Types of Candle Wax

Nowadays, with the popularity of making candles rising day by day, the types of candle wax available has also seen to be increasing. Candlemakers are always on the look out for new materials, fragrances, waxes and accessories for their candle creations. Let’s get into the types of candle waxes that are availabe, and some of their essential uses.

Although there is a wide array of candle waxes to choose from, the majority of candles are made from a refined petroleum, the main wax that is produced from the petroleum is known as paraffin wax. Parrafin wax is by far the most commonly used wax, for various reasons. But mainly because it’s widely available, and inexpensive compared to alternative wax.

Other waxes that are used are created from a variety natural materials, that are both refined from vegetables and plant materials, such as palm, soy and bayberry. Soy based waxes are created by processing by hdrogenating soybeans which constructs them into a suitable wax for candles. Another great factor of soy wax, is that it is a renewable resource and is very eco-friendly.

Palm wax is also a renewable eco-friendly and natural resource just like soy. However, there has been a lot of problems with palm wax production over recent years. Due to it’s growing popularity, many countries cleared out vast areas of trees and rainforests in order to make way for the palm plantations to grow the palm wax. This ofcourse comprised nature, and the even let to endangering animals like the sumatran tiger and rhinoceroses amonst others. So if you decide to use palm wax in your candles, make sure you purchase palm that they are obtaining wax in an eco-friendly way.

Many people decide to make their candles from beeswax, which is exactly what you think it is, wax harvested from bees. The beeswax that used to make candles grows in the bee hives of honey bees. Beeswax can be obtained in yellow or white, however the primary drawback of beeswax is that it’s far more expensive than the other wax alternatives. There are other waxes that come from animal based materials other than beeswax, such as plan and bayberry.

The next type of wax that can be used to make candles, is gel. Gel candle are a new and inventive way to create candles. The gel is a clear and has a texture of rubbery consistency. But gel wax is used much the same way that the rest of the waxes are used. However, gel wax is available in three different amounts of density. The density that you chose depends on the type of candles that you ‘re going to be making, and the amount of fragrances that you intend to be adding to your candles. Low density wax is ideal for candles that you do not intend to add fragrance to, but they can hold a load of about 3% if you want to add scents to it. High density is used for candles that are intended to have a very strong fragrance. And finally, medium density gel, which is the most popular density of the gel wax can hold about 3-5% fragrance oils.

With there being numerous different varieties of wax available these days. Candlemakers are enabled the ability of picking the type of wax that works out best for them. Once a candlemaker is capable of understanding how each type of wax behaives, and the results you can achieve with the different types of wax. Then the candlemaker is able to experience to the fullest, every column inch of the candle making, allowing them to get the most out it, and achieve the best results.