It recently occurred to me, while making another batch of candles, that pertinent information about common candle-making waxes are only available on the manufatures page! I thought I would compile the most important information for everyone, influding myself, to find!
Which temperature does candle wax melt? Here is a compiled list of the most common candle waxes and their melting points!
Beeswax- 144-149 ℉ (62-65 ℃)
Beeswax is a very common natural wax for candlemaking. It is known for beingn a hard, high melt point, wax. Beeswax generally required larger, square braid wicks in order to get a large enough flame to produce a proper candle.
Many chandlers add coconut oil, with a melting point of 77 degrees Fahrenheit, to help soften the beeswax for container candles. On the otherhand, beeswax is already a pillar-type wax without any additives.
Other beeswax temperatures to note:
Add fragrance oil at 160-165 ℉
Pour beeswax at 140-150 ℉ or when the beeswax begins to heal over
Let cure for 2 days
Interestingly, beeswax has been found in tombs of eqypt and in the bottom of the ocean, still intact, still a usable substance! I absolutely love the natural scent of beeswax and prefer beeswax without added fragrance oil. My children, however, think beeswax has the worst scent known to man. Personal preference I guess. While not considered vegan, beeswax is removed from apiaries in the most humane way to make room for more honey and beeswax, yet still allowing the bee colony to thrive.
Paraffin- 115-142 ℉ (46-61 ℃)
Paraffin is a wonderful wax to work with because it has one of the best hot throws of all waxes. Paraffin also allows beautifully strong colors and hold well, without fading.
However, many hand crafted chandlers and consumers have educated themselves with the possible dangers of burning paraffin candles in their homes. Since paraffin has a low melting point, it also burns quickly.
Add fragrance oil at 180-185 ℉
Pour Paraffin wax at 170-180 ℉
Let cure for 1-2 day
Typical store bought candles are made with paraffin wax. More science is showing how the petroleum based paraffin wax may emit toxic chemicals. I am definately guilty of burning a lot of paraffin candles prior to my candle making days! If you do burn paraffin, consider opening a window or turning on an exhaust fan.
Soy- 113-127 ℉ (45-53 ℃)
Soy is a very popular candle-making wax for hand crafted candles. It is often a first choice for beginner candle makers due to it’s affordability and all natural appeal. Yet, it isn’t all sunshine and roses.
Soy has a difficult time holding color, has a slight odor that can affect the fragrance and has quirks such as frosting, sink holes and cracks.
Add fragrance oil at 180-185 ℉
Pour Soy wax at 120-140 ℉
Let cure for 3-14 days
Soy is my wax of choice, second to beeswax! Soy is challenging, yet still versatile enough to add fragrance and colorant. Soy can be sustainable and harvested in an environmentally friendly way. Unfortunatly, soy wax processing does require solvent extraction from the soy bean. Lastly, there aren’t any regulations on the composition of soy wax, so ask your supplier if your soy wax is 100% soy.
Parasoy- 133 ℉ (56 ℃)
Parasoy is often considered the perfect blend of Soy and Paraffin waxes. Wax manufactures have their own proprietary blends to create their absolute best wax.
Parasoy is often an upgrade from a 100% soy to increase the hot and cold throw, add more luster of color and have a quicker cure time..
Add fragrance oil at 180-185 ℉
Pour ParaSoy wax at 160-180 ℉
Let cure for 3-5 days
Several manufactures have very popular parasoy blends such as IGI 6006 and Joy wax by nature’s garden. I see candle makers time and time again praise these two parasoy waxes. The main objective is to avoid the inconsistencies of the soy wax, such as sink holes and frosting, yet give that smooth silky soy look that consumers are demanding.
Gel Wax- 180 ℉ (82 ℃)
Gel wax allows for a fun and exciting candle unlike any other! It also requires much higher temperatures in the candle making process. Follow your manufactures directions specifically to avoid ruining your candle wax.
Gel wax can have liquid dye and high flash point fragrance added as well as embeded flame resistant items or wax made displays to view through the candle while burning!
Add fragrance oil at 220-225 ℉ (only 170 + flash point fragrance oils)
Pour Gel wax at 185-200 ℉
Let cure for 1-2 days
I have always shied away from gel wax in retailers. It has always looked like a luxery candle. I still believe it is a luxery, or even a decoration, candle. But what fun to create! Make a beer mug or a seahorse aquarium! The possibilites are as endless as the creative mind when it comes to gel wax!
Coconut blend Wax- 124-127℉ (51- 53 ℃)
Coconut blend waxes are generally blended with a 100% natural soy wax as well as some coconut oil. The idea of coconut wax is to create a natural, sustainable wax for your candlemaking needs.
This wax has a consistency somewhere between coconut oil and soy wax. Coconut wax blends generally hold color and fragrance well.
Add fragrance oil at 130 ℉
Pour coconut blend wax at 110-130 ℉
Let cure for 1-2 days
Carnauba/ palm Wax- 180 ℉ (82 ℃)
Palm wax creates features such as feathers and crystals when allowed to cool slowly. This high temp wax is great for creating something new.
Be sure to find a supplier who uses sustainable practices as palm wax has been highly debated for having poor sustainable and environmental harvesting practices.
Add fragrance oil at 190-210 ℉
Pour Palm wax at 185-195+ ℉
Let cure for 1-2 days
Candle making is a fun mix of science and fun, it’s a hobby for all ages and all abilities. Be sure to use this guide line as just that, a guide! Follow your specific wax manufactures proticol and ask your supplier specific questions regarding your chosen wax, as there are many varieties of each specific type.
It seems as though candle making science should be as easy as plugging in an equation of wax, FO, and wick to create a perfect candle. Unfortunately, there are way too many variables in the candle making industry! This keeps a tight nit secret in the candle making industry, but here at Brookota’s Creations we are going through the struggles and documenting the answers!
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