candle making 101: how to select the right wax for any project Finding the right wax is easier than you may think! In this article, you'll learn how to select the appropriate wax for your container candles, wax melts, pillars, and more.

While there are many wax varieties to choose from, knowing the type of finished product you want to make is the simplest way to start. This is called the wax application, and the two main choices are container or pillar. Manufacturers formulate their waxes for use within these applications, so let’s look at the characteristics and differences between them.

Specifically formulated for container candles, container wax is made for use in jars, tumblers, tins, glass, and other candle making containers. Container wax is designed to adhere to a container as it cools and may be softer in consistency.

While paraffin and soy are the most common varieties of container wax, you can also find container waxes made from various materials like coconut, apricot, and more.

Pillar wax is formulated for pillar candles, wax melts, tarts, votives, and any other wax product that needs to hold its own shape. Because there’s no container surrounding the wax, pillar wax is a harder wax that’s also designed to pull away from the mold as it cools, allowing for an easier release from the mold.

Like container wax, pillar waxes are made from various materials like paraffin, soy, and beeswax.

Most candle suppliers clearly state “container” or “pillar” on wax labels and their online product descriptions. Check the label or online description to confirm that the wax application aligns with the needs of your project.

Now that we’ve broken down the two main categories of wax, let’s discuss the different wax varieties. 

Made from soybeans, soy wax generally has a longer burn time, produces less black soot, and is often preferred by consumers who value naturally-derived products. Its appearance is opaque, semi-matte, and creamy white. Soy candles are known for their impressive cold throw, which can provide a light scent even when they’re not lit. 

Frosting is a common occurrence with soy wax candles. It’s caused by tiny crystal formations on the surface of cooled soy wax and looks like a white-ish coating. While frosting doesn’t create burn issues, it’s a common aesthetic concern. Soy wax also tends to form a bumpy, uneven top when it cools. However, many soy wax lovers enjoy frosting and bumpy tops because they indicate that a candle or melt is made with pure soy wax.

Paraffin is the most widely used candle wax on the market. Many people don’t consider paraffin a natural wax because it’s made from petroleum, but modern paraffin candle wax is highly refined and performs extremely well in candles and melts. The appearance of paraffin wax is colorless and typically pretty translucent, so rich, vibrant colors are easy to achieve with smaller amounts of dye. Paraffin wax tends to have an excellent hot throw and smooth tops after cooling. 

Most mass-market candles are made with paraffin wax, so consumers are often familiar with the way it burns. Paraffin wax candles tend to leave a bit of wax hang-up on the sides of containers after the first few burns, but that unmelted wax liquefies as the candle is burned further down. While paraffin wax doesn’t frost, it often shrinks down after it cools and usually leaves a divot around the wick. Many candle makers who use paraffin incorporate a second pour into their candle making process to fill any sunken areas.

As you’ve probably guessed, blended waxes offer the best of both worlds. Blended waxes are made of at least two different types of wax. The specific formula of wax blends is held as the wax manufacturer’s proprietary information, but the waxes used are usually shared. 

Soy and paraffin blends combine soy wax’s slow-burning and cold throw qualities with paraffin’s smooth aesthetic finish and optimal hot throw. 

While soy and paraffin blends are probably the most popular blends on the market, there are plenty of other blended waxes to peruse. Soy and coconut wax, for example, uses coconut-derived wax to minimize frosting and reduce rough tops after burning.

Selecting the right wax for candles and wax melt projects can make a huge difference in their outcome. The right wax will help bring the project you envisioned to fruition. Plus, you’ll avoid frustration and save time by thoughtfully choosing your wax. 

Understanding the wax selection process is another step to becoming a more confident, knowledgeable maker. Remember to give yourself credit for the time, energy, and willpower it takes to master a new skill.

As you gain experience, you’ll learn the difference between waxes first-hand and begin to notice the difference in the way they behave. If you don’t already have a favorite wax, you will soon!