Nothing beats soy wax and beeswax when it comes to the healthiest candle making wax. They are both natural waxes with strengths and weaknesses that candle makers should consider when choosing eco-friendly wax for their candles. Let us know all the great properties of these two waxes that make them the best choice for any type of candle.
Soy wax is a natural wax harvested from soybean oil. It is a soft wax that burns cleanly and best works for container candles. Another healthy wax alternative is beeswax, which is produced by honeybees. Beeswax works well with any candle type because of its dripless and dense trait.
This article will discuss the differences between the most used candle making wax, soy wax, and beeswax. This article will help you answer the questions about which of the two would be best for each candle type and essential oils or fragrances. I also included a breakdown of what you should consider when looking for the candle wax that would best work for your preferred candles.
The Natural Waxes that Candle Makers Love
When it comes to candles, people prefer the natural more than the synthetic ones. By this, I mean candles produced using all-natural wax. Soy wax and beeswax are two of the most common candle making wax, which is 100% natural and produces healthy burning candles.
Soy and beeswax are the ideal wax to use for home candles. Both would not release harmful toxins, which can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
When combined with essential oils, these waxes create relaxing and refreshing candles, and some have positive medical effects on the person inhaling the scent.
The reliability of these two waxes has been proven for years to produce quality candles. They are trusted by candle makers to create long-burning, smokeless, and sootless candles. Now, let us dig in more about all the things that we need to know about soy and beeswax and decide which is best to use.
Say Yes to Soy Wax for Candle Making
Soy wax is a natural wax derived from hydrogenated soybean oil, the same source of tofu. It was not used until 1996 when students at Purdue University took on the challenge to produce sustainable birthday candles. Now, let us know all the good reasons you should choose soy wax as your candle making wax.
The Advantages of Soy Wax in Candle Making
Soy wax is a soft material that burns cleanly on a candle. It is ideal for container candles but not the pillar ones as the soft wax cannot handle the weight of tall free-standing candles.
The environmentally friendly wax is a good vegan choice. It is highly sustainable, biodegradable, and cruelty-free, so you will be at ease while using this ingredient for your candle. It also produces less soot than other wax, producing 90% less compared to paraffin wax. Hence, it helps to reduce air pollution and can be used as indoor candles.
Soy wax has a lower melting point compared to other candle waxes. It can burn in cooler temperatures and for long cold hours to give you warmth in the winter. It can also be added with additives to raise its melting point when needed in the candle making process.
Another attribute of soy wax is it produces white flame similar to that of fluorescent light. It is suitable for beginners experimenting on candle making or for candle makers who are on a tight budget as it is affordable and has an abundant supply.
For a household that has curious little children, this candle making wax is for you. The wax will not scald your child’s skin if he happens to touch them. Soy wax is also a water-soluble wax that is easy to wipe off surfaces using soap, washcloth, and water. Hence, it is easy to clean on containers and leaves no hard-to-remove stains.
There are also some downsides to using soy wax. Soybean oil undergoes many processes to produce soy wax. It is combined with other chemicals throughout its production.
Soy wax is not an independent wax as they are often combined with other ingredients. Most soy candles are treated with a small amount of paraffin, even those labeled as 100% soy wax. About 90% of present soy is genetically modified, being mixed with vegetable oils making it not a guaranteed all-natural choice for candles.
Concerns about deforestation and the use of large amounts of pesticides in harvesting soybeans are some main reasons why soy wax is not the best all-natural wax you can choose.
Fragrance or Essential Oils Suitable for Soy Wax
Essential oils and fragrances can be both incorporated in soy wax candles. Almost any scent can be incorporated in soy wax as it does not smell, unlike beeswax, which has a honey aroma. Hence, you can choose one scent or mix two or more essential oils to get your preferred scent.
Here are some scents you can consider for your soy candles. Lavender, jasmine, and rose are floral scents that have a calming effect and reduce anxiety. For energizing mint scents, peppermint and spearmint are what you would need.
The pungent and sharp smell is what eucalyptus, pine, and tea tree bring to your candle. It is also good for people with respiratory issues. You may also want to try the refreshing citrus scents of lemon, grapefruit, lime, and sweet orange.
If you are in for intense herbal scents, marjoram, rosemary, basil, and sage are a good choice for you. For freshly cut wood scents, sandalwood, cedar, and cypress would be perfect for your candles.
The amount of essential oils for candles vary depending on the scent’s strength and your preferred scent throw. For a stronger scent, incorporate eight to ten percent of fragrance oils and six to eight percent for a more subtle scent.
It is recommended to start at a small amount and increase it depending on your scent strength preference. The recommended amount is one ounce of fragrance oil per pound of soy wax.
Candle Types to Make Using Soy Wax
Soy wax is ideal for container candles, and wax melts such as jarred candles, tins, votives, tealights, and tarts. Since soy wax has a low melting point compared to other candle making wax, its soft texture is not suitable for free-standing candles.
Beeswax: A Reliable Candle Wax from Honeybees
Beeswax is a 100% natural wax produced by honeybees of the genus Apis. It is considered the oldest material used for candle making and the cleanest wax to burn with minimal to no soot produced.
All the Good Reasons to Use Beeswax in Our Candles
Beeswax is an all-natural and non-toxic wax that is biodegradable, non-carcinogenic, and non-hazardous. It is considered the healthiest wax for candles and is a great choice for natural candles as it contains no paraffin. It is also cruelty-free considering that n bees are harmed in harvesting these beeswax.
The trusted candle wax has the lowest toxicity among other candle making materials and does not release harmful chemicals into the air. It also produces no heavy soot. Beeswax candles, when burned, releases negative ions, which help increase oxygen flow to the brain and enhance mental energy.
These negative ions neutralize pollutants like dust and mold and purify the air of unpleasant odors. Beeswax candles are good for people prone to allergic reactions, dust allergies, and asthma.
Beeswax is a safe dripless material that minimizes the chance of spills and messes with the melted wax. When lit, beeswax candles produce pure and bright light under the same spectrum as natural sunlight. It doesn’t generate much soot, burns for a long time, and keeps a clean and fresh indoor atmosphere.
Since beeswax came from the hard work made by bees, it naturally has a sweet scent, so there is no need for manufacturers to add artificial scents to these candles. Furthermore, beeswax has a high melting point capable of burning in all kinds of weather and withstands any temperature during shipping (for business owners).
Considering its good qualities and high export demands to other countries, beeswax may come at an expensive but worthy price.
Essential Oils or Fragrances to Partner with Beeswax
Beeswax already has a naturally sweet scent, and putting fragrances and essential oils to it can be a bit tricky. This is because some scents do not match well with the wax’s natural sweet aroma. The strength of the scent also depends on the amount of fragrance you put in, so experimenting and testing different scents play a big role in getting your desired fragrance.
For pure natural wax like beeswax, essential oils are more recommended than fragrance oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic and processed scents that may contain chemicals. It will not go well with beeswax if you plan to make natural candles.
On the other hand, essential oils are natural oils harvested from real plants and herbs. These eco-friendly scents have some amazing health benefits with no toxic chemicals that may trigger any allergic reactions.
Not all scents would fit beeswax, but you can mix and match or blend scents if you want to achieve a certain fragrance. Some of the recommended scents for beeswax are vanilla, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, orange, pine needle, cocoa, cedarwood, geranium, and chamomile.
You can add about one to two ounces of scent for a pound of wax used for fragrance oils. Experiment with different amounts to get the scent strength you want. Remember not to put excessive fragrances that may cause your candle not to burn properly and the wick to clog. Keep the fragrance at six to twelve percent only.
The same goes for essential oils. Six to twelve percent is the industry standard for fragrance loads. That is about 25 drops for every ounce of beeswax used or an ounce of oils per pound of beeswax used.
Candle Types to Use Beeswax For
Beeswax is so versatile that it can produce all types of candles, including pillars, tapers, votives, and containers. It is highly suitable for pillars and tapered candles as it is a harder wax than soy. Therefore, it can withstand being made into tall and big free-standing candles.
Soy Wax or Beeswax: Which One Should You Use
Both waxes have their good place in candle making. Here are some points to look for when choosing the best wax for your candles.
Burn Time
When talking about the burn time, both wax burns for a long time. Beeswax burns well even in high temperatures because of its higher melting point. On the other hand, Soy wax burns well even in cold temperatures since it has a lower melting point.
When compared, beeswax burns longer than soy wax. Since beeswax is denser and harder, soy wax candles will melt faster and burn shorter than those made of beeswax.
Paraffin Content
Paraffin emits toxic chemicals when burned, which is why it is rarely used these days. Soy wax may contain a small amount of paraffin since it is highly needed in the wax’s production. In short, that’s just how soy wax is made. In return, soy wax candles may produce harmful toxins when burned.
Beeswax is 100% free of paraffin and is best to use if you have allergies. It will not trigger any allergic reactions and instead helps purify the air for the best candle experience.
Price
Beeswax is expensive since it has a limited amount of supply. It takes a long time, and many bees process the wax, and only a pound of wax is produced for every 100 pounds of honey. Furthermore, the production of beeswax costs a lot. Bees need to be fed regularly to produce more beeswax.
Soy wax is a more affordable choice because of its abundant source and high sustainability. It would be perfect for outdoor candles that are distant from people to prevent inhaling its smoke.
Natural Scent
When talking about natural scents, beeswax has a natural, sweet aroma and needs to be balanced well with other scents to achieve your preferred fragrance. It is therefore not the perfect choice for scented candles. Plus, the natural scent lasts longer, and beeswax candles have more oil retention, so chances are your added scents have already diffused in the air while the sweet scent remains in the candle.
The perfect wax for scented candles is soy wax, as it does not have a natural scent, so you’ll have the freedom to choose your preferred fragrance or essential oils.
Flame
When lit in candles, beeswax produces natural light, which resembles sunlight. It appears to be warmer and brighter than soy wax candles but will not cause you eye strain at all. When lit, soy wax candles have a light similar to a fluorescent, white cool-toned flame that is also not striking to the eyes.
Appearance
Beeswax may appear white to brown and have a smoother surface texture. On the other hand, soy wax forms bump after being burned for some time. It can be produced with various colors as it is colorless and accepts color dyes perfectly.
Conclusion
Soy and beeswax are definitely the real deal in candle making. But, if you are looking for an all-natural and healthy candle wax with zero paraffin content, you should go for beeswax. It has all the wonderful advantages one could look for in candle wax. Plus, it won’t hurt to spend much if you know that you are getting the highest quality for a high price. In this battle of waxes, beeswax is undeniably on top.
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