Beginners to the art and craft of candle making are often surprised, if not outright bewildered, by the many types of candle making wax available today. We've come a long way from candles made of rendered animal fat, which is to the good, but the variety of wax can be confusing. Here's a quick run down on the different types of was available and some suggestions for use.Paraffin Candle WaxParaffin is the workhorse of waxes. Most commercially made candles are made from paraffin wax.Paraffin itself is a side product of petroleum refinement. It's the residual of the waxy coating from the plants that decomposed to form crude oil. When the oil is refined, that solid wax remains as a byproduct.Paraffin has a lot to recommend it as a candle wax. It is widely available, relatively inexpensive, very stiff at room temperature, holds dyes and scents well and burns relatively cleanly (at least compared to tallow).BeeswaxBeeswax is a classic, premium scented candle manufacturers making wax. Bees produce the wax to build honeycombs to hold the honey. When a beekeeper empties the honeycomb, the wax can be used to make candles.Beeswax is a wonderful wax for candle making. It has a long burn time and burns even more cleanly than paraffin. It is suitable for making tapers and pillar candles. It can hold fragrance, but many people prefer not to add scent because they enjoy the mild, soft fragrance of the beeswax itself.The main problem with beeswax is its expense. It has always been a premium wax. In the past, beeswax was reserved for the very wealthy or for sacred uses (beeswax candles were the candles of choice for use in churches). today, you don't need to be rich to use beeswax but it is more expensive than some of the other alternatives.Soy Candle WaxSoy candle wax is an exciting newcomer on the candle making scene. It was developed in the 1990's as part of the search for a natural candle wax. Soybean oil is liquid at room temperature. With the addition of hydrogen, it becomes solid and suitable for making candles.
