Coconut wax, soy wax, paraffin wax – what’s the difference? When we first decided to make scented candles, using a natural wax was important since it would create a healthier product for ourselves, our customers, and our planet. After all, wax is the single largest ingredient in candles. It is the fuel for the wick. As the wax melts, it’s drawn into the burning wick and then released into the air. Pretty important, right? So without a great wax, there can’t be a great candle.
As we searched for natural waxes to test out, we learned about coconut wax blends. This was an exciting discovery. Not only has our family trusted coconut-based products for years as a moisturizer for our skin, an oil for our food, and of course a beverage for rehydration, we now were trusting this amazing ingredient to fuel our candles. Of course, this wasn’t blindly decided on. Our research supported that coconut wax was the best natural wax option available today, and we are happy to now share what we learned with you.
What is Coconut Wax?
Coconut wax is currently sourced from the Philippines where there is a thriving coconut farming industry. The wax is made from cold-pressed coconut meat and coconut oil. However, as coconut wax is very soft and has a low melting point (it can melt simply on hot summer days), it is always blended with harder waxes to fortify it. Our wax, for example, is predominately coconut wax blended with a small amount of a vegetable-based wax and a natural beeswax.
What are the 4 advantages of Coconut Wax?
Here’s why choosing coconut wax was an easy decision.
- It burns cleaner: Coconut wax is non-toxic. It produces less smoke and soot than other waxes making it a cleaner choice for you and the environment.
- It’s slow burning: Coconut wax burns slower than other waxes allowing you to enjoy your favorite scented candle even longer.
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It provides a great scent throw: As far as natural waxes go, coconut wax has a superior ability to release scent into the air (aka scent throw). Some natural waxes, such as soy wax, on their own do not have a strong scent throw and therefore tend to be mixed with paraffin wax to improve it. Coconut waxes, like ours, are only blended with other natural waxes (no paraffin) and still provide a great smelling candle.
Side note: Paraffin wax is a by-product of petroleum. It holds scent the best among all waxes, however, its support has been dwindling upon candle makers due its reputation of being potentially toxic while burning (which is unverified) and the unsustainable practices of the oil industry (verified). Which leads to the next point.
- Coconut wax is the most eco-friendly and sustainable wax: Coconut wax is naturally sourced and made from a simple extraction process. The coconut farming industry is not linked to deforestation practices such as the Soybean and Palm Oil Industries and it is non-GMO unlike the Soybean Industry, which has also been scrutinized for their use of unhealthy amounts of pesticides and fertilizers.
With all of that being said, there is one drawback to coconut wax, and the reason behind its slower adaption in the candle industry. That is the cost. Pure coconut wax costs up to 2x more per pound. But of course, a high-quality product for candles that is also sustainably sourced isn’t expected to come cheap. And that is 100% okay with us. We are proud to put our name on it.