Every candle you’ve ever lit carries more complexity than meets the eye. The wax, wick, fragrance, and even the way it melts together determine not only how the candle burns, but the mood it creates. Here’s a closer look at the science behind candle wax—and what these details mean for both makers and candle lovers alike.
Different Wax Types—and What They Do
Not all waxes are created equal. The choice of wax affects burn time, scent throw, soot, and how clean the wax looks. Here are some common types:
- Paraffin Wax
A petroleum by-product, paraffin is prized for its strong fragrance throw and clean finish. Because it melts at higher temperatures, it works well in pillars and tapered candles. However, it tends to produce more soot when burned, especially if the wick isn’t properly sized. - Soy Wax
Derived from soybeans, this wax is renewable and biodegradable. It burns cooler than paraffin, which means it’s safer in containers and burns more evenly. The lower melting point also helps preserve delicate fragrance notes that might be lost in hotter waxes. - Beeswax
Beeswax has been used for centuries. It burns cleanly and slowly and has natural sweetness, meaning you often don’t need much (or any) added fragrance. It also tends to self-extinguish when it reaches the end of its pool, because the melted wax can no longer feed the flame. - Palm Wax, Coconut Wax, Rapeseed Wax
These are newer to the mainstream candle world but growing in popularity. Palm wax can form beautiful crystalline patterns; coconut wax carries fragrance well and has a creamy appearance; rapeseed wax can combine some performance advantages of soy with a firmer finish. - Blended Waxes
Often, candle makers mix types of wax to gain benefits from more than one. For example, blending soy with beeswax may give a candle both good scent throw and a clean burn.
The Role of the Wick
A candle wick is more than just a string. It controls how the flame behaves:
- Size matters. Too large a wick = too big a flame = excessive heat = too much wax melting, wasted scent, soot. Too small a wick = weak flame, tunnelling, incomplete wax melt and wasted fragrance.
- Material matters. Natural fibers, cotton, or wood all have different heat responses. Wood wicks, for instance, crackle and offer a wider flame but need more precise selection of wax and vessel to avoid hazards.
How Fragrance is Released
The scent of a candle is not just about how much fragrance oil is used—it’s about how well it interacts with the wax:
- Fragrance load: the ratio of fragrance to wax. If too high, the fragrance may not bind well in the wax, leading to “cold throw” (how it smells unlit) or “hot throw” (how it smells burning) that’s too weak—or even wax seeping out.
- Wax compatibility: some waxes work better with oils than others. Soy, for example, tends to preserve subtle floral or herbal notes; higher-melting waxes or blends may muffle delicate accords unless carefully formulated.
Melting Temperatures and Pouring
Wax doesn’t perform the same at every temperature:
- Melting point sets how hot the wax must get before it’s liquid enough to pour. This influences how quickly fragrance volatiles evaporate.
- Finishing issues like frosting (in soy), sinkholes (in pillar wax), or uneven tops are often due to rapid cooling or pouring at improper temperatures.
Why the Details Matter
You might wonder: so what if a candle burns half an hour less, or smells a little differently? In quality candle making, these details make a difference for:
- Safety: proper wicks and correct wax prevent overheating or flame flare-ups.
- Ambience: the evenness of the burn influences how warm, soft, or cozy a room feels.
- Longevity: better burn quality means more value from every hour you light it.
If you’re interested in exploring high-quality candle-making materials—waxes, fragrance oils, containers, wicks, dyes, tools—and learning everything from how to choose the right blend to how to troubleshoot burn issues, check out Candlewic.