to its opacifying effect when the acid is consumed.
Stabilizers have properties used to homogenize or stabilize your creation. The BE60 homogenizer will fix the oil in your scented candle by optimizing the combustion rate while the CS 6000 stabilizer will protect your candle against thermal changes thanks to its anti-oxidation capacity.
Tips for making and storing your wax properly
By following these simple steps, you’ll ensure optimal quality for your candles from making them to storing them.
Before Pouring Your Wax into the Container
To ensure a flawless result, make sure to properly prepare your containers or moulds:
- Thoroughly clean your containers or moulds to remove any dust or residue.
- Gently warm your containers or moulds before pouring in the wax. This helps improve adhesion and reduces the risk of cracks.
For a Flawless Finish
To achieve a perfectly smooth surface, once your candles are fully set, you can gently heat the tops. This will help eliminate small imperfections and give them a neat, polished finish.
Storing Your Wax
To preserve your future creations, follow these recommendations:
- Store your wax in an airtight box or bag to prevent deterioration from air exposure.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity, all of which can affect its quality.
- Place it on a slightly elevated surface to avoid moisture absorption or contamination from the ground.
Conclusion
Mastering candle-making begins with a solid understanding of waxes and their characteristics. By following this guide, you'll be better equipped to choose the right wax for your projects whether your priority is sustainability, aesthetics, or practicality.
We invite you to read our next article to learn more about specific aspects of using soy wax for candles.
