Choosing the Right Candle Wax
There are a fair number of waxes used in modern candle making. We touch upon some of the historical ones. There are some rare candle waxes too but for the most part, their performance is no better, and often less effective than commercial and easier to obtain waxes.
The waxes used in candle making are of the highest quality and no wax from any one particular source is better or safer than any other. It really comes down to the wax’s performance relative to the intended use and if the sourcing is sustainable and ethical.
We’re going to touch upon the most typical waxes used in candle making…
There are two main types to consider: the waxes derived from plant origins and those derived from minerals. Both are natural products and are safe to use in candles. The difference? Plant origin waxes are (technically) sustainable and mineral waxes depend on an unsustainable source for their production. Besides some technical parameters such as burning and scenting performance, the choice of which wax to use really comes down to the sustainability and other ethical factors versus overall performance.
Beyond that point, it is dependent on the use of the candle. For example, the waxes used in Pillar type candles may use different waxes to those preferred for scented and decorative/carved candles may benefit from an entirely different wax type altogether.
Plant waxes
Plant waxes are usually blends, even if they’re not advertised as such. Most every plant wax requires either hardening or softening and as such a wax producer blends two or more to create a singular wax blend that is usable. Some plant origin waxes may also be blended with natural mineral wax (like paraffin). Others may contain additives too.
Plant wax is produced via a process of hydrogenation – taking the respective plant oil and turning the unsaturated fats in the liquid oil into a solid fat – wax! This process means that the wax will remain solid at room temperature and the melt-point increased. As we know, a wax needs to remain solid at room temperature and melt at elevated temperatures. We won’t get too bogged down in the technicalities of production though.
Coconut
From the ‘meat’ and kernel of the coconut plant. Other products used in candle making can be produced from this plant such as Triglycerides. Coconut oil and wax is a sustainable material as the producing countries govern the industry closely, as coconut products are major contributors to the respective economies.
Rapeseed
From the seed of the rapeseed plant. Rapeseed has multiple uses and is one of the oldest vegetable oil sources (when flowering, it is also the main crop visited by honeybees!). European Rapeseed oil and wax is a sustainable material adhering to clear legislation.
Palm
From the fruit of the palm plant. Other products used in candle making can be produced from this plant such as Triglycerides. Palm oil and wax is a sustainable material however the demand for palm oil products has pushed producers into questionable practises. Due to such practices, Palm oil and thus wax is not considered sustainable.
Soy
From the seed of the soy plant. Soy is one of the biggest cash crops and has many uses namely in food production. Soy wax is an effective and economical wax for candles however the sheer demand for the crop has had a notable environmental impact, much the same as Palm oil/wax.
HEROWN candles use a blend of Coconut and Rapeseed wax. In our opinion, coconut and rapeseed waxes are currently the most sustainable source of wax (and, in comparison to other waxes, have supply chains with the most ethically transparent practices) with each singular wax requiring the properties of the other so as to function effectively. The supplier of our coconut and rapeseed blend wax certifies that this wax is free from Palm, Soy, Beeswax, Paraffin, Polymers, GMO materials and any other additive - the result of years of development between our supplier and the wax producer.
Mineral waxes
Mineral waxes come from the earth and are all-natural products. Usually mineral waxes are on the softer side and require specific hardening. As such it is most likely that a mineral wax has a small amount of natural Triglyceride added. The most common Triglyceride is derived from plants – Palm or Coconut namely (we prefer Coconut). In years past the Triglyceride used was from animal sources however that practice is waning in more recent decades and plant derived Triglyceride is more common.
Paraffin
The by-product of light lubricant de-waxing. Paraffin wax possesses the best overall burning and scenting performance of all waxes however it has non-sustainable credentials as it relies on petroleum, an unsustainable source of oil.
Disclaimer: our wicks have a single coating of paraffin wax to help with rigidity and combustion – most wicks do! Currently we do not sell any paraffin wax candles.
Microcrystalline
Not as common as Paraffin wax. Its production is pretty much the same as paraffin, it behaves in a similar manner too however from our extensive trials most microcrystalline wax requires more processing (to remove the inherent darker hue and stronger aroma) than paraffin.
Other waxes
Of course, Beeswax candles are still around however not as commonly used in scented candle production, as it already has a conspicuous aroma.
There is also some notable progress with synthetic waxes but for the most part, the synthetic waxes with great performance are in relatively low supply and as such are quite costly for small candle companies. There are a handful of companies developing synthetic waxes and we hope that someday soon, they will offer these in smaller quantities and with improved performance. Watch this space!
Wax sourcing and selection
Ok, the title may have been a bit misleading as we actually source our waxes from a supplier who in turn works closely with a wax producer who themselves work closely at source… so we don’t actually go out into the wild and source our waxes directly. We work with a responsible company and producer to do all that stuff. Perhaps in time we can go direct to source but hey, that’s a long way off! With that said, we have spent years sourcing wax from various producers, testing and assessing so we have performed our fair share of research in this area.
If you have any specific questions pertaining to the sourcing of candle waxes, fire us an email – hello@herownstore.com
How we choose our wax at HEROWN
We use the best-suited wax for the desired outcome and we are always conscious of the impact we are having, may have or are contributing towards. As such we always investigate if alternative materials exist. Where the most balanced raw materials can be used, we use them, as long as the end product is not compromised as a direct result.
Our approach is always to create the best possible product and at every opportunity reduced or at least try to balance our impact. We are aware that making candles has an impact and as scented candles like we make at HEROWN have no primary practical necessity - i.e. they’re not made exclusively for lighting purposes – so the need for scented candles is arguably quite low. It would be wrong for us to take a higher moral standing knowing this.
We are conscious of the impact we may have or are having and operate with eyes open. We aim to make the best quality, lowest impact product.
In our opinion there are two criteria for choosing a wax;
Efficiency relative to function: what do we need the candle to do, how will it require functioning and which option is the most effective solution?
As we deal exclusively with scented container candles, we require the burning characteristics and the scent performance to be efficient.Origin: where does the wax come from and is the supply sustainable and ethical?
We always wish to operate responsibly, and balance and reduce our ecological impact where we can, so we always look for a wax supply that delivers the aforementioned functionality efficiently with sustainable and ethical sourcing credentials. That’s not as easy a task as it may sound!
A little more about the wax used at HEROWN…
Basically, we want our products to make the biggest impression on you but with the smallest footprint.
As lovers of nature, animals, people and the planet we absolutely want to best for all concerned. Our approach is always to create the best quality and best performing product we can, as safely, cleanly and with as little impact as we can – we are not alone on that quest!
Where we can we use the most sustainable materials considering each of their respective impact and above all else we look at their ethicality – we don’t wish for people and animals to be harmed and we equally don’t wish for the planet to be destroyed in the process of producing our raw materials either.
At the time of writing the most sustainable wax that is widely available with the overall best performance is considered to be coconut and rapeseed blend wax.
The original coconut blend we started using a number of years ago has been improved upon further and now contains only coconut wax and rapeseed wax, nothing else! This wax blend has, in our testing, better burning and scent performance of all plant origin waxes and to boot, both coconut and rapeseed are sustainable sources with ethical supply chains – win-win!
The coconut wax used in our wax blend is sourced from either the Philippines or the Dominican Republic. Coconut harvesting is closely governed and the supply chain for coconut-derived products is well maintained, more than other plant oil/wax supplies. We are assured by our supplier that our supply is ethically and responsibly sourced.
The Rapeseed we use is GMO-free and is from a European supplier conforming to all EU legislation with regards crop cultivation and workforce and workplace laws.
Considering the use of paraffin
We test all of our fragrances in every wax. Usually the performance is best in either coconut and rapeseed blend or paraffin. We often find that paraffin produces the best overall performance for scented container candles but not always as plant origin wax gives some special effects to certain fragrance blends. On balance, most fragrances can be used with a coconut and rapeseed blend wax.
Each of our wicks have a single coating of paraffin to start, this helps with wick structure (without the need for metal cores/structuring) and as a combustion aide. The level of paraffin used to coat our wicks is negligible, but we want to give you full disclosure on this point. Many companies out there will be using paraffin wax in their products by way of their wicks either without knowing or without disclosing, even if they state they do not use paraffin in their candles… it's always best to press your favourite brands!
Paraffin wax is as safe as plant origin wax. Paraffin wax is a natural product but it is a by-product of the petroleum industry so it cannot boast sustainable sourcing credentials, as petroleum is a finite resource. There is no ban or restriction on the use of paraffin wax in candles. We have found no research that proves any health risks associated with using paraffin wax (no company would be able to use the stuff and no producer would be able to sell it if this were the case).
As it stands, paraffin and plant origin waxes both pose no risk to our health. If you have verifiable and credible information to the contrary, please do email us with your findings hello@herownstore.com .
Currently we do not use paraffin wax in our HEROWN candles, but we are working on a number of new candle fragrances that may benefit from paraffin. Should we offer any candles with paraffin wax, full disclosure will be given.
The last word
Regardless of whether your candle is made from plant (coconut or rapeseed say) or mineral (paraffin), both of which are natural waxes… burning ANY candle has an impact on the planet (albeit a minuscule one in relative terms).
Thankfully plants are a sustainable source for wax if they are cultivated and harvested responsibly. Regrettably paraffin wax relies on unsustainable sources.
Besides the unique properties inherent with each wax source (either favourable or otherwise), sustainability and ethicality in supply is really the only factors that require thought.
Burning plant waxes or paraffin wax candles has not been proven to negatively impact your health, so we are good on that front.
In short, we advise buying high quality candles and burning them as a special treat, savouring the atmosphere they create and the joy they bring to both you and others in your home.