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Paraffin is extremely versatile.
What candle types can you make with paraffin?
Any type of candle can be made from paraffin, it’s just a matter of figuring out which “type” of paraffin is best for you.
Softer blends work well for containers and wax melts since they flow much more freely.
Harder blends usually require a second pour because they cure more “sturdily” than softer waxes, but work well in candles that need sturdiness, such as pillars and votives.
Paraffin also tends to allow a more vibrant range of colors than soy or other waxes will allow typically due to lower opacity and resistance against frosting, which is a common drawback of soy wax.
It’s also known to have some of the best, if not the definitive best, scent throwing capabilities of any wax on the market.
Scent throw is a subjective topic, but not impossible to measure with the right framework.
The other thing to note is that a lot of waxes on the market aren’t really “pure paraffin”… they occasionally have different additives blended in them for performance, sustainability, or other reasons.
As you’ll see below, the market has plenty of different paraffin wax varieties – the goop in the wax to make it behave a certain way is what distinguishes these.
What kind of paraffin waxes are there?
Four tests help define the characteristics of paraffin wax:
Melting Point – the temperature where the material transforms from a solid to a liquid (ASTM D87).
Max Penetration – a measure of how hard the material is. Hardness influences other physical characteristics (ASTM D1321).
Max Oil Content – The amount of oil in a wax determines many of its properties in addition to it’s refinement level (ASTM D721).
Saybolt Color – The color of a wax in manufacturing is normally used for quality control. If something is off about the color it usually indicates something is wrong with the wax (ASTM D156)
How good is paraffin for candle making?
Performance-wise, paraffin is generally one of the best waxes on the market.
Many big-box stores use paraffin for its performance, stability, and consistency – factors that scale well in a retail model.
Unlike natural waxes, paraffin doesn’t have rigid curing requirements. The scent throw will be as designed within hours as compared to weeks or months.
Natural waxes have a less stable crystal structure which hardens over time. Paraffin doesn’t react much when melted down and re-hardened.
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