New plant and vegetable based waxes offer a more natural, "green" alternative to traditional paraffin wax candles. Soy candles have become increasingly popular as the alternative choice, but what about other natural waxes such as coconut wax? Which one is really the best?
Soy wax candles:
- Made from partially hydrogenated soybean oil
- Vegan
- Minimal smoke/soot compared to paraffin
- Dense - Typically higher melt point than paraffin/coconut wax (less sweating/melting during heat); the density of this wax hinders its performance and leads to poor hot throw, trapping the scent
- Renewable; however, requires harvesting and tilling land and can lead to deforestation
- Can be considered eco-friendly; however, a majority of soy is genetically modified (GMO) and requires pesticides/fertilizers
- More economical/cheaper than other waxes due to production
- Can use 100% pure soy without blending with other waxes
- Prone to cratering, frosting, and sink holes
- Milky white, can tinge in color or change hue over time
- Requires 2 week cure time
Coconut wax candles:
- Made from hydrogenated coconut meat
- Vegan
- Clean burning, less soot/smoke than soy, non-toxic
- Excellent throw in scented candles. The soft wax (less dense than soy) makes it easier to release the fragrance into the air
- Low melt point - does not require as much heat and lasts longer than soy
- Renewable/sustainable; less land use/waste as coconuts grow on trees; sourced from renewable vegetable sources that can be replenished at a faster rate than many alternatives
- Does not require pesticides or fertilizers
- Less cost effective than soy due to availability/production
- Requires blending with other waxes; Coconut wax is too soft for a 100% pure coconut wax candle
- Transparent, bright white color
- Single pour - beautiful flat candle tops
- Faster cure time - candles are ready usually within a week
There's no contest in my opinion. Coconut wax is by far the superior choice for candle making and I am proud to offer soy free, coconut wax candles! Rain City Rae's candles are made from a natural wax comprised predominately of coconut and vegetable waxes with a small amount of food-grade paraffin for stability. I strive to reduce my impact on this earth and am against GMOs in our food and any other product. Our wax is RSPO compliant meaning it is sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly.
Discover the difference for yourself and try one of Rain City Rae's handcrafted coconut wax candles.
References:
https://candles.org/history/
https://blendedwaxes.com/blog/what-is-paraffin-wax/
https://www.cargill.com/bioindustrial/coconut-vegetable-oil