Candles make an incredible gift for yourself or others. But with so many options, how do you choose which candles to make? Here’s the difference between soy and beeswax candles.
I have some friends who are beekeepers. And when I asked them about using the beeswax, I found out some beekeepers see it as a waste product and throw it away!
I couldn’t believe that!
I started digging in to all of the uses for beeswax and realized it was versatile and long lasting. Lotion bars, candles, and other beauty products were at the top of my experiments list. So I gave it a go!
During my research process, I found there were other bases I could use for everything I was researching. So what was the difference between beeswax and other waxes?
Let’s dive deeper so you can make the best decision for your next project.
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Photo by ionela-mat via Unsplash.
Knowing the Different Wax Types
Candles are made as a balance between wax and scent. Some say the ratio is around 6-10% scent to your weight for wax.
It’s important to know your type of wax because different waxes perform differently.
Palm wax, coconut wax, beeswax, paraffin wax, and carnauba wax are all on the market options you could choose for candle making. But there are differences in the outcome of the end product.
Paraffin wax holds on to scents better than soy wax does. Paraffin wax also has the lowest melting point of most waxes, whereas beeswax has the highest.
Coconut wax also has a high melting point, which means it has a long burn time.
Carnauba wax is typically used in things like furniture and shoe polish because it’s one of the hardest waxes on the market. It’s great for candle making because it can reinforce the integrity of the candle, but it is advised that it be mixed with another wax to allow the candle to burn.
Obviously, you want to choose a wax that’s solid at room temperature.
Other things to look for could be whether or not its a renewable resource, is it a popular choice among other candle makers, and can you use natural scents with that wax.
Where Do Candle Makers Start?
You can make your own candles from the comfort of your own home.
Once you have chosen the wax you want to use, select a candle container (if you do pillar candles or taper candles you might not need a container), wick, and any scents you’d like to use.
You are now on your way to making your own candles!
Soy vs. Beeswax Candles – What’s the Difference?
Soy products are usually derived from the oil of the soybean, a legume with origins in East Asia. Soy milk and tofu are products commonly made with soybeans.
Hydrogenated soybean oil is also a common ingredient in beauty products production. It’s what gives products their smooth, creamy texture.
Because soy can be greasy, it’s harder to clean off of surfaces.
Soy wax is also harder to come by than paraffin wax, which is much more popular to use in candle making. Because of that, you may find that some soy candles include a small amount of paraffin wax in them.
Finally, soy wax has a harder time holding on to scents. Essential oils aren’t cheap. So if you’re using them to scent your candles, you may have to use more of them to make sure your final product turns out how you want it to.
Beeswax, when burned, produces less soot, if any. This is important because soot is produced when your wax doesn’t fully combust. The soot, or tiny little carbon particles, can be an irritant for people with respiratory issues.
Natural candles, like beeswax candles, traditionally produce less soot.
Burning beeswax means you’re also burning a naturally occurring resource. If you wanted to, you could ditch fragrance oils and savor the honey-like aroma that comes from beeswax.
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Other Differences Between Beeswax and Soy Wax
Beeswax candles have a long burn time because beeswax has a higher melting point.
And like we’ve already talked about, you could opt for the natural smell beeswax already has, as well as the cleaner burn.
Beeswax Candles Debate – The Scientific Explanation
Beeswax is touted as a better choice in waxes because you avoid things like toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and heavy soot.
However, some say burning beeswax candles can clean the air in your home. How can they do this? By interacting with what’s already naturally occurring in our environment!
Let’s dive into a brief chemistry lesson. If you haven’t brushed up on your chemistry lately, we’re going to be talking about the smallest parts of what’s around us – particles. These particles can be positively charged or negatively charged. It just depends on what type of particle it is.
Particles can be everything from beeswax to the air we breathe to the steam in the shower. Particles make up all things!
Beeswax, when burned, releases negatively charged particles into the air. A negative particle has more electrons than protons. Because of this, they are looking to bond with with positively charged particles.
Most forms of pollution are positively charged. They are positively charged because of the friction created during the chemical reaction that makes them. So things like mold spores, pet dander, dust, and smoke are all positively charged particles.
When positively charged particles and negatively charged particles meet, they neutralize each other.
In the case of a beeswax particle and a pet dander particle, the force of the reaction between the two causes the pet dander particle to sink to the ground. Now that it’s no longer airborne, it’s no longer an irritant!
This isn’t just a beeswax candle thing. It’s a natural phenomenon that occurs near waterfalls or during a thunderstorm.
To read more about this phenomenon, check out this scientific article or this report from the Air Resources Lab.
The Beauty of Beeswax
This neutralization process is why beeswax is praised. Other candle waxes don’t possess this quality, so they rely on fragrances to rid your environment of the things you don’t like to smell, like smoke and pet dander.
But that’s the catch – candles with artificial fragrances and commonly used wax aren’t actually getting those irritants out of your environment! They’re just masking the smell!
You might think, “Oh, this is a case of opposites attract?” And you’d be right! The positive and negative particles are literally attracted to each other. Similarly charged particles repel each other, much like the similar ends of magnets do.
More on Soy Wax Candles
Soy wax is a more difficult product to come by. So if you don’t like beeswax, you could search for the more popular paraffin wax and make more traditional paraffin candles.
Soy wax is considered to be among the natural ingredients in candle making.
Soy wax is easier to clean. If you happen to spill wax from a soy wax candle, just tackle the spill with some soap and water!
Soy wax is also the most popular wax for the most popular type of candle – container candles.
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Photo by jessica-mangano via Unsplash.
Candle Types
I have already mentioned a few different candle types – container candles, pillar candles, and taper candles.
Container candles are anything that burns in a vessel. You may have seen beeswax candles made to look rustic in a mason jar.
Other container candles could be a tea light in a small, metal container. Or a candle in a pretty glass jar from your favorite department store.
Pillar candles are freestanding and can burn without a container. Usually they’re made from a denser wax, which gives them they’re classic, striking look.
Finally, taper candles are much more slender and dainty compared to pillar candles. Taper candles are usually made from repeatedly dipping a wick into hot wax. With each dip, the wax hardens and a new layer of the taper candle is formed.
My Candle-Making Supplies Recommendations (Affiliate Links)
When I started candle making, I started small. I like to use 4 ounce, glass mason jars as my containers. I also like to use yellow, organic beeswax. However, I have also used white, organic beeswax with the same luck.
I haven’t found a wick that I’m just in love with. But these cotton wicks have served me just fine.
Click on the photos below to be taken right to the products (these are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you click on the links or purchase, at no extra cost to you).
What’s Your Personal Preference?
I’m obviously in support of natural products, and therefore natural waxes. So for me and my own candle making, natural waxes like beeswax are going to be my top pick every time.
If you are looking for better alternatives to the products around you, check out my Healthy Living Tab! I am always on the lookout for ways to continue a low-tox lifestyle.
You can also follow me on Pinterest for more recipes and DIY crafts.
What’s your favorite wax to use in candle making? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
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