Wax Comparison: Which one is right for you?

With many waxes available on the market, how do you know which is best for you? 

We currently offer a range of soy, paraffin blend and rapeseed & coconut waxes. See below a summary of each of the wax types we have available for you to make an informed decision before trying a new wax for the first time.

Soy Wax

In our opinion, soy wax offers a flexible and reliable solution for any candle maker. Our soy wax comes in handy pellet form, which makes melting easy and works well at various temperatures, meaning regardless of the candle type you’re creating, you’ll get great results.

Paraffin 

Paraffin wax has been around the longest and is most of the most common waxes used. This is a great choice if you’re wanting to add colour to your wax. One drawback of Paraffin wax is that it is not considered vegan friendly; therefore many makers are moving away from it in favour of more eco-friendly alternatives to meet consumer demand. 

Rapeseed & Coconut

This wax is one of the newest on the market and is increasingly popular among makers looking for a more sustainable choice. It tends to have a higher price point than other wax options available. Many of our experienced makers who have been searching for an alternative to soy wax for their melts have found this to be their favourite to work with. 

Container Waxes

Container waxes are designed for use when making candles in vessels. They tend to be softer and are in general not suited to making melts.

Pillar/Melt Waxes

Pillar and melt waxes are harder by nature to assist with mould release and shape retention when making pillar candles and wax melts. Pillar waxes are suitable for making candles and melts, whereas melt/tart waxes are designed for wax melts only and cannot be used to make candles.

You can find more product specific information on each wax in the Description section of their product pages.

Testing

Each wax has a loyal fan base of makers who have found it to work best for them. You can also look at the reviews others have left on each of our wax products to get an idea of what to expect. 

Variables such as room temperature and fragrance density can impact the end result regardless of wax you choose, many makers take notes and photos throughout the process to track and compare these variables against different batches and make adjustments accordingly - patience and persistence is key to producing high-quality candles and wax products.  

Ultimately your choice of wax will likely come down to your personal preference and experience with wax. As with our fragrances, we always recommend carrying out your own testing and making your conclusions. 

If you have a further question about our waxes you’re always welcome to reach out to us at support@nicandlesupplies.co.uk

You can also join our Facebook Group ‘Candle Makers UK by NI Candle Supplies’  to hear from other makers about their experiences working with or switching between different types of waxes and you can put your own questions to the group for answers and feedback.

If you have issues with any of the above waxes, our Tips & Tricks section has a range of blogs that cover the most common issues with candle production.