Useful Candle Materials

Burning candles is a great way to add pleasant fragrances to your home. Many people collect different candles and experiment with the fragrances to decide which are their favorites. In doing so, they realize that not all candles are made from the same materials. In fact, there are several popular candle materials these days. The most common are traditional paraffin wax, soy, and beeswax.

Parafin candles

When most people think about candles, they are thinking about the type made from paraffin. This is the most common wax used in votive candles, pillars and even those small birthday candles used on cakes. It is cheap, but it does not burn as cleanly as soy wax.

Soy candles

These were introduced to the market rather recently and are a favorite, because they are very clean burning. Soy candles are usually made from 100 percent soybean oil, so they are all natural. It is possible to shape them into votives or jar candles, and they are commonly infused with strong scents. They produce a very clear fragrance.

Beeswax candles

This wax is not used as often as in the past; however, it is still a good candle wax. It is more expensive than paraffin and is all natural, but it does not burn as cleanly as soy. It is also more difficult to add fragrances to beeswax candles.

Choosing the right candle for your home may take some trial and error. Try candles made from all different types of wax to see which you like best.