Best Type of Wax for Candle Making

How to choose the right wax for your candles?

Making candles require high-quality supplies, lots of testing, and an attitude to learn and improve. And of course, to have fun in your candle making journey too! One crucial decision for a successful candle is which type of wax to use, and with so many waxes available on the market, it can be difficult to make the right selection. Let’s explore the most common candle making waxes.

Soy wax

It is a plant-based wax originating from soybeans and highly popular due to an increase in demand for natural candles. It is commonly used in glass or metal containers due to its easy adhesion. Soy wax has a lower melting point than other natural waxes and good fragrance retention.

Origin: The USA is the largest producer of soy wax, followed by South America. The majority of the large wax manufacturers are situated in the USA. Soy waxes are generally made from 100% soybean oil, blended with soy-based additives or vegetable-derived additives for stability.

Fun Fact: 100% soy wax does not exist! All soy wax requires up to 10% additives for stability as soy is a very unstable compound. However, waxes such as Cargill’s C3 are classified as 100% soy based wax as the additives are derived from soybeans too. This is as close to 100% soy as you can get!

Uses: Containers, pillar and moulded candles, wax melts, and tealights.

Below are some of the popular soy waxes:

Cargill’s C-3 Soy Wax – If you love a 100% soy-based and vegan wax, this is a great choice! It produces a smooth glossy finish with every pour and has very good scent retention. Ideal for container candles, wax melts, and tealights.

Orchid Wax SB60 Soy Wax – Specially formulated to be a vegan, kosher, 100% natural, soy wax, SB 60 is ideal for container candles. If you want the best hot throw (aka best-smelling soy candle when lit), this is the wax for you!

Orchid Wax SB45 Soy Blend Wax – A personal favourite, never fail, easy-to-use soy blend wax. It is also vegan-friendly and is a popular wax amongst some of the largest candle manufacturers in Australia due to its ease of use and excellent cold and hot scent throw. In short, best soy blend wax on the market! Ideal for container candles.

Tip: When experimenting with colour, use SB 45 to avoid frosting.

GW 464– One of the most popular kosher soy wax! Gives great glass adhesion, good scent retention, and produces a smooth creamy finish. Ideal for container candles. Can be used in melts and tealights.

Pillar and Melt Blend – Vegan, natural, high-quality soy blend wax ideal for making melts, freestanding pillar candles, and moulded candles. Pillar and moulded candles require a soy blend wax that is harder than soy wax for containers.

Why not try our sample wax packs for container candles? Just like a little tasting plate to see which is your favourite wax. Or explore our all-inclusive candle making kits. Simply open the kit and start making candles or wax melts.

Paraffin wax

It is a white, odourless hydrocarbon wax. It is categorised by its melting points. eg 50- 58°C paraffin wax, 60-62°C paraffin wax. It is easy to handle and has excellent colour and fragrance retention in comparison to soy wax. It is also a cost-effective and reliable wax that is used mainly for pillar and moulded candles. Paraffin wax can also be blended with soy wax for a highly scented candle.

Origin: A by-product from the purification of petroleum. China is the largest producer and has plans to increase production in the next 10 years.

Fun Fact: Paraffin wax is very versatile. Wine makers use paraffin wax to line concrete vats before the start of the wine making season every year!

Uses: Pillars, votives, tealights, tapers, tarts, and other moulded candles.

Jelly wax

Also known as gel wax, is a soft transparent ‘jelly-like’ wax, used for making decorative container candles. Get creative and make a variety of candles with special effects! Embed seashells and sand for a beach theme candle, or dried fruits and cinnamon sticks for the kitchen. Try placing dried flowers in the jelly wax for a romantic effect.

Origen: Mineral oils and polymer resin.

Uses: Suitable for container candles.

Tip: Fill 1/2 of the container with jelly wax and place embeds. Once jelly wax is fully set, fill the top 1/2 of the container with soy wax. Now you will have a pretty-looking, good-smelling candle!

Beeswax

It is an eco-friendly, 100% natural wax with a sweet honey fragrance and golden colour.  Our South Australian beeswax is a pure, triple-filtered wax of the highest quality. Perfect wax for making natural candles of any kind! Melts, tarts, votives, pillars, and other moulded candles. Because of its natural honey-sweet scent, it can be used alone or combined with other fragrances. Beeswax is also an important ingredient in lip balms, body butter, and cosmetics.

Fun Fact: Melted beeswax is applied to a cloth to make beeswax wrap. So easy to make a DIY beeswax wrap. Or add colour to create beeswax crayons for the kids.

Origin: Sourced directly from beekeepers.

Uses: Melts, tarts, votives, pillars and moulded candles.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Candle Wax:

• The type of candles you want to make.
• How much you are willing to spend.
• When running a candle business, what marketing attributes do you want to use to promote your candles e.g. 100 % Soy based candles, Best smelling candles, Vegan candles.

Always test the wax with your fragrance and wicks selection before launching your candles!

Wax Comparison Chart

Candle Wax	Tarts/ Melts	Containers	Pillar Candles	Origin	Melting Point °C	Vegan Friendly	Suitable Wicks
Beeswax	X	X	X	Bees	62 – 65		CDN
Jelly Wax		X		Mineral oil & thermoplastic elastomer	75 – 85		CDN
Paraffin Wax	X	X	X	By product from purification of petroleum	60 – 62		CDN – Wooden
Orchid Wax Pillar & Melt Blend	X		X	Soy / Paraffin	53 – 57	X	CDN
Orchid Wax SB45		X		Soy / Paraffin	40 – 46	X	VRL – Wooden
Orchid Wax SB60		X		Soy based	55 – 60	X	CDN – VRL – Wooden
Cargill’s C3 Soy Wax	X	X		100% Soy based	51 – 54	X	CDN – Wooden
Golden Wax GW 464	X	X		Soy based	45 – 48	X	CDN – Wooden