candle wax

Natural soy wax blends are often recommended as the best candle wax for beginners due to their ease of use and clean-burning properties.

For beginners, we suggest Coconut Apricot Wax for container candles and CocoSol Soy Pillar Wax for melts and pillars. 

Other beginner-friendly wax options for container candles include Golden Brands 464 Soy Wax and IGI 6006, and BW-921 for wax melts and molded candles. 

Soy wax is a natural, plant-based wax made from soybean oil. It’s renewable and typically easy to handle, measure, and melt.

Paraffin wax, the most commonly used wax for candles, is a byproduct of refining crude oil. It is popular for its capacity to retain strong color and fragrance.

If you’re wondering, “Where does soy wax come from? How is soy wax made?” we’ve got you covered. Read our brief explainer to discover the answer to "What exactly is soy wax?"

Many professional and artisan candle makers opt for natural waxes because of their specific needs and product positioning. In contrast, commercial manufacturers often prefer paraffin wax for its excellent color and fragrance retention.

Ultimately, the wax you choose depends on your preferences and goals. Learn all about the different types of wax in our candle wax guide.

It’s essential to use oil-based dyes that are specifically formulated for wax when adding color to candles and melts. Avoid water-based dyes because water and wax don’t mix. The wax and dye will separate and possibly ruin the candle.

Candle dyes are available in liquid and block forms. Liquid dyes blend easily into wax, providing uniform color distribution and precise control over shade intensity. Dye blocks can be easier to handle and are good when working with large batches of wax.

A note about dyes and waxes: soy wax results in lighter, pastel colors, while paraffin wax produces darker, vibrant shades.

For beginners and hobbyists, we recommend using the double boiler method to melt candle wax. This popular technique heats the wax slowly and evenly.

Watch our soy wax candle-making video to learn how! 

Ready to make lots of candles? A steel wax melter is the most efficient tool to melt wax when making large batches. Check out our 19-lb melter and 65-lb melter options.  

Common types of candle wax are paraffin, soy, beeswax, and natural wax blends. Each has unique properties and benefits, suitable for different applications.

Candle waxes with lower melting points are typically used for container candles, while those with higher melting points are preferred for pillars, melts, or tarts.

Check out our wax guide to learn more about candle wax options and their uses. 

It’s best to use fragrances specifically developed and tested for candles. All of our fragrance oils are formulated for exceptional performance in soy and natural candle waxes. 

We also evaluate our essential oils for performance in candle and wax applications. For essential oils approved for candle making, we provide Candle Maker’s Notes on each oil’s product page.  

Our leaf rating system helps you to quickly identify how well a fragrance or essential oil performs in soy wax candles. Find the leaf rating for every fragrance on its product page in the Details box next to Soy Performance.

Candle wax blends are combinations of more than one kind of wax. Combining different wax types allows makers to achieve specific qualities. For instance, coconut wax is frequently blended with soy wax to produce high-quality candles that offer excellent scent throw and a smooth finish.

Here are some of our favorite wax blends:

• CandleScience Coconut Apricot Wax
• CandleScience CocoSol Soy Pillar Wax
• IGI 6006 Paraffin/Soy Blend Wax

Yes, you can order candle wax in bulk at discounted prices with fast LTL shipping. No special merchant or wholesale account is required! For more information, please visit our wholesale supplies page.