What is the best wax to make candles

July 13, 2025

Whether you’re trying out your hand at candle making for the first time due to a school project or it’s all a part of a bigger business idea, deciding about the right kind of candle wax for candle making can get a little bit tedious and a whole lot dull. Which is why we did our research so you can directly move to the more fun part of the process. With this, we present to you- Aromochology Oil complete, no-skip guide on the best wax for candle making with a bonus mini guide on how to make candle pillars.

What Is the Best Wax to Make Candles? A Detailed Guide

There is no deep variation between all the candle waxes, but it is the little differences that have the power to change the texture and appearance of your candles-especially when combined with essential oils for candle making.

Candle Wax for Candle Making: What You Need to Know

From solid perfume bars to skin care, wax is something that can be used everywhere, yet one of the most popular uses of wax remains candle making and seal making. And that is not going to change anytime soon. But the types of wax available to us have, so let's take a quick look.

Popular Types of Candle Wax and Their Benefits

Here are the different types of waxes commonly used for candle making.

Soy Wax – Ideal for Natural Scented Candles

Soy wax candles come in all shapes and sizes. Scentless and with a clean burn, soy wax candles offer a middle ground between beeswax and paraffin wax candles. Plus, they are the easiest to work with for those who are new to candle making.

Beeswax – Premium Option with Natural Appeal

With a pale butter-y color and an all natural soft scent, beeswax was one of the earliest known natural wax to be used for candle making. Pure and long lasting, It still is a preferred candle ingredient used in making candles for churches.

Paraffin Wax – Excellent Scent Throw & Affordability

Remember those thin, little, colored candles with swirls that come with cakes and pastries? Those candles are made from paraffin wax. Don’t be fooled by its hard appearance, paraffin wax can hold onto essential oil fragrances and candle dyes exceptionally well.

Coconut Wax – Smooth Burn with a Clean Finish

As one of the new candle waxes, many people still do not know about coconut wax. Obtained from the flesh of the coconut, it has a body butter-like consistency which blends perfectly with other candle waxes to make creamy candles that are kind to our senses.

Wax Blends – Balanced Performance for Candle Makers

If you ask seasoned candle makers about their preferred candle wax, the answer would always be some kind of wax blend. Mixing two waxes like soy and beeswax or coconut or beeswax together allows you to get the best of both worlds without costing a pretty penny.

Choosing the Best Wax Based on Candle Type

Choosing the right wax can only do too much unless the type of candle you’re making is not decided upon beforehand.

Container Candles

Whether you want a cozy scented candle to create a relaxing ambience while bathing, container candles are the safest option for a lasting scent retention. To make things even better you can use any kind of wax in container candles even niche waxes like coconut or gel wax.

Pillar Candles, Tapers & Decorative Candles

If you’re thinking paraffin wax will be the best wax for pillar candles you will not be entirely wrong. But using something like a blend of beeswax and soy wax will help candles drip less and prevent table cover staining and the chances of getting 1st degree burns.

Wax Melts & Tarts

Wax melts can be scented or unscented, but they should be the right amount of soft in appearance. For this reason soy wax or blended wax are a more suitable option.

How to Make Candle Pillars: Step-by-Step Guide

Let's take a look at the step-by-step guide to make DIY pillar candles that will look as if they have come straight out of a home decor ad-

Choosing the Right Wax for Pillars

Since this is a user-friendly guide, we’ll stick to using good old soy wax pellets for this particular recipe.

Tools and Supplies You'll Need

The other ingredients that you are going to need have been listed below-

A double boiler, a stirrer, a working thermometer, silicone ribbed candle mould, soy wax pellets, rose geranium essential oil, bergamot essential oil and cedarwood essential oil and coconut oil, cotton wick

Melting, Pouring & Setting Your Pillar Candle

First attach a cotton wick in the mould. Then, mix 12 drops of rose geranium essential oil, 7 drops of bergamot essential oil and 6 drops of cedarwood essential oil in 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and set it aside. Add 200 grams of soy wax pellets to the double boiler and turn on the stove. Let the wax pellets melt for a bit before you start stirring. Once it fully melts, take off the heat. Add in the essential oil blend. Stir slowly for a good 2-3 minutes to let the essential oils spread evenly in the melted liquid. Quickly pour it in the ribbed mould. Let it solidify and your DIY pillar candle is ready.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Pillar Candles

1. Don’t take out the candle from the mould too early, the thicker the pillar candle the more time the wax needs to cool down.

2. Do not use coconut wax or gel wax for making pillar candles, because then it would turn into a mushy mess once used.

3. Remember to lightly tap your candle mould so that there are no gaping holes in the candle.

Factors That Define the Best Wax for Candle Making

To make your wax selection easier, we’ll be assigning the most suited wax according to some categories.

Burn Time and Wax Consistency

A blend of beeswax and coconut wax can give your candles the longest burn time possible for a candle.

Fragrance Load and Scent Throw

Beeswax has a scent of its own, which can mess with the overall fragrance of the candle. So the other remaining waxes, essential oils and fragrance oils can be blended to give a scent that will be discernible on a light whiff.

Ease of Pouring and Surface Finish

Just pour any type of melted wax into the mould or a glass jar very slowly for an even finish.

Eco-Friendliness and Sustainability

While coconut wax is high on the sustainability part, it is a tad bit expensive than other clean burn waxes like soy or beeswax.

Conclusion

To be very honest, if I was ever asked to decide what is the best wax to make candles, my answer would change everytime. Here is the thing, while choosing the right candle wax does matter, your personal preferance also goes into account when you’re making handmade candles. Or else you can always count on pre-made wax candle blends to get things going.